GX president + exec director John Jay joins Semi-Permanent’s headline speaker line-up

Semi-Permanent, the world’s most inspiring design event, has announced that John Jay, president and executive director of GX, the independent global creative agency focused on the concept and creation of new products, businesses, services and content will join its headline speaker line up.

Event Details:

Semi-Permanent Sydney

Date: 22-24 May 2014

Venue: Carriageworks, Eveleigh, Sydney

Site: www.semipermanent.com

Tickets: On Sale – 4 March 2014

Jay was responsible for opening W+K in Japan and launching Tokyo Lab, the agency’s award winning independent music label. He oversaw the launch of W+K Shanghai and New Delhi. Jay was CD on Nike, Coca-Cola and Microsoft in the US and he founded Studio J in Portland’s classic Chinatown, where he was involved in real estate and retail investments, product design, interiors, graphics and editorial projects.

In 2013, Design USA named Jay in its list of top ten “Most Influential Art Director of the Past 50 Years”. Jay has also been inducted into the Art Directors Club’s Hall of Fame, named by Fast Company Magazine as “100 Most Creative People in Business” and is a member of the Retail Marketing Hall of Fame.

The event at Carriageworks will host three days of presentations, exhibitions, installations, screenings and workshops, and is the opening event of the Vivid Festival. Parties will be hosted with FBi Radio. Semi-Permanent is set to inspire and engage more people than ever before.

The line-up will also include skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, discussing the building of the Hawk brand with long-time friend and collaborator, former Australian skateboarding champion, Corbin Harris; controversial artist Mr Brainwash will discuss his relationship with Banksy and how he has progressed as an artist since the Exit Through the Gift Shop documentary.

Says Andrew Johnstone, Semi-Permanent director: “Semi-Permanent’s speakers have always been highly inspiring and talented, and in 2014 we are pushing this to a new level.”

Says Andrew Stoner, deputy premier and minister for trade and investment: “A highlight of the Vivid Ideas program in 2013, this year Semi-Permanent takes place exclusively as part of Vivid Sydney, meaning the only chance creative practitioners will have to experience this event in Australia will be at Carriageworks from 22 to 24 May.”

From 2014 to 2016, Semi-Permanent will be supported by the NSW Government, through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.