[P]It will be a one and a half day conference, with plenary opening and closing sessions and three parallel thematic sessions: generous time is allowed for questions and discussions. A first keynote session with five top speakers will set the wider understanding of design underlying the conference; highlight the potential of design thinking for policy making, and help to situate design in the current EU innovation policy context. [/P] [P]The conference will then focus on three major areas, learning design; design and education and design and culture corresponding broadly with the European Commission ongoing work on design; on education; and on the cultural and creative industries. Design is a priority of Innovation Union, one of the seven Europe 2020 flagship initiatives and of the Manifesto of European Ambassadors presented to President Barroso at the close of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation (EYCI) 2009.[/P] [P]The conference is conceived as a professional, specialist one, with an emphasis on advanced thinking, and forward-looking contributions and discussion. It is not meant for the general public, but it should be of interest for the press, and will hopefully produce some conclusions that can feed into wider policy debates.[/P]