Claude Cormier made an enthusiastic and energy filled presentation on Day 4 of the World Design Summit stating that he is inspired by the natural landscape and designs Olmsted & the culture and art of Martha Schwartz. He designs using 10 points that
- Landscape for people
- Landscape as branded commodity
- Build consensus
- Keep inventing something new
- Colour not as decoration
- Ecology as beautiful design
- Substance over style
- Optimise hope
- Everyone wins
- Beauty
He discussed several of his recent projects including Sugar Beach in Toronto and Berczy Park, giving a fun account of the design process and how on both projects, the original design was rejected and he used humor for Sugar Beach and research of art for Berczy Park to win over stakeholders and decision makers on both projects.
He also presented the recent National Holocaust Monument providing the background to design process and how the design had to be resilient and adaptability. Claude gave a fun account of his designs, the design process and at the end of the presentation, I felt that he was a master of changing rejection into an approval by using humour and fun.