EDW 2026: What Are People For? Design Philosophy by Patrick Whitney

Canadian premiere of Gary Hustwit's documentary on Patrick Whitney, followed by a live discussion with Whitney and André Nogueira. Edmonton Design Week presents the Canadian premiere of What Are People For?, a new documentary on strategic design pioneer Patrick Whitney, whose four decades of research, teaching, and mentorship changed how design is understood, used, and taught around the world. Whitney, who grew up in Edmonton, spent nearly three decades as Dean of the IIT Institute of Design in Chicago, where he developed methods and frameworks built on a simple premise: that design's real value lies in tackling problems bigger than any single product, from healthcare systems to civic infrastructure. The film, directed by Gary Hustwit (Helvetica, Objectified, Urbanized, Rams, and the Oscar-shortlisted Eno), argues those tools matter more urgently now than ever. Following the screening, Whitney and longtime collaborator André Nogueira are joined on stage by local design leaders for a live discussion of the ideas at the center of the film. Ashley Lukasik, Executive Producer; Gary Hustwit, Director and Producer; André Nogueira, Co-Producer; Rick Valicenti, Graphic Designer https://www.whatarepeoplefor.com/about