Concept
Antoni Garrell i Guiu (l'Espluga de Francolí, Spain, 1953) is a Spanish industrial engineer, and a specialist in innovation management and in the knowledge economy. He was founder of Cercle per al Coneixement (The Circle for the Knowledge Foundation) and promoter of Fundació Indicis, (Signs Foundation) which focuses on sustainability issues and climate. Since 1998, Antoni Garrell has been the director of the Foundation for Textile Design, which holds the Escola Superior de Disseny ESDi (The School of Design ESDi) from Sabadell (Barcelona). Antoni Garrell co-founded the Cercle per al Coneixement, an independent civil organization that pioneered and promoted the creation of a knowledge park reference, which helped to place the economy and society of knowledge in Catalonia. Since 1998, he has been the CEO of the Foundation for Textile Design (FUNDIT), which leads the Escola Superior de Disseny, a center affiliated to the Ramon Llull University. The Foundation for Textile Design also holds l'Escola d'Arts i Tècniques de la Moda de Barcelona (the Arts and Fashion Techniques School from Barcelona). Holding this post Antoni Garrell became one of the main promoters of research in the field of design and for its recognition as official Undergraduate University Degree in Spain. In 2008 the Escola Superior de Disseny was one of the first schools in Spain to provide the Official Undergraduate University Degree in Design. This degree meets the guidelines established by the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) in the following specialisations: Graphic Design, Fashion Design, Product Design, Interior Design, Audiovisual Design, Integrated Multidisciplinary Design. Antoni Garrell promoted and organized the first International Congress of Design and Innovation in Catalonia. He is one of the founders and leaders of the Fundació Indicis (Signs Foundation); a group in charge of sustainability and climate change and promoting research institutes to act as a bridge between universities and industry, and doing so by practicing sustainable development, such as eco-design and the prevention of climate change.