Speaker announcement - Design Thinking Conference 2015



Hosted by Ian Fraser & Astrid Ascar

Astrid Ascar


Ian Fraser



Astrid Ascar began her career as a radio and TV journalist, and Ian Fraser began his career as IanF, a presenter on a national music radio station. They have worked in radio and TV both in front of the camera and microphone, and behind it as producers and directors, for the past 20 years. 

Nowadays they co-present a daily business radio show called The Business, offering practical insights and information for SMEs. It airs in Gauteng on Hot 91.9FM and streams on the audio streaming website ballz.co.za. The show is also syndicated across the country to a number of community FM radio stations.

Together Ian and Astrid run a digital marketing and content production business called Do Digital. They work with clients to help them fully leverage websites and social media platforms. They don’t use jargon and apply sound business principles to everything they do, refusing to simply “check the boxes”. It’s their unique ability to make the confusing and expensive both accessible and cost effective that sets them apart. 

They draw on their years of experience to travel Africa helping agencies and businesses (from small family-run companies to larger multinational brands) adapt to today’s new ways of thinking and doing business. Alongside their digital content hub which produces video, audio and text content for their client’s, Do Digital also offer digital and social media educational workshops, media interview and presentation skills training, and marketing and communications services. Every now and then…they’ll even MC and host panel discussions at conferences.  

Al Stratford
WINTEC INNOVATION | 2015


Al Stratford is best known in South Africa for his development of innovative building technology. In particular, the award wining WINBLOK ® Pre-cast Concrete Window System.
Al is a unique multi-skilled individual who broadened his understanding through practical hands on experience in the construction and manufacturing sector. Through his passion for innovation and design, and through peer recognition, Al registered as an architect in 2001 and went on to become the President of the South African Institute of Architects in 2009 and 2010.

In a career spanning forty years, Al has patented many products, won numerous awards in Industrial Design and Architecture and presided as a judge over design award programs.
Al continues to serve on various institutions with his current focus on innovating new products for his company WINTEC INNOVATION including a new range of patented flat pack furniture products; which won the Design Indaba 2013 Innovation Award. He is married with three sons all participating in family business in East London.

AWARDS
1988 SABS Industrial Design Awards - Winblok
1995 Institute of Marketing Management – Marketing Man of the Year StratFlexTM Skin 1
1995 Border Kei Institute of Architects – Regional Award: Audio Video Gallery 
1996 SAIA – Award of Merritt: Audio Video Gallery
1996 Cape Town Design for Living Exhibition – Most innovative new Product. 
1996 SABS Industrial Design Awards – Winstep
1996 SABS Industrial Design Awards – Windeck
1996 Concrete Manufacturers Award – National Trophy – Winkit House
2001 Border Kei Institute of Architects – Regional Award: Stratfords Guesthouse
2001 South African Institute of Architects – National Award of Merit: Stratfords Guesthouse. 
2013 Design Indaba 2013 Innovation Award – StratFlex furniture

AL STRATFORD Pr. Arch. SACAP. SAIA

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