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Peter Durand is Creative Director of Alphachimp Studio Inc., a graphic facilitation firm located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

He is considered by many to be one of the top graphic facilitators in the world, receiving requests to participate in projects focused on community problem-solving, product design and strategic planning.

As an illustrator, painter, traveler and graphic facilitator, Peter has been an entrepreneur all his life, and has worked on over a hundred corporate projects in North America, Europe, Africa and Australia. His varied career combines group facilitation, information graphics, visual learning and web documentation.

Even during complex discussions, he has an uncanny ability to listen to translate the emerging concepts into stunning, mural-sized illustrations that clarify content as much as they engage the audience.

In terms of facilitation, Durand doesn't believe in the old "sit-n-get" method involving PowerPoint slides and bullet point lists. He believes that we were born with incredible minds and bodies built for movement, creativity, intellectual rigor, emotional engagement and fun.

Represented by BrightSight Group.

For public appearances, contact:
Tom Neilssen
609-466-0077
tom@brightsightgroup.com

Along with his wife Diane, Peter manages Alphachimp Studio Inc., a talented network of facilitators, designers and artists. Their practice collaborates on events and workshops that engage all styles of learning in order to serve the ultimate needs of the participants and their stakeholders.

Alphachimp's mantra is very direct: "Make stuff. Make stuff happen."

Futurist and author Andrew Zolli of Z Plus Partners describes the work of the Durands' firm, saying:

"In my opinion, visual thinking is the most under-leveraged and potentially powerful tool available for creating and enhancing innovation. Alphachimp Studio is among the very best in the industry, and their ability to capture, enhance and represent big ideas is second-to-none. Do yourself a favor and hire this company, or worry that your competitors will."

Peter uses his talents to serve such diverse clients as the American Heart Association, Bayer Chemicals, Cap Gemini, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Ernst & Young, GM, GE, MIT, Fidelity Investments, Starbucks and Target.

His skills at synthesizing ideas in a compelling and useful form are used at major conferences for the Monitor Group, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Society for Organizational Learning and the annual congregation of science and design gurus, Pop!Tech.

Several government institutions invite Peter to contribute his talents to strategy sessions and conferences sponsored by DARPA, USJFCOM, the Department of Homeland Security and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. These include conferences on smuggling and hiding weapons of mass destruction and a war game based on Thomas Barnett's work, The Pentagon's New Map.

Recently, Peter has gotten involved in the emerging field of social enterprise. He works closely with the Pittsburgh Social Enterprise Accelerator to co-design a new media methodology for aiding non-profits in the design of revenue-generating business models.

In addition to supporting corporate events across the country, Peter is also series producer for Globeshakers, an on-line radio program offered through IT Conversations. He serves as founding editor for The Center for Graphic Facilitation and maintains his own very active blog on art and design.

Peter Durand holds a BFA in Visual Communication from Washington University in St. Louis and a MFA in Industrial Design from the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, Poland, where he was a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar.

He currently lives with his wife and daughter in the historic Mexican War Streets on Pittsburgh's North Side.

Education

• BFA in Visual Communication from Washington University in St. Louis (1991)

• Artist residency, Cite des Arts, Paris, France (1991)

• Institute of Polish Language and Culture, Jagiellonian University, Krakow (1994)

• MFA in Industrial Design from the Polish Academy of Fine Arts, Krakow (1995)

• Masters thesis: "Pilgrimage to the Black Madonna Shrine of Czestochowa"

Honors

• Awarded the Miliken Travel Scholarship by Washington University (1991)

• Kosciusko Foundation Cultural Scholarship (1993)

• Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, sponsored by Oak Ridge Club, District 6780 (1994)

Alphachimp Studio Inc. copyright © 1998-2006