Leading international and local creatives will be brought together once again when Semi-Permanent returns in August. This year's diverse range of speakers will cover graphic design, branding, advertising, motion graphics, animation, environmental graphics, fashion, music and graffiti art. International guests include MadeThought and United Visual Artists from the UK, and Glue Society, Umeric and 3 Deep Design from Australia. Misery and Alt Design make up the NZ contingent.A one-day, annual design forum involving multiple disciplines, Semi-Permanent is the only event of its type in Australasia, described by organisers The Church as "a gathering of fresh talent, raw ideas, conversation and visual splendour". According to The Church's Simon Velvin, anyone studying, working in or interested in creativity and design would benefit from attending. "Semi-Permanent is about creativity, inspiration and passion," says Simon. "It's an opportunity to see and hear from leading creatives from around the world as they share their work, knowledge, experience and expertise. A chance to learn, soak up ideas and get inspiration from a variety of creative sources with lots of other like-minded people. "From diverse disciplines within design and art, these speakers are all at the top of their respective fields. Whether you're working, studying or just interested in any of these areas, hopefully attending Semi-Permanent provides some invaluable insights, exposes you to new perspectives, and hopefully helps push you and your work in new directions." Last year's Auckland event was attended by more than 1,200 people with speakers including UK-based graphic designers Ã…bake and Build and animation legends Tokyoplastic, French illustrator Genevieve Gauckler, and New Zealand's own Taika Waititi and Huffer. With tickets selling out several days prior, Simon says organisers were blown away by the event's popularity but it did present some unforeseen problems. This year, organisers are better prepared for larger numbers. "We're opening registration earlier in the morning so people can come earlier and avoid the queues. Come relax in the Red Bull-Loop Recordings lounge area, have a look around the stalls, buy a design book or tshirt. We've even got coffee onsite and food available both inside the venue and in markets outside in the square." An exhibition featuring work from the speakers and other New Zealand contributors will run alongside the event for a week at AUT's St Paul's St Gallery. And for anyone wanting to shimmy the night away and maybe rub shoulders with a speaker or two, the wrap party is being held across two venues - 4:20 and Rising Sun - to help cater for the larger numbers. All attendees receive the legendary Semi-Permanent goodie bag worth over $100. The pack includes an extra book this year, with the international Semi-Permanent book and a New Zealand magazine featuring work from the speakers and local contributions, plus all the usual goodies. When: Saturday 11 August 2007 Where: Aotea Centre, 50 Mayoral Drive, Auckland Tickets: $140 (waged) and $90 (student). Includes entry to the event, exhibition and wrap party, plus the goodie-bag. Bookings: Available through Ticketek Image: London-based United Visual Artists work with LED, traditional lighting and projection technologies as sculptural elements, with their bespoke software approach allowing them to use existing technologies in new and unusual ways. 3/5/07