Each year, designers and fans anxiously await the start of the Layer Tennis season. 2009 was no different, as Coudal Partners, a Chicago ad and design agency, kicked off a series of live online design events in which professionals trade designs back and forth in real-time, building on top of their opponent’s work. A third party offers commentary which is often whimsical as well as inspiring and unpredictable. The audience can comment during the actual match as well as vote for a winner afterward, all using Twitter. This current season started on February 3 and was held every Friday ending May 29. We are currently in the playoffs in which you can find our featured designer, Sam Potts facing off against Aaron Draplin this Friday, June 12.

In this second season (of its current incarnation), we wanted to get an idea of the impact Layer Tennis has on the participants and the design community at large. Could we find a pattern in the tools or techniques used? What sort of pressures do they face when the ball in in their court and the clock is ticking? Keep reading for the interview…

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and despite the fact Thanksgiving has yet to hit our friends at PSFK are already looking to next year. The always prescient Piers and company have gotten a head start on the new year with their “Good Ideas in 2009 Report”. The 80-page book aimed at those whose interests lie in branding, marketing, and business strategy, focuses on nine innovative ideas and just how they’re being carried out. Available on Blurb.com, the volume takes a look at everything from socially conscious companies that make use of new technology to a ping pong haven/art gallery/drive-in theater on New York’s Lower East Side. For a closer look at the future, you can waste your time inventing a time machine or you could just pony up a few bucks for the book.

Grab your passports, put your seats and tray tables in their upright and locked position, and get ready for PSFK’s Conference in Asia. Piers and crew are headed to tax-haven and very international city of Singapore to help spread the gospel of good design, marketing, advertising, communication and so forth.

The conference agenda “Creativity for Change, Ideas To Make Things Better” looks to be one of the tastiest I’ve seen yet, speakers include:

My pal Jeff Staple who will talk about how his great ‘accidental career path’ landed him at the help of an international company, Piers (the PF in PSFK) talks about “making things better” and a handful of others from places like W+K, NASA, Mindshare, Panasonic and MTV will be taking the stage (full list here). Also, Mark Dytha of Pecha Kucha fame will speak– that should be interesting. Tickets are on sale now, with the even happening on Friday, October 10 is the day. Say hi to everyone for me, I’m sorry I’ll miss it.

When most people are asked to name three people they’d love to have dinner with, living or dead, usually go with the some holy trifecta along the lines of Jesus, Martin Luther King Jr., and Gandhi. While All Day Buffet might never be able to deliver on that type of panel, they’ve generously compiled quite the lineup of lively innovators for The Feast. On October 16th at NYC’s Scandinavia House, they’ll gather 150 of the world’s most inventive minds to discuss prevalent issues and galvanize a movement for socially conscious change in arenas ranging from business to science. Speakers will include Piers Fawkes of PSFK, Scott Belsky of Behance, and Ecopop’s Chad Rea amongst others. While we have no idea if any meal is actually being served, the conversation is sure to be riveting. So get yourself a ticket pronto before they run out.

Site pal and PSFK man-in-charge Piers Fawkes is at it again, this time with his Snapshot San Francisco book series. His team has taken to the streets to put together a snapshot report of what they call the most unique when it comes to events, businesses, organizations and ideas in the most inspirational cities in the world– and they’re starting with San Francisco. Grab one for your nearest coffee table in Softcover for $30, Hardcover for lifetimes to come for $60.