INSPIRATION

I cannot not see it quite well from this part of the planet, but the London Design Festival may be another interesting source of inspiration, starting this coming 13th September. Even though I don't know anybody who's been there to assure you it is in fact inspiring... the London design-standard may be just enough.
http://www.londondesignfestival.com/Default.aspx
I've been to AGIdeas in Melbourne, Australia, a long time ago, and it also was an "All things design" event, despite it's differences. Melbourne is well designed as Hamburg is, in terms of how "livable" it is as a city, yet sunnier.
http://www.agideas.net/
Argentina has develloped some great design events too, though I could not attend many of them. Honestly, there's good and bad stuff anywhere, as far as I've seen. We all can design both. And "bad" design is so useful sometimes, it should be . I did have the chance however to attend on 2001 the outstanding "TipográficaBuenosAires", on type and design: we were able to chat personally with the lecturers within brakes. Interaction, real people, that makes a difference.
http://www.tpgbuenosaires.tipografica.com/introduction.html
¡Saludos!