Shoppers’ spirits are being renewed and consumer confidence is beginning to mend.

How will that translate at shelf into new brand experiences that deliver sales? Your creative team might find answers at the FUSE: Design & Culture/Brand Identity & Packaging conference April 14-16, 2010, at the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Reclaim the Future.” Speakers will exchange innovations and ideas on adapting and inspiring brands to connect on a deeper level with consumers, who are striving for certainty and security.

Shelf Impact! will be a media partner at this year’s conference, which is produced by the Institute for International Research.

FUSE will include a first-day workshop and a symposium focusing on “Clearing the Path to Breakthrough Packaging.”

Sessions at the conference will include the following:

• Starbucks Coffee Co.’s Steve Barrett, Vice President Global Creative, Branded Products; and Jeffrey Fields, Vice President Global Creative, Store Experience, will present “Packaging the Starbucks Experience for the Coffeehouse and Beyond.”

• Moira Cullen, Senior Director Global Design at The Hershey Co., will join Erin Paul, Director of Strategy, and George Argyros, Director of Account Service at Soulsight, in discussing “Why the Middle of the Road is Where You Get Squished.”

• Chip Reeves, Director, Discovery and Design at Dow Corning, will explore “Using Design to Drive Innovation.”

For information and to register, visit www.iirusa.com/fuse/home.xml