Dezeen promotion: annual conference What Design Can Do is launching its first talks programme about the relationship between design and music (+ slideshow).

This year's What Design Can Do conference in Amsterdam will feature a series of talks and breakout sessions around the theme What Design Can Do for Music.

Peter Saville, the British designer behind many of the most iconic UK record covers of the 1970s and 1980s, will be among the speakers in the programme, which includes designers, artists and musicians.

"Over its two-day programme What Design Can Do will present some of the most impressive examples of the interlocking realms of design and music, adding layers of meaning and understanding to the musical experience," said What Design Can Do.

Dutch design duo Lernert & Sander will discuss their audiovisual work, including their recent "3-in-1" music video for De Jeugd Van Tegenwoordig, which covered three singles by the Dutch group.

Other speakers and performers include musician Officerfishdumplings, described by What Design Can Do as a "Moroccan remix master", and multimedia artist Floris Kaayk.

Dutch pianist Joep Beving will also perform live, providing a soundtrack for a film by London artist, designer and director Marcus Lyall.

What Design Can Do for Music is one of three key themes for this year's Amsterdam conference, which will take place from 30 June to 1 July in the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, a music hall on the banks of the IJ river.

The other two themes are What Africa Can Do for Europe – which aims to offer a different perspective on questions around identity, social cohesion and international cooperation – and What Design Can Do for Refugees.

The latter includes the What Design Can Do Refugee Challenge, a design competition to help improve the lives of refugees living in urban environments for which Dezeen is media partner.

All 25 shortlisted designs from the challenge, which attracted over 630 entries, will be displayed during the conference and the five winners will also be revealed.

What Design Can Do was founded as an annual conference in 2010 to encourage debate among designers and promote projects that could help effect positive social change. Last year, the organisation launched its first conference in São Paulo, Brazil.

Tickets for the What Design Can Do annual conference in Amsterdam are also available online.

More information about the What Design Can Do Refugee Challenge is also available on the What Design Can Do website.