What is a 'Special Interest Group'?

What the European Academy of Design calls a 'Special Interest Group' may resemble a 'Working Party' that serves the interests of a Committee. In our case we were self-selecting, and have been given no brief. We are seeking to look broadly and deeply at the notion of 'conference' and its potential for catalysing the design industry and/or the design education profession. In taking this approach we frevently hope that this process will lead to interesting and enlightened outcomes that would be of direct practical use to the EAD and its members.