Design Week
Editorial

News in brief round-up

Fri, 18 May 2012

A round-up of this week’s news in brief.

News in brief round-up

Fri, 11 May 2012

A round-up of this week’s news in brief.

What is your favourite example of an icon or pictogram-led design system?

Fri, 11 May 2012

Mother London has created icon-led designs for Boots pharmacies. What is your favourite example of an icon or pictogram-led design system?

News in brief round-up

Fri, 4 May 2012

A round-up of this week’s news in brief.

Bauhaus: Art as Life

Wed, 2 May 2012

This week sees the opening of the Barbican’s stunning Bauhaus: Art as Life exhibition.

Designs unveiled in bid to tackle dementia

Fri, 27 Apr 2012

Appetite-stimulating clocks and ‘guide dogs for the mind’ developed.

Designers' Inspiration - Beauty in the Making talk

Tue, 24 Apr 2012

Pentagram partner Angus Hyland, No Brow publishing platform’s Sam Arthur, Supermundane and others tell us what inspires them.

What design can bring to policy-making

Fri, 20 Apr 2012

Corporate Edge’s Ronan Harrington looks at what design can bring to policy-making.

The design Yellow Pencils

Fri, 20 Apr 2012

There were some great winners but also some notable absentees in this year’s D&AD Yellow Pencils.

Six things I know (and one I don't)

Wed, 18 Apr 2012

Spencer du Bois creative director John Spencer shares his experience.

Support organisation Design Initiative closes due to a lack of funding

Mon, 16 Apr 2012

Support organisation Design Initiative, which ran events including the Liverpool Design Festival and the Manchester Design Symposium, has closed due to a loss of funding.

Ian Rudge, Neville Brody and Ab Rogers work on new DX design event

Tue, 10 Apr 2012

UBM Built Environment’s Ian Rudge, co-founder of 100 % Design and Tent, is working with Neville Brody and Ab Rogers Design to create DX, a new design event and online platform that will debut in London in spring 2013.

News in brief round-up

Thu, 5 Apr 2012

A round-up of this week’s news in brief.

News in brief round-up

Fri, 30 Mar 2012

A round-up of this week’s news in brief

Government unveils hub structure to replace COI

Wed, 28 Mar 2012

The Government has unveiled its full plans for a series of marketing and communications hubs, to replace the Central Office of Information when it closes on 31 March and be responsible for commissioning design.

Should the impact of design be measured?

Thu, 22 Mar 2012

Would better measurement help or harm design?

Voxpop - What can designers bring to organisations?

Thu, 15 Mar 2012

Our recent guest blog from Sidekick Studios looks at the skills designers can bring to start-up companies. What do you think is the most important thing designers can bring to organisations?

Landor appoints Peter Knapp to new role of global creative officer

Wed, 14 Mar 2012

Landor has announced a new global creative officer role, which will rotate annually. The first incumbent will be Peter Knapp, executive creative director of Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Voxpop - What first inspired you to take up a career in design?

Thu, 8 Mar 2012

The Government is to fund the Sorrell Foundation’s National Art and Design Saturday Club initiative, which give young people aged 14-16 the opportunity to study art and design at a local college or university. What first inspired you to take up a career in design?

News in brief round-up

Fri, 2 Mar 2012

A round-up of this week’s news in brief.

Marina Willer to become new Pentagram partner

Thu, 1 Mar 2012

Wolff Olins creative director Marina Willer is set to join Pentagram as a partner in its London office.

Government to support Art and Design Saturday Clubs

Wed, 29 Feb 2012

The Government has announced it is to fund the Sorrell Foundation’s National Art and Design Saturday Club initiative to the tune of £395 000 over three years.

News in brief round-up

Fri, 24 Feb 2012

A round-up of this week’s news in brief.

News in brief round-up

Fri, 17 Feb 2012

A round-up of this week’s news in brief.

Voxpop - What is the best piece of advice a client has given you?

Thu, 9 Feb 2012

Business development expert Jonathan Kirk’s guest blog last week rounded up client answers to the question, ‘If you could give the consultancy one piece of advice, what would it be?’ What is the single best piece of advice a client has given you?

News in brief round-up

Fri, 3 Feb 2012

A round-up of this week’s news in brief.

Voxpop - What should be the first exhibition at the Design Museum’s new home?

Fri, 27 Jan 2012

The Design Museum has unveiled detailed plans for its new building in west London. What do you think should be the first exhibition at its new home?

Voxpop - What is your favourite design from the last 12 months?

Thu, 19 Jan 2012

The nominations for the Design Museum’s Designs of the Year Awards have been unveiled. What is your favourite design from the last 12 months (that you haven’t worked on!)?

News in brief round-up

Fri, 13 Jan 2012

A round-up of this week’s news in brief.

Olympic Torch and Royal Wedding Dress among Designs of the Year nominations

Wed, 11 Jan 2012

Barber Osgerby’s London 2012 Olympic Torch and The Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress are among the projects on the longlist for the Design Museum’s Designs of the Year Awards.

Surge in applications to art and design courses, but numbers remain down

Thu, 5 Jan 2012

There has been an increase in the number of applications to creative arts and design university courses starting in September, but applications are still down by almost 15 per cent from a year ago.

Free pitches on the increase as client budgets drop, report shows

Tue, 3 Jan 2012

Design consultancies are increasingly being asked to work on creative pitches for free as client budgets drop, according to a new report.

This week's news in brief round-up

Fri, 23 Dec 2011

A round-up of this week’s news in brief

Review of the Year - The Government and design

Thu, 22 Dec 2011

Government-commissioned design work was, unsurprsingly, rather thin on the ground in 2011, following the Government’s freeze on marketing spend implemented last year.

This week's news in brief round-up

Fri, 16 Dec 2011

Joint managing director Mano Manoharan is leaving LFH Brand Identity Consultants, which he co-founded 18 years ago. He says he is leaving ‘to pursue new career challenges’.

Design Week Awards 2012 open for entries

Mon, 12 Dec 2011

The Design Week Awards 2012 are now open for entries.

News analysis - Design in the Government’s innovation strategy

Thu, 8 Dec 2011

The Government’s long-awaited Innovation and Research Strategy, published this morning, has already been hailed in glowing terms by the Design Council - legitimitely so, as not only does the strategy pay much lip service to the importance of the design industry, but it also provides a huge endorsement of the Design Council as an organisation.

Bold Creative develops the iPaddington app

Wed, 7 Dec 2011

Bold Creative has developed the Paddington Bear story app, dubbed the iPaddington.

Voxpop - If you could create a robot to do anything, what would it do?

Thu, 1 Dec 2011

This week is European Robotics Week. If you could create a robot to perrform any one task, what would that task be and why?

This week's news in brief round-up

Fri, 25 Nov 2011

ITV’s Text Santa campaign, which launches next week, has been created by Lambie-Nairn and Aardman Animations. It aims to raise awareness and money for those most vulnerable during the festive period by inviting the public to donate money via text message.

Voxpop - What is your favourite example of a Great British product?

Thu, 24 Nov 2011

The Science Museum is hosting the Make it in Great Britain exhibition next summer, which aims to highlight British manufacturing. Which example of a Great British product, made in the UK, do you think should be in the show?

Science Museum to celebrate UK manufacturing with Make it in Great Britain show

Wed, 16 Nov 2011

The Science Museum is set to host an exhibition next summer as part of the Government-run Make it in Great Britain campaign to highlight British manufacturing.Make It In Great Britain Flag

Former HSBC design head Richard Newland leaves the company

Mon, 14 Nov 2011

Richard Newland, formerly global head of retail network development and design at HSBC, has left the group.

This week’s news in brief round-up

Fri, 11 Nov 2011

Goosebumps has branded new restaurant chain Cabana, which opens a Westfield Stratford restaurant this week.

Voxpop - What is Sir Terence Conran’s single biggest contribution to the design industry?

Thu, 10 Nov 2011

The Design Museum is set to host an exhibition marking Sir Terence Conran’s 80th birthday. What do you think is Conran’s single biggest contribution to the design industry and why?

Georgia and Verdana typefaces redrawn

Wed, 9 Nov 2011

Matthew Carter, who designed the Georgia and Verdana typefaces in the 1990s, has updated them to be better suited to mobile and tablet devices.

RSA director of design Emily Campbell to join academies group

Tue, 8 Nov 2011

Emily Campbell, director of design at the Royal Society for Arts, is set to join the Creative Education Trust, a group which runs academies.

Voxpop - do you think a design degree is worth £9000 a year?

Thu, 3 Nov 2011

With university fees set to hit up to £9000 a year next year, new figures show that applications to art and design courses for 2012 have dropped by more than a quarter.

Jon Bailey joins Dragon Rouge as senior design director

Mon, 31 Oct 2011

Jon Bailey, formerly design director at Ziggurat Brands, is joining Dragon Rouge as senior design director.

Voxpop - who is the most inspirational public speaker you have seen?

Fri, 28 Oct 2011

Last week’s Typo London event brought design stars including Michael Bierut, Chip Kidd and Ghana’s King Bansah to the capital. Who is the most inspirational public speaker you have seen and what was so special about them?

News analysis - Cape Town appointed World Design Capital 2014

Wed, 26 Oct 2011

South African city Cape Town has been announced as the next World Design Capital by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design.

DBA Design Effectiveness Award winners announced

Tue, 25 Oct 2011

The Design Business Association has announced the winners of this year’s Design Effectiveness Awards.

Government to commission design through ‘hubs’ as COI is wound down

Thu, 20 Oct 2011

The Government has unveiled plans for a series of cross-departmental hubs that will be involved in commissioning design, as it confirmed that the Central Office of Information is to be wound down by the end of next March.

News Analysis - Highlights from The British Invention Show

Wed, 19 Oct 2011

The British Invention Show, which kicks off today in London, is a beguiling mix of the serious, the potentially life-changing and the novelty.

Number of art and design students grows by a quarter - report shows

Mon, 17 Oct 2011

The number of UK creative art and design students has grown by nearly a quarter since 2003/04, according to a new report.

Voxpop – Which regions could benefit from community focussed design?

Fri, 14 Oct 2011

Studio DB recently created a 3D installation as part of the We Love Brixton scheme. Which regions do you know of that could do with some community focussed design?

Harry Pearce and Nat Hunter turn up the sustainability for D&AD annual

Fri, 7 Oct 2011

This year’s D&AD annual has been designed by Pentagram partner Harry Pearce and founding director of Airside Nat Hunter with a focus on sustainability.

News analysis - Steve Jobs’s impact on design

Thu, 6 Oct 2011

Steve Jobs probably had more impact on the way design is perceived than anyone else - and certainly more than any other non-designer.

Voxpop - Which 1970s brand would you like to revitalise?

Thu, 29 Sep 2011

Bloom has rebranded Cockburn’s port, aiming to bring back the character that made it a success in the 1970s. Which ’70s brand would you like to revitalise and why?

Method bought by software R&D group Global Logic

Tue, 27 Sep 2011

San Francisco-based consultancy Method, which has offices in London and New York, has been acquired by software research and development group Global Logic.

Neville Brody announced as D&AD president in waiting

Thu, 22 Sep 2011

Neville Brody has been announced as the incoming deputy president of D&AD, which means he will take over as president of the organisation in a year’s time.

Government calls for evidence on design rights

Wed, 21 Sep 2011

The Government has today called on the UK design community to provide information on how well the current design rights intellectual property system is working.

Branding and design sector sees a rise in company incomes, report shows

Tue, 20 Sep 2011

The branding and design sector has seen a 4 per cent rise in company incomes over the last six months, according to a report from accountant Kingston Smith W1.

Pentagram’s DJ Stout redesigns Times Educational Supplement

Fri, 16 Sep 2011

Texas-based Pentagram partner DJ Stout has redesigned the Times Educational Supplement, which is moving from a newspaper to a magazine format.

RCA appoints architecture and fine art deans in school structure overhaul

Tue, 13 Sep 2011

The Royal College of Art has appointed Alex de Rijke as its dean of architecture and Ute Mata Bauer as its dean of fine art as it prepares to implement its new academic structure.

Labour accuses Government of ‘damaging the foundations’ of UK’s creative industries

Thu, 8 Sep 2011

The Labour Party has launched a national Creative Industries Network of businesses, trade bodies and other organisations and attacked the Coalition Government for its ‘damaging’ education and arts policies.

New D&AD executive committee appointed

Wed, 7 Sep 2011

Someone founder Simon Manchipp and Airside director Nat Hunter have been elected to the design seats on the D&AD executive committee.

Voxpop - Which book has inspired you most as a designer?

Fri, 2 Sep 2011

An exhibition at the Kemistry Gallery is marking 10 years since the publication of Alan Fletcher’s book the Art of Looking Sideways. Which book has inspired you most as a designer?

Hidden Art closes due to lack of funding

Tue, 30 Aug 2011

Organisation Hidden Art, which promotes the work of designers and designer-makers, is to close at the end of next month due to a lack of funding.

Branded at WMH offer brings together two Loewy agencies

Fri, 26 Aug 2011

Loewy Group consultancies Branded and Williams Murray Hamm have launched collaborative offer Branded at WMH, which will see the agencies work together on specific projects.

WPP profits up by 37 per cent

Wed, 24 Aug 2011

WPP has reported a 37 per cent rise in pre-tax profits for the first half of the year, compared with the first half of 2010.

Design Council launches dementia challenge

Tue, 16 Aug 2011

The Design Council and the Department of Health have launched a £360 000 competition to develop designs to help improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers.

Voxpop - Which overseas retail brand would you like to see come to the UK?

Thu, 11 Aug 2011

US fashion brand Forever 21 has opened its first British stores. Which overseas retail brand would you like to see brought to the UK?

BBC executive creative director Marcelo Marer joins Intel

Tue, 9 Aug 2011

Former BBC executive creative director Marcelo Marer is joining the Intel Digital Home Group as chief creative director.

News analysis – IP reforms accepted by government

Wed, 3 Aug 2011

A host of intellectual property reforms announced by government this morning appear to have been met with cautious acceptance by the design industry.

Water pump and manoeuverable shopping trolley up for Dyson award

Wed, 27 Jul 2011

Entries so far for this year’s international James Dyson Award include a pipe pump designed for the developing world and a shopping trolley designed to be easy to manoeuvre.

Voxpop - which design issues would you put before Government?

Thu, 21 Jul 2011

The Creative Industries Council has been set up by Government to examine issues in the creative sector. What design-related issues would you like to see it tackle?

News analysis: The Made in Britain logo

Tue, 19 Jul 2011

The Made in Britain identity project has certainly been a PR triumph for kitchen company Stoves, which is behind the initiative and has got its name into pretty much every local and national paper in the UK. Some observers, however, have questioned whether the resulting logo is a fitting marque for UK design and even whether such a logo is needed at all.

Design issues raised at Government’s Creative Industries Council

Thu, 14 Jul 2011

The Government’s Creative Industries Council, which includes design representatives from the Design Council and the Sorrell Foundation, has met for the first time to discuss issues to put to Government.

Call to bring design education on to Government’s Innovation Strategy

Wed, 13 Jul 2011

Design organisations have been urged to make sure design education is addressed in the Government’s Innovation Strategy, which is due to be released later this year.

Government launches Creative Choice procurement framework

Wed, 6 Jul 2011

A new framework which will supply creative services, including design, to all Government departments and public sector organisations, has been launched by the Department for Education.

53K works with artist on widows project

Mon, 4 Jul 2011

53K, the consultancy launched by former Applied Information Group senior staff Kasper de Graaf and Malcolm Garrett alongside others, has worked with British Indian artist Reeta Sarkar on an exhibition in New York.

Sir Terence Conran gifts £18m for Design Museum move

Thu, 30 Jun 2011

Sir Terence Conran has made a donation that could total nearly £18 million to help fund the Design Museum’s planned move to the former Commonwealth Institute in Kensington in 2014.

First Site arts centre set to open

Wed, 29 Jun 2011

Former Selfridges boss Vittorio Radice joins Conran

Mon, 27 Jun 2011

Former Selfridges chief executive Vittorio Radice is joining Conran Holdings as a non-executive director.

Government scraps Central Office of Information

Fri, 24 Jun 2011

The Central Office of Information, the Government’s main procurer of design, is to be scrapped.

The Chase completes Cannes Lions hat-trick

Thu, 23 Jun 2011

The Chase has bagged gold, silver and bronze Design Lions at this year’s Cannes Lions Festival.

Designers make sense of London's changing transport

23 June 2011

The London Transport Museum has enlisted a host of designers to work alongside its in-house team for the Sense and the City exhibition, which opens next month.Dare by Rian Hughes (left) and Helicopters for Everybody from Mechanix Illustrated

Martin Lambie-Nairn steps down from Heavenly to revive ML-N

Wed, 22 Jun 2011

Tim Lindsay to take over at D&AD

Mon, 20 Jun 2011

Tim Lindsay has been appointed as the new chief executive of D&AD and will take over from Tim O’Kennedy in August.

Typo London takes its place on the conference calendar

16 June 2011

King Bansah and Julian Zimmermann billed for Typo London

Student designs aim to tackle cashpoint crime

Wed, 15 Jun 2011

Students and staff at the Design Against Crime Research Centre at Central St Martins College of Art and Design have developed a series of projects that aim to reduce incidences of crime at cash machines.

Design on the menu

9 June 2011

With so many restaurants on the high street competing for customers, creating unique dining experiences is becoming increasingly important. Emily Gosling looks at ways restaurants are standing out from the crowd

Royal Society of Arts reveals 2011 Student Design Awards roll of honour

9 June 2011

DBA works with GLA to promote procurement best-practice

Thu, 2 Jun 2011

The Design Business Association says it is to work with the Greater London Authority to develop best practice design procurement case studies.

Design Museum names 2011 Designers in Residence

Fri, 27 May 2011

The Design Museum has named its four Designers in Residence for 2011, whose work will go on show at the museum from August 2011 until January 2012.

East London's Create festival announces line-up for 2011

26 May 2011

Top 100 survey shows design industry has returned to growth

Tue, 24 May 2011

The total fee-income from all Design Week Top 100 consultancies has risen by 14 per cent this year to stand at £411m.

CSD in final stage of register plan

Mon, 23 May 2011

The Chartered Society of Designers has held an extraordinary general meeting which it says marks the end of a period of consultation on its plans to set up a register of chartered designers.

D&AD to award slices of pencil

Fri, 20 May 2011

D&AD is set to award ‘slices’ of pencil as In-Book and Nominated awards, with the new prizes designed by Turner Duckworth.

Hargreaves review makes IP recommendations

Thu, 19 May 2011

A Government-initiated review into intellectual property has been delivered by Professor Ian Hargreaves, concluding that ten adjustments need to be made to current IP laws, which he sees as obstructive to innovation and economic growth.

Street Wheels game winner in 24-hour design challenge

5 May 2011

The Collective – aka Centre for Smoother Journeys’ – Street Wheels game, winner of the Judges Award

WPP reports revenue rise

Thu, 28 Apr 2011

WPP says its reported revenues were up by 7 per cent in the first quarter of 2011 from the last quarter of 2010, to stand at £2.223bn.

V&A appoints new director and head for Dundee project

Thu, 21 Apr 2011

Professor Martin Roth, director general of the Dresden State Art Collections, has been named as the new director of the Victoria & Albert Museum, replacing current director Sir Mark Jones.

The joys of sex

21 April 2011

With fewer taboos around the marketing of sex and sexuality and more people enjoying the pleasures of recession-busting nights in, Emily Gosling looks at the brands that are waking up to the fact that sex sells

Marketing spend down by 5%, report shows

Mon, 18 Apr 2011

Marketing spend fell by 5.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2011, according to the latest Bellwether survey compiled by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising and BDO and authored by financial information group Markit.

London Gift Fair postponed

Thu, 14 Apr 2011

This year’s London Gift Fair, which was due to be held at Olympia in September, has been postponed due to market conditions.

Brand Union and Lambie-Nairn work on Cannes Also show

Fri, 8 Apr 2011

WPP consultancies The Brand Union and Lambie-Nairn are working on the selection and exhibition designs for the Cannes Also exhibition at this year’s Cannes Lions festival in June.

Reconciling ergonomics and good design in healthcare

7 April 2011

Yorkshire police seek design consultancy

Mon, 4 Apr 2011

The four police forces that serve the Yorkshire and Humberside region are seeking to appoint a design consultancy to a marketing services framework.

Design organisations hit by Arts Council cuts

Thu, 31 Mar 2011

The Crafts Council and the London Design Festival have both had their funding reduced following a review of Arts Council England grants.

Design industry greets Budget with cautious optimism

Wed, 30 Mar 2011

Budget promises economy-boosting measures

Thu, 24 Mar 2011

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne has delivered the Budget 2011 with an emphasis on boosting the economy through reducing Corporation Tax, simplifying the tax system and exempting start-ups from domestic regulation.

Government in plan to launch Creative Industry Council

Wed, 23 Mar 2011

The Government is planning to launch a Creative Industry Council, allowing it to more efficiently address issues affecting the creative sectors, Design Week understands.

Designing Demand continues with Government backing

Mon, 21 Mar 2011

The Government says it will continue to provide financial support for the Designing Demand programme, set up by the Design Council.

Government funding cut for arts institutions

Thu, 17 Mar 2011

The University for the Creative Arts has had its annual central Government funding slashed by 7.8 per cent in the latest round of grant allocations from the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Lounge wizards

17 March 2011

High-end airport lounges offer international travellers a haven where they can escape from the stresses of air travel. Tom Banks looks at some of the latest developments and considers the future of lounge design

D&AD launches Graduate Academy

Tue, 15 Mar 2011

D&AD is launching the Graduate Academy initiative, which aims to help design graduates find work and gain industry experience.

Deborah Dawton takes over as president of Beda

Mon, 14 Mar 2011

Design Business Association chief executive Deborah Dawton has taken the helm as president of the Bureau of European Design Associations.

Entries open for Inclusive Design Challenge

Thu, 10 Mar 2011

This year’s Inclusive Design Challenge, organised by the Helen Hamlyn Centre at the Royal College of Art, is currently accepting entries for the 24-hour-challenge, which will take place on 18 April.

Global Service Jam to set 48-hour virtual challenge

10 March 2011

When old meets the new

10 March 2011

Heritage properties are tapping into a bygone era, translating stories from their past into contemporary, visual elements to try to attract a younger audience. Laura Snoad looks at some of the latest identity projects in this sector

CSD changes bylaws in bid to set up register

Tue, 8 Mar 2011

The Chartered Society of Designers says it is to amend its bylaws as part of its ambition to set up a register of chartered designers.

Design Week Awards winners set to be unveiled

Tue, 8 Mar 2011

The winners of the 2011 Design Week Awards are set to be announced tonight.

Alphabet street

Thu, 3 Mar 2011

Graffiti artist Claudia Walde commissioned a collection of original lettering to show the world the unsung genius that exists on the street

Brit Insurance category award winners unveiled

Mon, 28 Feb 2011

The seven category winners of the Brit Insurance Design Awards have been announced. They include London’s Barclays Cycle Hire, winner in the Transport category, and personalised magazine app Flipboard, by Mike McCue and Evan Doll, which won in the Interactive category.

Appy talk

Publishing In Focus Supplement

Despite enthusiasm from readers, sales of paid-for app versions of magazines have so far failed to set the world of publishing alight, but, says Jeremy Leslie, the future for this new medium looks bright

Publishing in focus

Publishing In Focus Supplement

Vellum wonders

Publishing In Focus Supplement

No newfangled electronic book reader can compare to a delicately crafted, hand-bound edition of your favourite title. Emily Pacey marvels at what can be done with that age-old craft, bookbinding, when money is no object

Where the art is

Publishing In Focus Supplement

There is a definite art to art direction. Sourcing imagery, whether commissioning photography or illustration, using stock libraries or even creating something yourself, is one of the most important roles in the editorial design process. As Violetta Boxill, who redesigned Icon, notes, imagery is the first thing the reader or potential purchaser will notice, and it is crucial in setting the tone for a publication. The manner in which art directors go about this often overlooked creative ...

Waitrose picks up DBA Grand Prix award

Fri, 18 Feb 2011

The Waitrose graphic design and packaging team has picked up the Grand Prix at the Design Business Association 2011 Design Effectiveness Awards.

Helen Hamlyn Centre to berenamed reflecting its dedicated focus on design

17 February 2011

Design Council and Cabe confirm merger

Fri, 11 Feb 2011

The Design Council and the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment have confirmed that they are to merge from 1 April.

Design Council grants recipients announced

10 February 2011

Manchester to play host to its first design symposium

10 February 2011

Mentor team put together for Design Ventura

Fri, 4 Feb 2011

A mentoring team has been put in place to work with Year 10 pupils from Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College in London, who have won the Design Museum’s Design Ventura initiative.

Hands on the wheel

3 February 2011

A ’hub and spoke’ approach is one way in which the UK’s design industry bodies could be looking to organise themselves in the future. Angus Montgomery looks at their changing structures and strategies

Hidden Art survives funding crisis

Wed, 2 Feb 2011

Hidden Art, which promotes the work of designers and designer-makers, has developed a plan that will allow it to stay in business as it seeks a new source of long-term funding (www.designweek.co.uk, 30 November 2010).

Pupils awarded Design Museum prize

Fri, 28 Jan 2011

Year 10 pupils from Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College in London have won the Design Museum’s Design Ventura initiative – and will see the bunting they designed sold in the Design Museum shop.

Private investment in culture drops by 3 per cent, research shows

Thu, 27 Jan 2011

New figures from organisation Arts & Business show that private investment in culture in the UK has fallen by 3 per cent year-on-year, to stand at £658m in 2009-10.

World Economic Forum puts design issues in spotlight

27 January 2011

Issues of design and its wider importance will be under debate at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting at Davos, Switzerland, which runs from today until 30 January.

Designers dish the dirt for Wellcome Collection show

Wed, 26 Jan 2011

London gallery the Wellcome Collection’s new blockbuster exhibition Dirt: the Filthy Reality of Everyday Life, has led to a raft of design briefs being initiated as it prepares for a five-month run and a presence at this summer’s festivals.

Former Centaur chairman Graham Sherren launches digital venture

Tue, 25 Jan 2011

Graham Sherren, founder and former chairman and chief executive of Centaur Media, is launching new digital publishing company Casis Media.

Northumbria University in RSA design tie-up

Mon, 24 Jan 2011

Northumbria University’s School of Design is launching a partnership with the North East Regional Network of the Royal Society of Arts that will aim to set up projects to tackle social issues.

Parliamentary Design Commission set up

Fri, 21 Jan 2011

The Associate Parliamentary Design and Innovation Group has set up a Design Commission to promote design to Government.

B&W Studio to stay on Design Business Association awards

20 January 2011

Universally speaking

20 January 2011

With inclusive design’s processes of workshops, user interviews and role play becoming more widely accepted, Angus Montgomery finds practitioners looking to extend the scope and impact of the field

Vintage festival to be held on South Bank

Wed, 19 Jan 2011

Wayne Hemingway’s cultural festival, Vintage, is to take place in July this year as part of celebrations at London’s Southbank Centre to mark the 60th anniversary of the Festival of Britain.

Think Public works on Barnet prototyping system

Thu, 13 Jan 2011

Think Public has been working with Barnet Council to develop a new prototyping system that can be used to build new public services.

Letter by letter

13 January 2011

Harrison & Co has designed the cover art for a series of Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment albums on its newly launched label OAE Released. The first album, Monteverdi Vespers, is released on 31 January. Consultancy creative director Chris Harrison says, ’The artwork for the range of CDs is based on using and illustrating a single letter for each CD. Over time the collection will build into an alphabet.’

Rune Gustafson to head up Prophet's Europe operation

Wed, 12 Jan 2011

BDI chief executive Maxine Horn to step down

Fri, 7 Jan 2011

Maxine Horn, the founder director of British Design Innovation, is to step down from her role as chief executive of the organisation.

Electrolux launches ‘intelligent mobility’ design challenge

Fri, 7 Jan 2011

The Electrolux Design Lab 2011 competition is inviting industrial design students and recent industrial design graduates to submit ideas that consider intelligent mobility within home appliances.

Majority of designers expect no increase in fee-income in 2011, according to latest DW poll

6 January 2011

Less than half of respondents to a Design Week poll think their fee-income will increase in 2011.

Design Council set to launch anti-bike theft initiative

Wed, 22 Dec 2010

The Design Council, on behalf of the Home Office, is set to launch an initiative to tackle residential bicycle theft.

Government sets out higher education and science budgets

Tue, 21 Dec 2010

The Government has set out its allocation to higher education and its ring-fenced funding for science and research.

IP review calls for evidence

Mon, 20 Dec 2010

The Government-initiated independent review into intellectual property and growth has today issued a call for evidence.

Labour calls for cross-Government creative industries group

Thu, 16 Dec 2010

Shadow Culture Secretary Ivan Lewis has called on the coalition Government to set up a cross-Government group of ministers and industry figures to produce a creative industries action plan.

Heartlands scheme to turn mine site into heritage centre

16 December 2010

An arts commissioning programme is set to bring work by a host of international artists and designers to a multi-million-pound community-led development in Cornwall.

Design Council secures Government funding for next four years

Wed, 15 Dec 2010

Matt Willey and Kuchar Swara work on Port magazine

Mon, 13 Dec 2010

New men’s magazine Port is set to launch next year, with editorial design by Matt Willey of Studio 8 and Kuchar Swara and an iPad app by Jeremy Leslie.

Technology Strategy Board to launch innovation competition

Fri, 10 Dec 2010

The Technology Strategy Board will launch a competition in the New Year to invest up to £2m into feasibility studies across a range of areas.

Honeysuckle is colour of the year for 2011

Thu, 9 Dec 2010

Pantone has announced 18-2120 Honeysuckle, ‘a dynamic reddish pink’, as its colour of the year for 2011.

Helen Hamlyn Centre joins charity on autism project briefs

9th December 2010

Stage fright?

9th December 2010

A wave of major theatre building projects financed largely with public funding is nearing completion. Angus Montgomery talks to designers in the sector waiting to see what challenges a greater reliance on private cash could present

Green Awards winners unveiled

Mon, 6 Dec 2010

The China Environmental Protection Foundation has won the Grand Prix and Sir David Attenborough has won the Lifetime Achievement Award for Communicating Sustainability in the 2010 Green Awards.

Universities UK highlights education’s place in creative industries

Thu, 2 Dec 2010

Universities UK has published a report highlighting the importance of education in supporting the creative industries and the UK economy as a whole.

Client of the Year BHF heads 2010 Benchmarks winners

2nd December 2010

Richard Clayton joins Coley Porter Bell as design director

Tue, 30 Nov 2010

Coley Porter Bell has appointed Richard Clayton as design director.

DBA online directory launches

Thu, 25 Nov 2010

The Design Business Association has launched its online database of DBA-registered design groups, in a move which aims to speed up and simplify the pitch process.

A rebalancing act

25 November 2010

The Mayor of London has previously championed the role of public investment in developing the capital’s cultural life, but a new strategy document hints at a cost-driven change of approach. Tom Banks looks at the implications for design

Sheffield conference aims to explore the art of sketching

25 November 2010

Design Week Creative Survey set to be unveiled

Tue, 23 Nov 2010

Creative award wins are important to consultancies, but necessary for clients, according to Design Week’s 2010 Creative Survey.

Jerwood Makers Open programme launches

Mon, 22 Nov 2010

Jerwood Visual Arts is launching the Jerwood Makers Open initiative, an annual exhibition series that aims to support and showcase new work by emerging artists in the applied arts.

Paul Smith joins Landor as creative director

Fri, 19 Nov 2010

Landor London has appointed Paul Smith, former design director at Interbrand, as creative director.

Identica parent group Cossette restructures

Thu, 18 Nov 2010

Identica’s parent company Cossette Group is to be renamed Esprit de Corps in the UK as part of a global restructure.

COI head of creative services takes redundancy as organisation awaits its fate

Wed, 17 Nov 2010

Fanny Sigler, head of creative services at the Central Office of Information, has taken voluntary redundancy as the organisation anticipates a decision on its future, Design Week understands.

Sir Terence Conran named Royal Designer for Industry

Wed, 17 Nov 2010

Conference promotes social study and collaboration

18 November 2010

A new book argues that with the growth of the digital and interactive worlds, designers are moving away from simply being creators of material products to becoming a new breed of anthropologist - studying human relations, rituals and habits to develop inspiration for designs.

Gringo groomers

18 November 2010

Leveraging its creativity could help Mexico escape the economic shadow cast by the US, but can UK consultancies such as Lambie-Nairn - about to open an office in the nation’s capital - help it realise that goal? Emily Gosling reports

Neville Brody plans name change for Royal College of Art department

Mon, 15 Nov 2010

Neville Brody, incoming head of the Royal College of Art’s Department of Communication Art and Design, has announced plans to rename it the Department of Visual Communications and Moving Image.

Dalziel & Pow opens office in Mumbai

Thu, 11 Nov 2010

Dalziel & Pow has set up an office in India which the consultancy says will grow ‘organically’ in the same way the China office has.

British Council grants aim to encourage links with India

11 November 2010

The British Council wants to develop closer links between the creative industries in the UK and India through the Connections Through Culture programme.The initiative provides three different types of grant, worth up to £5000 per application, to projects that involve collaboration between British and Indian partner groups - with each group having as close to an equal role as possible.

Simon Pendry takes up creative director post at Blue Marlin

11 November 2010

Blue Marlin has appointed Simon Pendry as the new creative director of its London office.

Lambie-Nairn plans office in Mexico City as part of Latin American expansion drive

Wed, 10 Nov 2010

Media Square results show revenue and profit rise

Tue, 2 Nov 2010

Marketing services group Media Square has reported a like-for-like revenue rise of 10 per cent and headline operating profits of £700 000 in its results for the six months leading up to August.

Cuts and bruises

27 October 2010

In his Comprehensive Spending Review last week, Chancellor George Osborne radically slashed public sector budgets, mapping out £81bn in savings over the next four years. Angus Montgomery assesses the impact on design

Independent launches new I newspaper

Tue, 26 Oct 2010

The Independent has launched the I newspaper, which it describes as ‘a newspaper with quality, convenience and desirability’.

Details of spending review cuts emerge

Thu, 21 Oct 2010

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is to cut its resource budget by 25 per cent and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to cut its budget by 24 per cent over the next four years, following the Comprehensive Spending Review outlined by Chancellor George Osborne.

Elmwood appoints Colin Burns as 'director of stuff'

Wed, 20 Oct 2010

Elmwood has appointed Colin Burns, former director of Ideo’s London studio, to the newly created role of ’director of stuff’.

Glasgow School of Art embarks on a Highland fling with new design centre

20 October 2010

The Glasgow School of Art and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have this month opened a Centre for Design Innovation at the Horizon Building at Forres in Moray, northern Scotland. The centre aims to use design innovation to benefit businesses and communities in the Highlands and Islands area.

£600 000 awarded to ‘disruptive’ technologies

Mon, 18 Oct 2010

New technologies to develop solar glazing printed directly on glass, skin-safe conductive ink, a donor skin-cell spray and a new way of destroying organics in water have each been awarded a share of £600 000 by the Technology Strategy Board.

Design Week Awards entry deadline extended

Fri, 15 Oct 2010

The deadline for entries to the 2011 Design Week Awards has been extended until Thursday 28 October.

Work Foundation to research growth strategies for design

Thu, 14 Oct 2010

The Work Foundation is set to launch a research project which will aim to pinpoint how to create ’explosive growth’ in the UK creative industries, including design.

Adam Ellis joins Elmwood from Coley Porter Bell

Wed, 13 Oct 2010

Coley Porter Bell design director Adam Ellis (pictured) is set to join Elmwood’s London office in the newly created role of creative director.

Sir Philip Green recommends centralised Government procurement to cut spend

Tue, 12 Oct 2010

Arcadia boss Sir Philip Green has recommended that the Government centralises some procurement and ‘leverages its name, its credit rating and its buying power’ in his review of Government spending.

Naresh Ramchandani joins Pentagram’s London office as partner

Fri, 8 Oct 2010

Naresh Ramchandani has been appointed as the eighth partner in Pentagram’s London office, and is the first advertising and communications partner in the consultancy’s history.

DBA Design Effectiveness Awards shortlist unveiled

Thu, 7 Oct 2010

A total of 47 consultancies have won 2010 Design Business Association Design Effectiveness Awards.

Fact seeks interactive groups for new-build developments

7 October 2010

The director of the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology Mike Stubbs is set to announce his search for the commission of interactive interventions which will be integrated into new-build developments at sites adjacent to the organisation’s premises in Liverpool.

Ron Cregan leaves Navyblue to take AIG and Construct roles

Wed, 6 Oct 2010

Ron Cregan has left his position as strategy director at Navyblue to take up strategic director positions at consultancies Applied Information Group and Construct.Cregan (pictured) will obtain an undisclosed equity in both companies, and will split his time equally between the two.

Interbrand looks to expand Indian presence

Wed, 6 Oct 2010

Interbrand has opened a Mumbai office ahead of a raft of appointments as it looks to strengthen its position in India.

City University seeks consultancies for design roster

Tue, 5 Oct 2010

City University in London is seeking design groups for a roster that will cover print and digital work.

Guggenheim and BMW launch travelling design labs

Mon, 4 Oct 2010

The Guggenheim Foundation and BMW Group have announced their partnership in a global design initiative which will see ‘travelling laboratories’ tour major cities over a six-year period.

UKDA debates funding threat to regional design forums

Wed, 29 Sep 2010

UK Design Alliance has endeavoured to strengthen the relationship with its regional design forums despite its sole source of funding, the Design Council, facing an uncertain future.

Ed Vaizey says Design Council review is ‘very positive’

Thu, 23 Sep 2010

Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries, says the review of the future role and status of the Design Council is ’very positive’.

To the barricades

23 September 2010

As the art and design world braces itself for the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review next month, Angus Montgomery reports on some recently launched campaigns that are fighting back against funding cuts in the sector

Dott Cornwall unveils its final major project

Wed, 22 Sep 2010

Designs of the Time Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will launch the Big Design Challenge in October, which will invite communities to identify and tackle local issues by co-developing their ideas with designers and entrepreneurs.

Thomas Heatherwick awarded London Design Medal

Mon, 20 Sep 2010

Thomas Heatherwick is set to receive the London Design Medal at a ceremony tonight.

LDA launches investment consultation

Thu, 16 Sep 2010

The London Development Agency is launching a consultation on its investment strategy, despite the fact that it will cease to exist by 31 March 2012.

Onedotzero organisers adopt a utopian vision of the future

16 September 2010

This year’s edition of moving image festival Onedotzero Adventures in Motion will have a utopian theme that will attempt to bring about a more optimistic view of the sector’s future, the organisers say.

Design Council review in the hands of Government

Tue, 14 Sep 2010

The review of ‘the future role and status’ of the Design Council has been handed over to officials at the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills.

Dragon Rouge appoints new creative director

Tue, 14 Sep 2010

David Jenkins has been appointed as creative director in Dragon Rouge’s consumer brands team.

London Design Festival partners Beijing event

Fri, 10 Sep 2010

London Design Festival is to partner the inaugural Beijing Design Week in a deal that will see London become the official guest city when the Chinese event takes place next year.

SCDF restructures to cope with cutbacks

9 September 2010

The South Coast Design Forum is introducing a new business model and seeking new premises as it aims to move from being reliant on funding to providing its own revenue.

Sanky outlines ambitions for D&AD presidency

Wed, 8 Sep 2010

Simon ’Sanky’ Sankarayya will provide the ’glue’ between advertising and design, he says, when he becomes D&AD president next Tuesday evening.

Multiple British Design Embassies to launch at LDF

Wed, 8 Sep 2010

The London Design Embassy is to be augmented and renamed as the British Design Embassy for this year’s London Design Festival, organiser UK Trade & Investment has confirmed.

Dyson and Sorrell ‘to advise Government on business’

Mon, 6 Sep 2010

Ten Downing Street says it is set to make a statement confirming details of David Cameron’s new business advisory board.

Neighbourhood Watch to be rebranded in Design Council project

Thu, 2 Sep 2010

The Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network, which is the national association for Neighbourhood Watch groups, is being rebranded and will have its service design overhauled in a project run by the Design Council.

Suffolk joins European driveto push C2C design thinking

2 September 2010

Suffolk County Council has linked up with engineering and environmental consultancy Royal Haskoning as part of a Europe-wide project that aims to promote cradle-to-cradle design.

Key industry figures attempt to define design

Tue, 31 Aug 2010

Leading industry figures will offer their definition of design in tomorrow’s issue of Design Week.

Red Bee Media head of design Jeff Conrad leaves

Wed, 25 Aug 2010

Jeff Conrad has left Red Bee Media, where he was head of design, as the consultancy prepares for reorganisation and expansion.

Fingertip attractions

26 August 2010

As publishers of travel guides are flocking to the app and e-book markets, with Lonely Planet most recently targeting the iPad with its Discover series, Angus Montgomery looks at what can be achieved in these formats

Former Fitch Live managing director Paul Cowan joins Logistik

Tue, 24 Aug 2010

Paul Cowan, former managing director of Fitch Live, is joining design and communications consultancy Logistik as content and creative strategy director.

Open City searches for Jane Priestman successor

Fri, 20 Aug 2010

Following Jane Priestman’s decision to step down as chairwoman of Open City after 18 years, the architecture organisation is now looking to appoint her successor.

Sir Philip Green to examine procurement in Government spending review

Fri, 13 Aug 2010

Arcadia boss Sir Philip Green says he will examine cross-Government procurement as part of his review of Government spending.

Michael Grade and Wayne Hemingway to speak at Bristol Media event

Fri, 13 Aug 2010

Design luminaries Wayne Hemingway and Nicolas Roope will join business development consultant Blair Enns and broadcast executive Michael Grade as keynote speakers for design network Bristol Media’s conference Vision.

Tim O’Kennedy and Javier Mariscal to speak at Design Yatra

Thu, 12 Aug 2010

India’s largest design conference Design Yatra has announced the speakers at its event, which will be held on 3-4 September in Mumbai.

Prospect works on Design Business Association online directory

Wed, 11 Aug 2010

The Design Business Association is preparing to launch its online database of design groups on a website designed by Prospect, which will also revamp the DBA’s main website.

New school ties

12 August 2010

The Government’s ’free schools’ initiative could lead to a greater variety of schools being set up and to more diversity in school branding. Angus Montgomery goes back to the classroom to see for himself

BBC to appoint seven to creative services roster

Fri, 6 Aug 2010

The BBC has clarified that it currently has nine consultancies on its creative services roster and it will appoint up to seven under its new roster, which is currently at PQQ stage.

BBC slashes creative roster by more than half

Wed, 4 Aug 2010

The BBC stands to slash its creative services roster to less than half of its original size.

Olympian canvas

5 August 2010

London 2012 has so far emerged unscathed by Government cuts, with design briefs still being put out to tender and the concepts that have already made it past the commissioning stage approaching realisation. Tom Banks reports

Fitzrovia Village to launch during LDF

Mon, 2 Aug 2010

The Fitzrovia Village initiative, which describes itself as ‘a loosely grouped organisation of design-led retail venues’, will launch during this year’s London Design Festival.

CBI aims to develop findings into policy recommendations

29 July 2010

Business lobbying group the Confederation of British Industry says its report Creating Growth: A Blueprint for the Creative Industries will be developed into detailed policy recommendations over the coming year.

Land of plenty

29 July 2010

Oman is embarking on a drive to divert its economy away from oil and towards tourism. Emily Pacey talks to designers already working in the sultanate, and finds a country offering huge potential for UK consultancies looking to expand

100% Design picks Julieann Humphryes as first non-executive chairwoman

Tue, 27 Jul 2010

100% Design has appointed its first non-executive chairwoman, in the shape of Philippe Starck-founded interiors and property group Yoo’s creative director Julieann Humphryes.

Rodney Fitch to head up new WPP group The Hub

Wed, 21 Jul 2010

Rodney Fitch has taken the helm of a new WPP consortium within a month of finally relinquishing the chairmanship of Fitch.

BBC re-tenders creative services roster

Wed, 21 Jul 2010

The BBC has published a pre-qualification questionnaire as it prepares to re-tender its creative services roster.

Milton Keynes forum holds first meeting

22 July 2010

The newly formed Milton Keynes Design Forum will have its first meeting tomorrow, which its founder says will set the agenda for the group.

Report sets out energy-saving challenges to design industry

22 July 2010

A cross-industry workshop has developed a series of proposals for making homes more energy efficient, and is calling on designers and others to take the ideas forward.

Future of Design Council under review

Mon, 19 Jul 2010

The Government has called a review of ‘the future role and status’ of the Design Council.

New creative apprenticeships scheme for Wales

Thu, 15 Jul 2010

Creative & Cultural Skills is launching a new programme of creative apprenticeships in Wales

The art of clubbing

15 July 2010

Budding designers have long cut their teeth on music flyers, but until now little has been done to archive this ephemeral art. With a new museum set to open, Angus Montgomery examines the relationship between clubs and creativity

A broader canvas

8 July 2010

Project Canvas could spark a revolution in the way we consume visual media, and digital designers are excited about its interactive potential. But they still foresee a role for conventional ’curated’ content, says Angus Montgomery

Rachel Lillie wins cycling poster competition

Tue, 6 Jul 2010

The London Transport Museum and the Association of Illustrators have crowned Rachel Lillie winner of a poster competition about cycling.

Bristol Media boss Mike Bennett takes Bristol placemaking role

Mon, 5 Jul 2010

Mike Bennett, co-founder of Bristol-based digital group E3 Media and chief executive of design body Bristol Media, is to become placemaking director of Bristol.

RCA students win Helen Hamlyn Design Awards

Thu, 1 Jul 2010

A device to help elderly people use television remote controls, a desklight projector and a London bus map accessible through the Oyster card are among the winning projects in the 2010 Helen Hamlyn Design Awards.

Students tackle airport brief in Cardiff Design Festival

Wed, 30 Jun 2010

Students will work on designs for Cardiff International Airport as part of this year’s Cardiff Design Festival, which is to be held in October.

Good for business?

1 July 2010

Only time will tell whether the tax cuts announced in last week’s Emergency Budget will offset the impact of the draconian spending restrictions also put in place by the Chancellor. Angus Montgomery assesses the design fallout

Service to be held in memory of Rupert Spurling

Tue, 29 Jun 2010

A service is to be held next week in memory of Rupert Spurling, creative director of B1 Creative, who died on 19 June.

Illustrator Tim Hopgood creates children’s characters for gallery

Fri, 25 Jun 2010

The National Portrait Gallery in London has unveiled children’s characters created by illustrator Tim Hopgood to promote the BP Portrait Award exhibition.

Concerns remain despite ‘small business-friendly’ Budget

Wed, 23 Jun 2010

A number of measures in the Government’s Emergency Budget have been highlighted as benefiting small businesses, including those in design, but there are concerns over some tax rises.

LFA and LDF organisers discuss possible collaboration to coincide with London 2012

24 June 2010

The London Festival of Architecture and the London Design Festival have discussed possible collaborations in 2012 - the year the Olympic Games come to London.

Sarah Carr wins V&A Illustration Award 2010

Tue, 22 Jun 2010

Sarah Carr has been announced as the overall winner of the V&A Illustration Awards for her illustrations for How to Drink by Victoria Moore, published by Granta Books.

British Council warns rostered consultancies over work

Wed, 16 Jun 2010

The British Council has appointed a new graphic design roster, but is warning consultancies that they may not receive any work until next year because of Government spending cuts.

Enabled by Design event looks at ageing and disability

Tue, 15 Jun 2010

Organisation Enabled by Design is holding an event at London’s Design Museum on Thursday which will focus on the principle of ‘design for all’.

Cambridgeshire Council seeks design framework

Mon, 14 Jun 2010

Cambridgeshire County Council is seeking applicants for a two-year graphic design framework worth £1.4m-£2m.

Jeremy Leslie works on Heat magazine refresh

Wed, 9 Jun 2010

Jeremy Leslie of Mag Culture has worked on the refresh of celebrity weekly Heat magazine, with specific focus on the Star Style fashion section, which launches next week.

Step into the past

10 June 2010

GF Smith is offering a glimpse of the goodies in its archive in a London show, and more and more design collections are opening their doors to the public. Laura Snoad looks at where to go to find inspiration from our rich heritage

Five Black Pencils go to four in D&AD Awards

Fri, 4 Jun 2010

Five Black Pencils have been awarded to four winners in this year’s D&AD Awards, with Sapient Nitro’s Brisbane office bagging two of the coveted prizes.

Five consultancies dropped as BBC reviews roster

Wed, 2 Jun 2010

Elmwood, Love Creative, Designate, Inferno and Easy Tiger have all been dropped from the BBC’s marketing communications and design services roster.

Media Square revenues fall by nearly a quarter

Thu, 27 May 2010

Media Square has unveiled its annual results, which show a like-for-like revenue drop of 23 per cent.

Gateway to East Asia

27 May 2010

China and India may grab the design limelight, but Singapore - midway between the two, but with a strong anglophone culture - is proving to be a very attractive location for UK groups servicing the Asian market. Angus Montgomery reports

Studiohead works on inclusive design handbook

Tue, 25 May 2010

The Norwegian Design Council has published a guidebook to inclusive design with input from the Helen Hamlyn Centre and UK product design group Studiohead.

Royal Society of Arts launches spinal injuries programme

Mon, 24 May 2010

The Royal Society of Arts is launching a pilot scheme in which leading designers will give basic design training to spinal injury patients, possibly helping them to create their own products and services.

Design Museum launches initiative for schoolchildren

Fri, 21 May 2010

Sebastian Conran is to unveil plans for Design Ventura, an initiative run by the Design Museum to develop student creativity in a real-world context.

Figtree to open Hong Kong outpost to service South East Asia

Thu, 20 May 2010

Figtree will open a new office in Hong Kong at the beginning of September to meet increased client demand in South East Asia.

London Development Agency cuts design festival funding

Thu, 20 May 2010

The London Development Agency is continuing to support the London Design Festival, having pledged £270 000 for 2010-2011.

Shelf starters

20 May 2010

Turning a ’mom and pop’ cottage industry product into a mainstream brand calls for genuine differentiation and serious long-term investment - and getting the packaging design right is crucial to success. Emily Pacey investigates

Michael Johnson and Wolfgang Weingart talk at St Bride event

Tue, 18 May 2010

Johnson Banks co-founder Michael Johnson and typographer Wolfgang Weingart will speak about a growing trend toward self-initiated design projects at this year’s St Bride Conference in London next week.

London Design Festival to bring robot octopus to Trafalgar Square

Fri, 14 May 2010

Trafalgar Square is to play host to a giant ‘mechanical octopus’ as part of this year’s London Design Festival.

Leading by design

13 May 2010

Pop-up stores, anechoic chambers and sustainable bags are just some of the initiatives being adopted by major brands repositioning themselves to cope with changing markets. Tom Banks investigates these design-led strategies

CSD delays bid for design certification

Wed, 12 May 2010

The Chartered Society of Designers is postponing its application to professionally certify designers, following a meeting with regulating body the Privy Council, Design Week understands.

EC launches paper on future of Europe's creative industries

6 May 2010

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the development of Europe’s creative industries. It is asking designers and other creative professionals to comment on ways to improve funding, skills and clustering.

WWF and Tetra Pak in hunt for Green ideas

Tue, 4 May 2010

Tetra Pak and WWF UK have launched a competition to generate ideas that encourage the public to buy environmentally friendly products.

WPP says its branding sector has seen biggest growth

Fri, 30 Apr 2010

WPP says its branding and identity, healthcare and specialist communications sector has recovered the most quickly, as the group released its quarterly trading update.

Design Management Industry conference rescheduled after volcanic disruption

Fri, 30 Apr 2010

The Design Management Industry’s Transforming Design conference, which was postponed this month due to the flight ban caused by an Icelandic volcanic eruption, has been rescheduled for September.

Simon Waterfall resurfaces with new venture Fray

Wed, 28 Apr 2010

Poke co-founder Simon Waterfall says that his new consultancy Fray will serve to ’defend creativity’ above all else.

Good chemistry

29 April 2010

As several trade bodies are launching their own mentoring programmes, most recently Bristol Media with Bristol Media Mentors, Angus Montgomery considers the advantages of these schemes for both mentors and mentees

Moving Brands to feature at European Design Festival

Mon, 26 Apr 2010

The European Design Festival will take place in Rotterdam in the Netherlands this year, and will feature talks by French graphic designer Philippe Apeloig and UK consultancy Moving Brands founder James Bull.

Bristol Media launches creative mentoring service

22 April 2010

Creative network Bristol Media has launched a mentoring system, whereby leading creative entrepreneurs will be able to offer tailored advice both online and face-to-face.

London Cycling Campaign hires Blacklabs and Hart D'Lacey to overhaul its image

22 April 2010

Hart D’Lacey and sister company Blacklabs are working to overhaul the identity, website and magazine of the London Cycling Campaign.

Spanish group Cases & Associates leads Independent redesign

Tue, 20 Apr 2010

The Independent newspaper has been redesigned in a project led by Barcelona-based consultancy Cases & Associates.

Iceland volcano disrupts design events

Mon, 19 Apr 2010

Flight restrictions caused by a cloud of volcanic ash from an eruption in Iceland blanketing northern Europe and the UK are causing delays and disruption to design industry events.

Cultural Olympiad provides opportunities for designers

Tue, 13 Apr 2010

Opportunities for designers have been highlighted in the upcoming Cultural Olympiad, which will run alongside the London 2012 Games

Pentagram alumni launch Dowling Duncan consultancy

Wed, 7 Apr 2010

Nottinghamshire-based consultancy Dowling Design & Art Direction has joined together with Rob Duncan Design, based in San Francisco in the US, to launch new consultancy Dowling Duncan.

Organza project launched to explore creativity in Europe

08 April 2010

Institutions across Europe will be asking what they can learn from each other’s creative industries with the launch of new research project Organza.

COI claims flexible procurement process addresses design concerns

Wed, 31 Mar 2010

The Central Office of Information says perceptions of it as a ’bullying’ state monopoly are wide of the mark, as it unveils a new flexible procurement process.

Robot Food kicks off anti-free pitch drive

01 April 2010

Driven by a request for an unpaid creative pitch to a petfood company, consultancy Robot Food is launching its No Free Pitching campaign.

Creative director Mark Porter leaves The Guardian

Mon, 29 Mar 2010

The Guardian’s creative director Mark Porter has announced that he is leaving the newspaper in April to focus on his private practice.

Conference proposals to link universities with industry and business

Fri, 26 Mar 2010

Three ideas to stimulate innovation in the design and creative industries will be considered at a conference hosted by the University of Brighton today.

Dott event to work on agenda for Cornwall programme

25 March 2010

The think-tank event being run this week by Designs of the Time Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will influence the direction of Dott’s programme over the next year, according to Dott programme director Andrea Siodmok.

Bell Design to represent the industry at Shanghai Expo

Wed, 24 Mar 2010

UK Trade & Investment has selected Bell Design to represent UK design at Expo 2010 Shanghai China, ahead of the opening of the consultancy’s new office in Beijing.

Barry Seal leaves Anthem Worldwide

Wed, 24 Mar 2010

Anthem Worldwide managing director Barry Seal is leaving at the end of the month to set up a creative business mentoring consultancy called Vitamin B.

Acid steps up bid to foil copyright infringement at exhibitions

Mon, 22 Mar 2010

Anti Copying in Design has set up a new steering group that aims to provide on-site protection at exhibitions where intellectual property has been brought into question.

Arts institutions suffer in university budget cuts

Thu, 18 Mar 2010

University of the Arts London has had its central Government funding cut by 4.7 per cent and the Royal College of Art by 3.5 per cent in the latest round of grant allocations from the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Body Shop looks to recruit new global creative director after departure of Nikki Austen

18 March 2010

The Body Shop International is recruiting for the role of global creative director, in the wake of Nikki Austen’s departure in January.

Sowing the party line

18 March 2010

James Dyson’s Ingenious Britain report for the Conservative Party has thrown the spotlight firmly on the role of design in future Government policy thinking. Laura Snoad sounds out senior figures from the industry for their responses

Caroline Felton to head up Creative & Cultural Skills

Thu, 11 Mar 2010

Caroline Felton has been appointed as interim chief executive of Creative & Cultural Skills.

Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation briefs Think Public to provide design support to social projects

11 March 2010

London- and Lisbon-based charity the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation has commissioned Think Public to provide design support for a number of upcoming social projects.

James Dyson calls for Design Council review in Tory party report

Tue, 9 Mar 2010

James Dyson has called for a review of the ‘funding, objectives and impact’ of the Design Council in a report commissioned by the Conservative Party.

WPP profits down after ‘brutal’ year

Fri, 5 Mar 2010

WPP’s profits before tax fell by 16.1 per cent to £812m following what the group describes as a ‘brutal’ 2009.

DBA to launch approved list of design suppliers

Wed, 3 Mar 2010

The Design Business Association is set to launch an approved list of design suppliers - the DBA Design Directory - which clients will be able to access for free.

Something From Us creates Cornish brand for Dott

Wed, 3 Mar 2010

Designs of the Time Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has appointed London consultancy Something From Us as senior design producer for branding project From Cornwall with Love.

British Design Innovation works on 'device' to monetise design's contribution to the bottom line

04 March 2010

British Design Innovation is working on a piece of technology which will be capable of tracking the financial benefits of design thinking for client companies.

Design Week set to launch redesign and new blog

Tue, 2 Mar 2010

The redesigned Design Week is set to be released tomorrow. The new design has been led by art director Sam Freeman.

Andrew Tanner wins British Council design entrepreneur award

Wed, 24 Feb 2010

Ceramicist Andrew Tanner has been named as the British Council’s UK Young Design Entrepreneur of the Year 2009.

DW all set for redesign and blog launch

25 February 2010

Design Week will unveil a redesign next week (DW 4 March), led by art director Sam Freeman.

Entries sought for Northern Design Competition

Fri, 12 Feb 2010

Entries are being sought for the 2010 Northern Design Competition, which is open to students at universities, colleges and sixth forms across the North of England.

New Frontiers launches Green events and Web push

11 February 2010

Product and interior specialists seeking to create sustainable designs will soon have access to information, courtesy of start-up initiative New Frontiers. Based in Manchester, New Frontiers is poised to roll out a website, seminar programme, a major awards scheme and accompanying exhibition.

DBA reveals shortlist for 'active ageing' challenge

04 February 2010

An adaptive surface, an online footnoting tool, a graphical ‘brackets’ campaign and a social networking project named after food stuffing are competing for the latest Design Business Association Inclusive Design Challenge award, which this year celebrates its tenth anniversary.

Havas Worldwide launches design network

Mon, 1 Feb 2010

Havas Worldwide, part of communications group Havas, has launched design and brand network Havas Design Plus.

Designer certification scheme up for Government approval

Wed, 27 Jan 2010

The Chartered Society of Designers has filed an application to the Government to approve a system of professional certification for designers.

A tool for humanity

28 January 2010

This year’s Davos summit offers an unprecedented opportunity for design to influence events on the world stage. Angus Montgomery reports

Designers called on to help Haiti

Mon, 25 Jan 2010

Designers are being called upon by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design to liaise with relief organisations and assess how design can help with rehabilitation projects in earthquake-stricken Haiti. 

Designers ‘need a union’, says DW poll

21 January 2010

More than 70 per cent of Design Week readers believe the design industry needs a trade union, according to a DW poll.

BBC iPlayer and eco-underwear on Brit Insurance shortlist

Mon, 18 Jan 2010

The BBC’s iPlayer and Yves Béhar’s sustainable Pact underwear have been named on the shortlist for the 2010 Brit Insurance Designs of the Year awards.

Tories vow to slash advertising spend

Fri, 15 Jan 2010

The Conservatives would slash spending on Government advertising straight away if they won this year’s General Election, shadow chancellor George Osborne says.

Jeremy Myerson leaves InnovationRCA to focus on Helen Hamlyn Centre

Thu, 14 Jan 2010

Jeremy Myerson is relinquishing his role as director of InnovationRCA at the Royal College of Art in London to concentrate on leading the RCA’s Helen Hamlyn Centre.

Reading University resurrects scrapped design tender

Wed, 13 Jan 2010

Reading University has reissued its tender for a design framework, after coming under fire from design consultancies for scrapping it at the last minute (DW 29 October 2009).

Industry split on co-design, says DW poll

14 January 2010

Nearly 40 per cent of respondents to a Design Week poll say they do not think co-design is a good idea.

Antony Gormley chairs Brit Insurance awards jury

Fri, 8 Jan 2010

Artist Antony Gormley will chair the jury of the Brit Insurance Design Awards, which will be held at the Design Museum on 16 March.

Link up or sink?

07 January 2010

Proposed cuts in funding are forcing regional design networks to consider new strategies and sources of revenue. Angus Montgomery reports

Designer sought for pan-European Unicreds project

Tue, 5 Jan 2010

Cornwall County Council is seeking a consultancy to work on design projects as part of the pan-European Unicreds project.

Design Week takes Christmas break

Wed, 23 Dec 2009

The Design Week team are taking a Christmas break.The first email newsletter of 2010 will be sent out on 5 January, and the first issue will be on 7 January.Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Vicky Richardson to head design for British Council

Thu, 17 Dec 2009

Blueprint editor Vicky Richardson is set to join the British Council as director of architecture, design and fashion.

Dott unveils plans to use children to power National Grid

Thu, 17 Dec 2009

Designs of the Time Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is unveiling one of its showcase projects, which Dott programme director Andrea Siodmok says will ‘take the kinetic energy of children to power the National Grid’. The project, set to take place next year, will see the design and construction of a new playground at a site in Redruth, Cornwall, which will be codesigned with children and the local community. The playground apparatus will be designed so that it ...

Games for everyone

17 December 2009

The stadiums for the London Paralympics will be designed for accessibility, but finding funds for Paralympic equipment can be hard, says Tom Banks

Sir John Sorrell appointed creative industries ambassador

Tue, 15 Dec 2009

Sir John Sorrell has been appointed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown as Business Ambassador to champion the UK’s creative industries abroad.

Creativity, risk and madness debated at The Edge

Fri, 11 Dec 2009

Designers Erik Spiekermann, Oliviero Toscani and Michael Wolff debated themes of risk and creativity at The Edge conference in London yesterday, while neuroscientist Baroness Susan Greenfield explored the link between madness and creativity.

Audi Design Foundation set to close

Wed, 9 Dec 2009

The Audi Design Foundation is closing next spring after 12 years of supporting design initiatives. Its final, £200 000 project, Sustain Our Nation, which involves university students designing local community enterprises, will complete at the end of March. The charitable trust’s general manager, Rebecca Myrie, will continue to be employed by parent company Audi UK to head up corporate responsibility management within the car company. The planned closure is strategic ...

D&AD New Blood moves to East End

Wed, 9 Dec 2009

D&AD’s graduate event New Blood will move from Olympia in west London to east London’s Old Truman Brewery next year, taking up a week of graduate show Free Range. The move is part of a ‘radical transformation’ that will see the show focus more on networking, the organisation claims. D&AD says it hopes to organise satellite events and work experience opportunities for graduates with local design groups, as the Old Truman Brewery is in the middle of the UK’s digital ...

Turquoise is 2010 colour of the year

Tue, 8 Dec 2009

Pantone has announced 15-5519 Turquoise as its colour of the year for 2010.

Useful Simple Trust founders outline business model

Tue, 8 Dec 2009

Two founders of design collective the Useful Simple Trust say their business sidesteps ‘one of the key succession challenges’, by removing the link between equity and leadership.

Survey shows 43% of designers waiting for end of recession to change job

Thu, 3 Dec 2009

Once the UK’s recession comes to an end, up to 38 per cent of staff at UK design consultancies will flood the job market, according to new research.A survey of 567 clients of recruitment agency Gabriele Skelton reveals that 19 per cent of executive-level bosses, 36 per cent of directors, 53 per cent of managers and 47 per cent of co-ordinators and assistants intend to move to other companies when the recession ends.About 43 per cent of designers are planning ...

Keith Khan heads line-up for Nissan’s Design Inspirations

Mon, 30 Nov 2009

Artist Keith Khan, head of culture for the London 2012 Olympic Games, will speak at Nissan’s new pop-up space Cube Store later this week.

Heavenly acquires Martin Lambie-Nairn’s ML-N

Thu, 26 Nov 2009

Branding group Heavenly has bought Martin Lambie-Nairn’s company ML-N, taking the partners into its business.

Helsinki gears up for World Design Capital stint

Thu, 26 Nov 2009

The city of Helsinki has pledged to make ‘city planning and service design’ interventions following its announcement as World Design Capital 2012, and is inviting help from the international design community. 

Royal Society of Medicine opens doors to designers

Mon, 23 Nov 2009

The Royal Society of Medicine is offering corporate membership to design groups that work in the healthcare sector.

Nicholas Serota appointed to Boris Johnson’s design panel

Fri, 20 Nov 2009

Sir Nicholas Serota, director of the Tate, has been appointed to London mayor Boris Johnson’s Design Advisory Panel.

Futurebrand appoints Pete Hollingsworth to creative role

Wed, 18 Nov 2009

Futurebrand is appointing Pete Hollingsworth as its managing creative director consumer. The creation of the new role indicates that the consultancy is rebuilding its management team following a cull of senior staff earlier this year.

Tim Berners-Lee heads roll-call of new RDIs

19 November 2009

Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the man commonly credited with inventing the World Wide Web, is being named as a Royal Designer for Industry. Berners-Lee is joined by film set designer Sir Kenneth Adam, stage designer Alison Chitty, set designer Jim Clay, graphic designer Mark Farrow, and architect Peter Higgins. Fashion designer Barbara Hulanicki, milliner Stephen Jones, engineer Derek Sugden and landscape designer Kim Wilkie complete the list. Meanwhile, furniture ...

Design ‘could see private equity boost’ in 2010

Tue, 17 Nov 2009

Media and communications groups, including design consultancies, could see a boost in private equity backing next year, according to experts.

More design opportunities in Sea Change programme

Mon, 16 Nov 2009

Seven coastal resorts around the country are receiving up to £3.7m each to invest in culture and heritage as part of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment’s Sea Change initiative.

Average salary for graphic designer is less than £25k

Fri, 13 Nov 2009

The average salary for a graphic designer is £24 514, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics.

Cultural ‘women to watch’ sought

Thu, 12 Nov 2009

The Cultural Leadership Programme is seeking nominations to its new Women to Watch list, which will celebrate the achievements of women in the creative and cultural industries.

Seymour Powell links up with Brash Brands in the Middle East

Thu, 12 Nov 2009

Seymour Powell is to collaborate on projects with Middle East branding consultancy Brash Brands after signing a strategic partnership with the group. Brash Brands, which has offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, was set up in 2007 by John Brash, former executive creative director and European board director of Landor Associates, and creative group head at Conran Design Group. The consultancy works with clients including Burj Dubai and the Lebanese waste management ...

Co-design and creativity win public- sector contracts, say designers

12 November 2009

Be opinionated, creative and up for co-designing if you want to win public tenders, advise consultancies with proven track records in public-sector design.Speaking at the Liverpool Design Symposium last Wednesday, consulting director at The Team Peter Mills argued that public procurement officials are more open to creativity and design than they have been in the past, and are looking for designers to show them the ‘big picture’.‘They want creativity and sparkle ...

Housing groups get co-design brief for Think Public task

12 November 2009

Think Public is challenging housing associations to solicit design briefs from their residents, as part of this month’s Make Your Mark event, part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, which runs from 16-22 November.The winning idea will be developed by the consultancy as a pro-bono project this winter.‘General interest is growing in public-sector design and the challenge now is getting clients like housing associations interested too,’ says Think Public director ...

Research reveals procurement ‘postcode lottery’

Fri, 6 Nov 2009

New research has revealed huge variations in the time taken by different councils to pay their suppliers.

Freeman Christie updates political donations information

Wed, 4 Nov 2009

Freeman Christie has updated, reorganised and redesigned the advice the Electoral Commission gives to political parties about donations and loans.

Phoenix Square digital centre set to open in Leicester

Wed, 4 Nov 2009

The Phoenix Square Digital Media Centre will open in Leicester on 17 November, the culmination of a £21m project that will give digital arts and independent cinema a home in the city. Delivered by Leicester City Council, De Montfort University and developer Blueprint in association with Leicester Arts Centre, it is funded by the council, DMU, Blueprint, the European Commission, the Arts Council and EM Media. Architect Marsh Grochowski, lead consultancy on the ...

Survey highlights lackof training on the job

05 November 2009

Only 9 per cent of designers take part in job-related training, according to new figures from the Office of National Statistics.The ONS’ Labour Force Survey shows that only 8.9 per cent of designers surveyed received job-related training in the three months leading up to June. This compares to 15.7 per cent of architects and 16.2 per cent of civil engineers, according to the same report.Research carried out by the Design Council in 2005 shows that 21 per cent ...

Wizard of Oz bags book design award

Fri, 30 Oct 2009

A new edition of children’s classic the Wizard of Oz, with cover design by Graham Rawle and text design by Rich Carr, has picked up the Book of the Year prize at the British Book Design and Production Awards 2009.

Design teams hope to secure youth centre funding

Wed, 28 Oct 2009

Designers and architects in 15 teams are hoping to secure Lottery funding to build a series of youth centres across the country, in a project run by The Sorrell Foundation. The Joined Up Design for My Place project has seen The Sorrell Foundation match designers such as Interbrand with architects including Marks Barfield to work on youth centre projects aiming to secure funding as part of the £272m My Place initiative, which is administered by the Big Lottery Fund for the ...

Report raises college admissions discrimination fears

29 October 2009

Concerns have been raised about discrimination in admissions to art and design colleges, following the publication of new research.The report, Art for a Few, scrutinises admissions by examining institutional statements, prospectuses, websites, interviews with tutors and observations from 70 admissions interviews at five unnamed institutions. It has been commissioned by the National Arts Learning Network, and authored and researched by University of the Arts London.

Barcelona design festival opens

Mon, 26 Oct 2009

The BCN Design Week, which focuses on design in business, opens today in the Spanish city of Barcelona and runs until 30 October.

Cogapp creates Olympic art website

Thu, 22 Oct 2009

Cogapp has designed the branding, marketing materials and a website for London 2012’s art commissioning programme.

Elmwood appoints global president to drive international growth

Wed, 21 Oct 2009

Elmwood has hired Eliot Schreiber as its global president to spearhead the consultancy’s programme of international growth and expansion into more design disciplines.

Birmingham Council backs down after library free-pitch furore

Wed, 21 Oct 2009

Birmingham City Council says it is now ‘not looking for workedup design proposals at the tender stage’, following a furore over its tender for the Library of Birmingham identity. The council had come under fire after requesting creative work - including logo and identity proposals, rationale for the logo and identity and conceptual derivatives of the identity as a sub-brand for free - at the initial tender stage. A council spokesman said at the time, ‘It is not ...

Broaden your horizons

22 October 2009

Self-publishing brings the freedom to expand a standalone product using complementary Web content to add to the story. Tom Banks reports

London policy plans spell more work for designers

22 October 2009

London Mayor Boris Johnson is seeking the public’s views on a trio of policy documents that could shape the capital’s growth over the next 20 years, at the same time providing plenty of work for designers.The draft Mayor’s Transport Strategy, the Economic Development Strategy and the London Plan were all published last week. Taken as a whole, they cover pretty much every policy area that Johnson has control over. All are now open to public consultation on the Greater London ...

Christopher Exeter for Design Council policy post

Mon, 19 Oct 2009

The Design Council is appointing Christopher Exeter in the new role of director of policy.

Brompton bike designer wins Prince Philip prize

Fri, 16 Oct 2009

Andrew Ritchie, designer of the Brompton folding bicycle, has won the 2009 Prince Philip Designers Prize.

NB Studio unveils Design Out Crime work

Wed, 14 Oct 2009

A burglar ant stars in NB Studio’s new branding for Design Out Crime, which aims to convince designers to create crimeresistant products and services. The Home Office’s Design & Technology Alliance Against Crime worked with the Design Council to appoint and brief NB Studio in March. The consultancy beat four others in a tender to win the project. ‘The branding has to be memorable and appeal to children, politicians and designers alike,’ says NB Studio creative ...

Creatives urged to feel the benefits of non-executives

15 October 2009

Non-executive directors have been getting a bad press recently, with fees for some soaring while their companies’ share prices plunge.A poll by equity research firm Alphavalue shows average remuneration for FTSE100 outside directors up 10 per cent last year.But can non-executive directors still represent good value for consultancies dealing with the economic downturn?Rune Gustafson, non-executive director of the National Gallery and Graphic Alliance, ...

Government pumps £80m into innovative technologies

Tue, 13 Oct 2009

The Government is investing £82.5m to develop innovative new technologies in fields such as regenerative medicine, transport and logisitics, and low-carbon housing.

University of Liverpool unveils design roster

Thu, 8 Oct 2009

The University of Liverpool has appointed seven consultancies to its design roster.

Charge-out rates and benefits have fallen, new research shows

Wed, 7 Oct 2009

Charge-out rates have dropped among senior design staff, benefits have been cut and pay increases limited, according to a new report released by the Design Business Association.The 2009 DBA Charge Out Rates and Salary Levels survey shows last year’s results to be something of an anomaly. That report found that charge-out rates were increasing for the first time in more than five years (DW 7 January).Despite this year’s drop in charge-out rates among senior staff, ...

Welsh design recognised at Cardiff Design Festival Awards

Tue, 6 Oct 2009

The winners of the Cardiff Design Festival Awards 2009 were honoured at a ceremony and awards dinner held in the Welsh capital last night.

Design Council archive images go live online

Mon, 5 Oct 2009

The Design Council has put thousands more images from its slide collection online.

The Chase is overall winner at the Fresh Awards

Thu, 1 Oct 2009

The Fresh Awards announced consultancy The Chase as overall winner at its ceremony in Manchester last night, when it handed out digital and creative honours across 44 categories.

Design Museum move welcomed by leading creatives

01 October 2009

The Design Museum’s proposed move to the former Commonwealth Institute in London’s Kensington will extend the reach of the ‘Albertopolis’ cultural quarter, says Paul Thompson, rector of the Royal College of Art.Thompson was speaking after Kensington and Chelsea Council and English Heritage approved plans drawn up by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas’ practice OMA to house the museum in a redeveloped Commonwealth Institute building. This would move the Design Museum 10km west ...

European Design Day to be celebrated

Mon, 28 Sep 2009

The Bureau of European Design Associations will celebrate its lobbying achievements on 1 October, which BEDA has named European Design Day.

UAE designer wins British Council entrepreneur prize

Fri, 25 Sep 2009

The British Council has crowned a designer from United Arab Emirates International Young Design Entrepreneur 2009.

Paul Smith awarded London Design Medal

Thu, 24 Sep 2009

Fashion designer Paul Smith has been awarded the 2009 London Design Medal.

Design Council to launch patient dignity competition

Wed, 23 Sep 2009

The Design Council and the Department of Health are set to launch a new project which will address issues around patient dignity and privacy in hospitals.The Design for Patient Dignity scheme will follow the same structure as the Design Bugs Out competition launched last year, which saw four designers create five new pieces of hospital furniture to combat the spread of infection. However, the new scheme will have a slightly broader format, potentially encompassing service ...

British design escapes shackles of a national

24th September 2009

British design is taking a bit of a beating at the moment. In The New York Times last month, British critic Alice Rawsthorn complained that it’s not what it used to be. Jonathan Glancey in The Guardian concurred, saying, ‘You have to shop around for it.’ And then on BBC Two last Monday, French design star Philippe Starck revealed that he would like to help us to ‘create English style’, as none currently exists.But in a new book commissioned by UK Trade & Investment, ...

Boris Johnson praises traditional design

Tue, 22 Sep 2009

London Mayor Boris Johnson has reinforced his position as an upholder of tradition in design, while acknowledging design’s importance to the capital’s economy

Designers sought to promote Cornwall

Tue, 22 Sep 2009

A design group is being sought to work on projects for the Cornwall Marketing project, being run by the Cornwall Development Company.

Design Museum move gets green light

Fri, 18 Sep 2009

The Design Museum’s plans to move from Shad Thames to a new home in the former Commonwealth Institute on Kensington High Street have won the thumbs up from the council.

The shape of things to come

17 September

New figures suggest the recession might be over, but consultancies shouldn’t break out the Bollinger just yet, says Angus Montgomery

Conran and Hamnett to address IP issues

Mon, 14 Sep 2009

Designer Sebastian Conran and fashion designer Katherine Hamnett will be advising entrepreneurs on intellectual property in a seminar next week as part of London Design Festival.

Design Museum picks 2009 Designers in Residence

Fri, 11 Sep 2009

The Design Museum has announced this year’s five young designers for its annual Designers in Residence programme.

New graduate design school launches in London

Thu, 10 Sep 2009

University of the Arts London launches its new graduate design school next week.

Glenn Tutssel calls for new foundation course structure

Tue, 8 Sep 2009

Glenn Tutssel, executive creative director of The Brand Union, has called for arts foundation courses to be restructured in order for graduates to have a more well-rounded education.

Mandelson dismisses attempt to criminalise IP infringement

Fri, 4 Sep 2009

The IP debate has gathered pace this week as inventor Trevor Baylis, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson and now Innovation Minister David Lammy and designer Sebastian Conran have spoken out on the issue.

Elmwood and The Team top list of DBA award winners

Thu, 3 Sep 2009

Elmwood and The Team are leading the field in the Design Business Association’s Design Effectiveness Awards, with five wins each.The awards scheme seeks to measure the financial value that design adds to a particular product or service, rather than creativity or innovation.This year a total of 51 projects have been shortlisted, and are guaranteed either a gold, silver or bronze medal. These will be allocated on the night of the awards ceremony next month, as ...

Map of UK creative sector could inform Government policy

03rd September 2009

It comes as no surprise to hear that London and its surrounding counties are the UK’s creative epicentre. But a new mapping experiment - published last week by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts - also reveals which types of creative business cluster together and where.Nesta hopes that this fine-grained information could encourage the Government to tailor its creative industries policies to suit certain cluster types according to region.

LDA funds designer-maker collectives

Thu, 27 Aug 2009

London’s designer-makers could benefit from the London Development Agency’s latest £500 000 cash injection to ‘develop the creative skills of Londoners’ ahead of the 2012 Olympics.

Calls for code of practice on graduate internships

Wed, 26 Aug 2009

Creative & Cultural Skills has proposed that a code of practice on graduate placements in the creative industries be introduced, in a bid to end the practice of unpaid internships. The call comes after the organisation urged employers in the sector to do more to make it accessible to young people, by providing better information and guidance on finding work (www.designweek. co.uk, 21 August). C&CS also believes that it is up to employers to stamp out ...

Lighthouse goes into administration

Tue, 25 Aug 2009

The Lighthouse, Scotland’s centre of architecture, design and the city, has gone into administration.

New York’s Parsons appoints new director

Mon, 24 Aug 2009

Parsons The New School for Design has appointed Radhika Subramaniam as director and chief curator of the Sheila C Johnson Design Center.

Young people ‘need more information about creative industries’

Fri, 21 Aug 2009

Employers in the creative industries should do more to make sure the sector is accessible to young people who want to break into it, says organisation Creative & Cultural Skills.

Government move points to more open procurement

Thu, 20 Aug 2009

The Government’s decision to scrap the charge for online public contract portal Supply2.gov.uk is being hailed as the first step towards a more free and open public procurement system.Earlier this month the fee was dropped on searching for contracts worth under £100 000. This had previously cost businesses approximately £99-£180 a year. This may not seem much, but for business representation body the Forum of Private Business the decision is an important move towards allowing ...

Heatherwick to star at Irish Design Week

20th August 2009

Thomas Heatherwick will open this year’s Irish Design Week in Dublin on 2 November.After saying last year that he would ‘do anything to get [Heatherwick] over’, Barry Sheehan, immediate past president of the Institute of Designers of Ireland, one of the IDW’s key organisers, says he can ‘rest happy now’.The festival will also host the three-day Offset 2009 conference, taking place in Dublin from 6-8 October. Speakers at Offset will include graphic designers Leila ...

Art school head moves on

Tue, 18 Aug 2009

Gray’s School of Art’s search for a new head to replace Professor Stuart MacDonald is underway.

Sony Design Centre Europe announces new director

Mon, 17 Aug 2009

Takuya Kawagoi is the new director of Sony Design Centre Europe, based in London.

Entries sought for Benchmarks Client of the Year

Fri, 14 Aug 2009

Nominations are invited for Client of the Year as part of the entry to Design Week’s 2009 Benchmarks awards.

Peter Saville and Michael Peters on Prince Philip Prize shortlist

Wed, 12 Aug 2009

Graphic and branding designers Peter Saville, Michael Peters, Jay Smith and Howard Milton have been named on the shortlist for the 2009 Prince Philip Designers Prize.This year is the 50th anniversary of the prize, which is run by the Design Council. Its aim is to focus on the contributions of designers to design among businesses and the general public.Completing the shortlist are architects David Adjaye and Eric Parry, fashion designers Jeff Banks and Hussein ...

Onedotzero to cut across disciplines

Thu, 6 Aug 2009

Onedotzero’s education programme Cascade will begin on Friday, encouraging design graduates to collaborate with each other across disciplines.

Royal Society of Arts in consultation row

Wed, 5 Aug 2009

The Royal Designers for Industry are criticising parent body the Royal Society of Arts for the way it researched and launched its Design & Society manifesto.The RSA unveiled its new manifesto, written by director of design Emily Campbell, last month (DW 23 July). However, Master of the Faculty of RDIs Chris Wise complains that the RSA and its manifesto have failed to answer ‘the question that we put to them on 22 May - what does the RSA see as the role of excellent design ...

Art Directors Club in global push

Tue, 4 Aug 2009

New York-based design and media organisation the Art Directors Club is creating an international network of representatives, including Syzygy managing director Meera Chandra in the UK.

Christine Losecaat to unveil new venture at London Design Festival

August 2009 Online

London Design Embassy founder Christine Losecaat will unveil her new venture at the London Design Festival next month.The Elevator Lounge, to be hosted at 100% Design, will be a space for both exhibitors and visitors to do business and meet with experts specialising in business advice, international trade and intellectual property.Losecaat describes it as’a business-enabling space’, where people will be able to meet like-minded contacts and get advice from free ...

Sir Christopher Frayling talks about his RCA tenure

August 2009 Online

Christopher Frayling has left a worthy legacy for his successor at the RCA, Paul Thompson. Lynda Relph-Knight talks to him about his tenure

Jeremy Leslie will not be replaced at John Brown Media

Fri, 31 Jul 2009

John Brown Media has revealed that it has made executive creative director Jeremy Leslie redundant.

Bring back Enterprise Allowance Scheme, urges report

Tue, 28 Jul 2009

Margaret Thatcher’s enterprise scheme for the creative industries should be brought back, according to a new report published by New Deal of the Mind in collaboration with the Arts Council.

In-house management skills wanted for DME Awards

Mon, 27 Jul 2009

The Design Management Europe Awards 2009 are seeking entries from companies that procure and manage design.

Lodz Design Festival programme unveiled

Thu, 23 Jul 2009

Lodz Design Festival will take place for the third time this October, focusing on industrial design, graphics, architecture and fashion.

London Design Festival in funding talks

Wed, 22 Jul 2009

The London Design Festival is in discussions with the London Development Agency over the future of its funding. This year’s festival, which takes place in September, will be the last year that LDA funding - which totals £300 000 each year - is guaranteed under the current contract. In a statement, the LDF confirms that ‘the current funding support by the LDA runs to March 2010’. It adds that ‘additional income is derived through sponsorship and from other organisations’. ...

On a social mission

23rd July 2009

The Royal Society of Arts is becoming a real force for change, as borne out by its new Design & Society manifesto, says Lynda Relph-Knight

Vivid creates In the Mix Manchester magazine

Mon, 20 Jul 2009

Manchester-based consultancy Vivid has created the first in what is hoped will be a series of magazines celebrating the redevelopment of the city’s Northern Quarter.

Design Event 09 to focus on politics and play

Thu, 16 Jul 2009

Politics and Play will be the theme of this year’s Design Event 09, the annual North East festival celebrating regional graphics, illustration, fashion and architecture.

Transport for London to launch new river transport project

Wed, 15 Jul 2009

Transport for London is planning a tender to find designers to help it with a new river transport project. ‘We are working on a new programme to increase ridership of the London River Services,’ says TfL’s new head of design Jon Hunter, adding, ‘There is a whole package of work for this project, including wayfinding and looking at services.’

Guest curators get Greengaged going

16th July 2009

Greengaged will return to the London Design Festival this year with a new format, in which five guest curators will each put together a day of events.

Ideo targets schools in climate change initiative

Mon, 13 Jul 2009

Ideo and Oxfam are working together on a project to help young people to engage with reducing climate change.

Bristol Media wins SWRDA skills brief

Fri, 10 Jul 2009

Creative industry network Bristol Media has been appointed by the South West Regional Development Agency in a £1.7m investment to ensure skills and talent are retained in the area.

Together designs photography prize book

Fri, 10 Jul 2009

Together Design is creating the book for the Prix Pictet photography prize, the shortlist for which was announced last night.

Gormley named most influential art and design figure

Thu, 9 Jul 2009

Artist Antony Gormley, whose One & Other commission for Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth launched this week, has been named the most influential and powerful person in art and design in an industry poll.

Cog director mounts Fourth Plinth

Tue, 7 Jul 2009

Cog Design director Michael Smith will appear on Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth in central London this evening, as part of artist Antony Gormley’s One & Other project.

Consultancies advised to spend time on blogs

Tue, 7 Jul 2009

Consultancies should invest time in launching blogs, rather than creating a quick-fix effort, says Christian Barnett, planning director of Coley Porter Bell.

Book design and mobile phone app scoop top D&AD Student Awards prize

Fri, 3 Jul 2009

Two teams have shared the Student of the Year prize at the D&AD Student Awards 2009.

Acid petitions Number 10 on IP crime

July 2009 Online

Anti Copying In Design is launching two petitions destined for Number 10 Downing Street next week, in protest at what it calls a ‘scant attempt’ to recognise intellectual property crime in law.Acid chief executive Dids Macdonald explains that the action follows the Ministry of Justice’s ‘failure to satisfactorily address lack of deterrents within the existing damages regime for IP infringement’.The first petition will lobby for the introduction of criminal sanctions ...

London Design Festival takes over Design Embassy

July 2009 Online

The London Design Festival’s organisers will run the London Design Embassy from this year onwards, taking over from the event’s founder Christine Losecaat.

Procuring a better deal for all

July 2009 Online

High-level meetings between policy-makers and senior design figures could see an overhaul of Government procurement practices, says Tom Banks

Think Public battles health inequalities through design

July 2009 Online

An ambitious project is under way to tackle health inequalities on the Cambridge Road estate in Kingston, Surrey, through research-based design.

O’Kennedy named new D&AD chief executive

Mon, 29 Jun 2009

Tim O’Kennedy has been unveiled as the new chief executive of D&AD.

RSA calls for change in design education

Thu, 25 Jun 2009

The Royal Society of Arts is calling for design education to focus more on the design of services and move away from what it says is an emphasis on product and industrial design.

Sebastian Conran takes IP debate to MPs

Thu, 25 Jun 2009

The issue of intellectual property moves centre stage as Sebastian Conran makes the case for stronger legislation in Parliament. Tom Banks reports

Wallpaper magazine duo creates Frontline Club paper

Wed, 17 Jun 2009

Editorial designers Sarah Douglas and Lee Belcher have designed Frontline, a broadsheet quarterly newspaper for journalists’ organisation the Frontline Club.

Sir Peter Blake joins Art Car Boot Fair

Fri, 12 Jun 2009

Sir Peter Blake is among artists and designers creating works for this weekend’s Art Car Boot Fair in London, which will feature a collection of decorated Vauxhall cars.

Max Fraser book gets LDF showcase

11 June 2009

The publication of design writer Max Fraser’s London Design Guide will be accompanied by an exhibition at this year’s London Design Festival.

Mandelson’s new Government department to look after design

Mon, 8 Jun 2009

Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s Cabinet reshuffle has led to the creation of the new Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), which will be responsible for design policy at central Government level.

Innovation Secretary Denham likely to move in Cabinet reshuffle

Thu, 4 Jun 2009

Innovation Secretary John Denham looks likely to be promoted in the forthcoming Cabinet reshuffle.

Listen to the Design Week Top 100 podcast

Thu, 4 Jun 2009

The Design Week Top 100 podcast is now live and free to download.

Design House and GP Studio to share office space

04 June 2009

Richmond-based branding specialist Design House is moving to central London to share office space with multidisciplinary branding and design consultancy GP Studio.

Oakwood ranked top design group in South West

Tue, 2 Jun 2009

Oakwood Media Group is the most successful design group in the South West, according to a list of the top 100 creative companies in the region.

Designers help develop university technologies

Mon, 1 Jun 2009

Designers are being brought into universities to help speed up the commercialisation of a raft of innovation projects, including solar-powered equipment to generate clean water and electricity, and a safety tracking device using a radar on a chip implanted in clothing.

DBA picks new regional managers

Thu, 28 May 2009

The Design Business Association has appointed four new regional heads of development, who will act as the face of the DBA in the regions.

Cardiff Design Festival details emerge

Fri, 22 May 2009

This year’s Cardiff Design Festival will feature speakers including typographer Bruno Maag and Andrew Shoben, founder of public art group Greyworld

New Design Week website launches

Mon, 18 May 2009

Design Week’s new website launches today, with an updated look and feel.The website still features full coverage of industry issues, including news, in-depth features and comment.Readers are also able to comment on stories online.To sign up for a daily news alert featuring four breaking news stories every day, and a weekly in-depth newsletter, visit https://myaccount.designweek.co.uk/.

Dawton and Fitch advise graduates against going into business on their own

14 May 2009

Deborah Dawton, chief executive of the Design Business Association, and Rodney Fitch, founder and chairman of Fitch, have advised design students and graduates not to form their own consultancies in the current financial climate.

WPP warns on 2009 as revenue falls

Tue, 28 Apr 2009

WPP has warned of a ‘very difficult’ first half of 2009 as it reported a like-for-like revenue fall of 5.8 per cent in the first quarter of the year.

Budget offers meagre pickings for design sector

Thu, 23 Apr 2009

The design industry has found little in this year’s Budget to protect it from the effects of what the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday called a ‘deepening world recession’.

Enterprising consultancies triumph in Queen's Awards

23 April 2009

JHP Design, Chapman Taylor, Paul Smith and a raft of furniture design groups have been honoured for their business achievements at The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise.

Ex-FutureBrand boss scores success with book launch

Tue, 21 Apr 2009

A book marketed and branded by former FutureBrand London managing director Jasmine Montgomery has this week topped the bestseller list in London bookshop Foyles.

David Hillman says today’s magazines are boring

Fri, 17 Apr 2009

Editorial designer David Hillman says contemporary magazine designs have ‘got boring’.

Sebastian Conran calls for closer research links

Tue, 14 Apr 2009

Sebastian Conran is calling for more investment in postgraduate design research, and closer links between the design industry and academic research institutions.

Government considers New Deal of the Mind

9 April 2009

The New Deal of The Mind has a simple objective, but you could hardly accuse it of lacking ambition. Its aim is to boost employment in Britain’s creative sector - for the good of the entire nation.

Design Council partners TSB to drive innovation

2 April 2009

The Design Council is linking with the Technology Strategy Board in a partnership which aims to strengthen design's role in innovation.The two bodies are both funded by the Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills, and, according to Design Council chief executive David Kester, 'share a common aspiration to drive innovation across the UK'.Kester adds that the two organisations have always been very collaborative, and have now identified specific projects where ...

G20 should spark sustainable design, says minister

Tue, 31 Mar 2009

The G20 Summit in London should mark the start of the UK’s leadership in sustainable design, according to Trade Minister Mervyn Davies.

International Herald Tribune unveils redesign

Mon, 30 Mar 2009

The International Herald Tribune, the global edition of The New York Times, has unveiled a new look.

Seaside funding creates design opportunities

Thu, 26 Mar 2009

Government urged to invest in design graduates

Wed, 25 Mar 2009

Watch company launches designer networking site

Mon, 23 Mar 2009

Swatch Group owner Rado Switzerland will launch a networking website for designers next month.

Design Week employment podcast is live

Fri, 20 Mar 2009

Eurostar set to appoint to refurbishment brief

Wed, 18 Mar 2009

Eurostar is understood to be on the brink of appointing a consultancy to redesign its train interiors, following a six-month tender process.

EU design policy 'will create jobs'

Wed, 18 Mar 2009

The formation of EU design policy will result in more jobs for designers, according to president of the Bureau of European Design Associations Jan Stavik.The newly elected Beda president, who last weekend replaced Michael Thomson (www.designweek.co.uk, 16 March), is convinced that the organisation's continued European political focus will result in more jobs for designers, 'lifting their ability and focus'.Stavik's comments come ahead of next month's Staff Working Paper ...

Design salaries slump amid recession

Tue, 17 Mar 2009

Salaries for creative design roles in London have declined across the board over the past year, according to Design Week’s 2008 salary survey.

Michael Thomson steps down as Beda president

Mon, 16 Mar 2009

The managing director of the Norwegian Design Council, Jan R Stavik, takes the helm as president of the Bureau of European Design Associations, replacing Michael Thomson, who stepped down at the weekend.

Olympics body chooses designers at random

Thu, 12 Mar 2009

An organisation involved in the delivery of the London 2012 Olympics has admitted to selecting design consultancies at random for a tender.

Dott Cornwall can learn from the North East's festival

12 March 2009

The organisers of the second Designs of the Time can learn from the first programme in 2007. Angus Montgomery reports

Martin Sorrell says recession is key design issue

Wed, 11 Mar 2009

The only significant issue facing the design industry in the next two years will be 'recession, recession, recession', according to WPP chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell.Speaking exclusively to Design Week last Friday - the day that WPP released its preliminary results for 2008 - Sorrell sounded under pressure, the global advertising and communications giant having reported a 5.8 per cent fall in profits.Sorrell famously described the last downturn as 'bath-shaped', ...

DSDHA bags Waterloo City Square project

Tue, 10 Mar 2009

Architect DSDHA has been named as the winning design team for the Waterloo City Square scheme in London.

First Dott Cornwall projects out to tender

Mon, 9 Mar 2009

The Design Council and Cornwall County Council are seeking designers to help deliver four initiatives as part of Designs of the Times Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Manchester design students revamp Gallery of Costume

Fri, 6 Mar 2009

MA design students at Manchester Metropolitan University have teamed up with the city’s Gallery of Costume to help reinvent the space ahead of its reopening in 2010.

Funding cut for design and art universities

Thu, 5 Mar 2009

Top design universities are dismayed at the news that they are to have their research funding cut by The Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Urine collection device wins top Design Week Award

Wed, 4 Mar 2009

Consultancy launches free design website

Mon, 2 Mar 2009

Design, marketing and events company Photolink Creative Group is launching a website offering potential clients free branding advice.

Studio Space One picked for NHS arts briefs

Mon, 2 Mar 2009

Plymouth-based consultancy Studio Space One is designing a brochure showcasing the works of art commissioned by the city’s NHS Zest programme.

Design Week Top 100 deadline looms

Fri, 27 Feb 2009

The deadline for entries to Design Week’s 2009 Top 100 survey is next Wednesday (4 March).

Design course applications rise despite jobs gloom

26 February 2009

The number of applications to design courses has soared this year, despite the recession and a growing consensus in the design industry that positions for graduates are drying up.Figures released by university admissions organisation Ucas last week show that applications for undergraduate design courses have risen by 11.5 per cent since last year, with 40 732 people seeking to study.This compares to a rise in applications to all courses of just 7.8 per cent, while fine ...

Design community ‘slow to boost its skills’

Tue, 24 Feb 2009

The UK design community is apathetic about boosting its skills, according to research by Design Week and independent research group YouGov.

Design Indaba brings design community to South Africa

Tue, 24 Feb 2009

South Africa’s Design Indaba conference kicks off tomorrow at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Creative industries ‘could outstrip financial sector’

Fri, 20 Feb 2009

Britain’s creative industries could soon employ more people than the financial sector, according to new figures.

A new wave of start-ups is turning the recession into an opportunity

19 February 2009

A new wave of agile and market-aware start-ups, keen to target challenger brands, is turning the recession into an opportunity, says Gina Lovett

Environment Agency prepares design briefs

Wed, 18 Feb 2009

The Environment Agency is set to brief consultancies appointed to its newly formed roster on internal and external communications projects concerned with the move of its headquarters next year.

Design Museum opens Brit Insurance prize show

Thu, 12 Feb 2009

The Design Museum’s second Brit Insurance Designs of the Year exhibition opens to the public today at its Shad Thames home in London.

James Dyson pledges £5m to RCA

Mon, 9 Feb 2009

Sir James Dyson has pledged £5m to the Royal College of Art for its new Battersea site.

Creative director Eric Scott leaves Saffron

5 February 2009

Saffron global creative director Eric Scott has left the branding group after a 'mutual agreement that the working relationship was incompatible', according to Saffron principal Ian Stephens.Scott arrived at Saffron about a year ago, after being fired as chief executive of Wolff Olins' US operation at the end of 2005, allegedly for refusing to make redundancies.His newly created role at Saffron involved overseeing projects at the consultancy's global locations, run by creative ...

Interbrand appoints Ward to push business opportunities

5 February 2009

Interbrand has appointed Simon Ward to the role of business development director, a new post on the board which will look at driving new business.Ward is former chief executive of Pleon UK, and was co-founder and managing director of consultancy Promodus.A spokeswoman for Interbrand said the move was not part of a restructure, but was an effort to focus on business opportunities from a board level. Interbrand London chief executive Rune Gustafson says, 'We see this as a ...

R&D&Co ceases trading

Wed, 4 Feb 2009

R&D&Co has this week closed its doors and ceased trading.

Deadline approaches for European Design Awards

Fri, 30 Jan 2009

Entries are being sought for this year’s European Design Awards. The deadline to enter the awards is 14 February.

Students urged to avoid design

Tue, 27 Jan 2009

Industry heavyweight Ian Cochrane is recommending design students to ‘get out’ of the sector, which ‘does not need you’, as the recession bites.

Anne Carlisle takes over at Falmouth

Tue, 27 Jan 2009

Professor Anne Carlisle is to replace University College Falmouth rector Alan Livingston.

Two receive RCA’s Misha Black Medals

Mon, 19 Jan 2009

The 2009 Sir Misha Black Medal for Distinguished Services to Design Education will be presented to Judy Frater at a ceremony at the Royal College of Art on the 17 March. At the same time, the 2009 Sir Misha Black Medal for Innovation in Design Education will go to the RCA's head of design interactions, Anthony Dunne.

‘Golden hello’ plan is ‘irresponsible’

Mon, 12 Jan 2009

The Government’s plan to give firms that recruit people who have been unemployed for more than six months ‘golden hellos’ of up to £2500 is ‘irresponsible’, say design recruitment experts.

Call for design element in Capital of Culture plan

Thu, 8 Jan 2009

D&AD appoints Greg Quinton as education chairman

Tue, 6 Jan 2009

D&AD has appointed The Partners creative director Greg Quinton as its new education chairman, filling a post that was vacant for three months.

Design Week talks to RCA rector-in-waiting Paul Thompson

18 December 2008

Emily Pacey talks to Royal College of Art rector-in-waiting Paul Thompson as he prepares to take the reins at a transitional time for the school

Design Council in mentor plan

11 December 2008

Scottish government unveils its first design roster

Tue, 9 Dec 2008

The Scottish government has named ten consultancies on its first-ever design roster.

Design groups sought for £20m UK Trade & Investment briefs

Mon, 8 Dec 2008

UK Trade & Investment is on the hunt for design consultancies as part of a four-year design framework covering work worth £20m.

Design Week Benchmarks awards - full winners list

Thu, 4 Dec 2008

Eight consultancies picked up Design Week Benchmarks awards at a ceremony held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Tuesday night.

The kid's comics market is booming

4 December 2008

Thought comics belonged to a bygone era? Think again. The kids’ magazine market is booming like seldom before, says Emily Pacey

Leicestershire consultancies are booked up

Tue, 2 Dec 2008

Leicestershire-based design groups are being asked to contribute to a book promoting the area’s credentials to potential design buyers.

DBA slams consultancy’s free design day

Thu, 27 Nov 2008

Digital consultancy NS Design is offering its services for free for one day next month, in a move the Design Business Association has condemned as ‘damaging to the industry as a whole’.

Interbrand values Royal College of Art at £57m

Thu, 27 Nov 2008

Interbrand has valued the Royal College of Art brand at £57m, in what is thought to be the first-ever brand valuation exercise for a higher education institute.The valuation, according to RCA Helen Hamlyn Professor of Design Jeremy Myerson, forms part of a broader submission to the Higher Education Funding Council for England to ensure the college's continued funding, while bolstering its capital fundraising project. This will finance the RCA's new home for fine and applied arts ...

Would appointing a creative director solve Birmingham's image problems?

27 November 2008

Would following Manchester’s example and appointing a creative director solve Birmingham’s image problems? asks Angus Montgomery

Boris Johnson plan bolsters London’s creative sector

Mon, 24 Nov 2008

Thompson appointed RCA rector

Fri, 21 Nov 2008

Paul Thompson has been appointed as the new rector of the Royal College of Art in London.

Designers sought to improve public services

Thu, 20 Nov 2008

The Design Council is seeking consultancies to team up with public services providers, as part of a new Government-backed initiative to improve public service delivery.The Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills has put forward an initial £200 000 to support the Design Council's Public Services by Design scheme, with the goal of bringing a range of design skills to bear on the emergency services, prisons, healthcare, education and the workplace.Consultancies ...

Gray's centre to act as Scottish design broker

20 November 2008

C4DI, Aberdeen's new £1m Centre for Design and Innovation Management, is seeking Scottish design groups to work with local businesses to improve their products and services.Gray's School of Art has set up the centre, which aims to use its three-year Scottish government funding to help hundreds of small businesses.'We want to have as many Scottish design consultancies on our books as possible, covering many disciplines, from branding to product design,' says centre director ...

Listen to the Design Week Creative Survey podcast

Fri, 14 Nov 2008

The Design Week Creative Survey podcast is now available online.

Boris Johnson set to unveil design advisory panel

Thu, 13 Nov 2008

London Mayor Boris Johnson is set to name architect Lord Rogers and Sunand Prasad, president of the Royal Institute of British Architects, on his design advisory panel, Design Week can reveal.But contrary to recent press reports, there will be no place for architect and urban designer Sir Terry Farrell.The Mayor's office is expected to unveil the panel at the end of this week, and confirmed Farrell would not be on it.The naming of the panel will be among Johnson's ...

Turin design conference sets global agenda

13 November 2008

The first-ever conference on global design policy has set an unprecedented macro approach in raising awareness of the worldwide design industry.It sounds lofty, but according to delegates and organisers of last week's event - Shaping the Global Design Agenda: The International Conference on Design Policy Opens Up - sharing best design practice and knowledge internationally is the best way to tackle issues affecting all countries, such as sustainability and economic recession. 'It's ...

Dunning Eley Jones rebrands Press Association

Thu, 6 Nov 2008

Dunning Eley Jones has created a new visual identity for the Press Association.

Will new government cash make electric cars less hideous?

6 November 2008

The development of low-carbon vehicles is set to benefit from Government cash, but will it make the cars themselves less hideous? asks Gina Lovett

Media Square reports profits surge

Tue, 4 Nov 2008

Marketing communications group Media Square has reported a £14.1m increase in profit before tax over the past year.

Beck’s beer vies for creative industries prize

Tue, 4 Nov 2008

Beck’s is in the running to win a new award that recognises the work of big business to support the creative industries.

Tom Dixon launches Irish Design Week

Mon, 3 Nov 2008

Tom Dixon will kick off Irish Design Week tonight at the National Gallery in Dublin.

Deadgood to promote British designers

Mon, 3 Nov 2008

Newcastle-based design group Deadgood has won a £150 000 investment which it plans to use for developing an internationally recognised brand and commercialising the work of young British designers.

Design Museum considers move to Commonwealth Institute

Thu, 30 Oct 2008

The Design Museum is in the early stages of planning to move from its Shad Thames home to west London.

Mayor unveils support plan for London

30 October 2008

London Mayor Boris Johnson has announced plans to revamp the international promotion of London, as part of his Economic Recovery Action Plan for the capital.A spokesman for the mayor's office says Johnson was consulting business leaders about the proposals, and that more concrete plans are expected at the end of November. The announcement came as part of a package of measures unveiled by Johnson on Monday to help support Londoners through the expected economic hardships ahead.Other ...

Royal Parks creates first-ever roster

Wed, 29 Oct 2008

The Royal Parks is putting together its first-ever marketing services roster, which will draw on a range of external design skills.

RCA gains more space in campus expansion

23 October 2008

Royal College of Art rector Sir Christopher Frayling says the college's expansion to a new Battersea campus will give the design school 'room to breathe'.The proposed £33m new campus (pictured) on Battersea Bridge Road, London SW11, which will house the schools of fine art and applied art, was granted planning permission by Wandsworth Council last week.Frayling told Design Week the move would free up space at the RCA's Kensington campus equal to 'about half of the Darwin ...

Liverpool Design Symposium kicks off

Wed, 22 Oct 2008

More and better debate is crucial if the UK is to be seen as the design capital of the world, says an industry insider following the demise of Scotland's Six Cities Design Festival (DW 16 October).'Talk of the UK's global design status is meaningless if people aren't engaging in proper debate,' says Nico Macdonald, director of design research consultancy Spy and programmer of last year's Designs of the Time conference segment Intersections. 'It is a shame that the Six Cities ...

Built on shaky foundations

16 October 2008

Client failures are starting to undermine the financial well-being of design consultancies. Gina Lovett looks at how they can protect themselves

North East design festival kicks off

Fri, 10 Oct 2008

The fourth North East annual design festival, Design Event, continues this weekend, following yesterday’s launch and previews of product design and graphics exhibitions.

Mandelson pressed to push design

Wed, 8 Oct 2008

Former Design Council chairman Sir George Cox is urging Peter Mandelson to encourage the public sector to 'use more design' and 'take action to rebuild the economy'.Cox, author of 2005's Cox Review of Creativity in Business, has welcomed Mandelson's surprise appointment as Business Secretary in last week's Cabinet reshuffle.'Few ministers have shown any passion for this job in the past, but Mandelson was enthusiastic when he held the post [of Trade Secretary in 1998]. He ...

Recession-proof reads?

2 October 2008

This month sees the launch of two design-led magazines which target the wealthy and the creative. David Benady examines their genesis

Design Embassy to go overseas

Wed, 1 Oct 2008

The London Design Embassy is to travel overseas to bring designers together with greater numbers of foreign buyers. LDE project director Christine Losecaat is also considering making the embassy a permanent fixture in London.'A permanent embassy could be useful to telecom companies such as LG and Nokia, which are opening design studios in London,' argues Losecaat. 'We should have a healthy debate over the merits of a permanent LDE.'The UK Trade & Industry's creative ...

Dutch police coin it in Sagmeister raid

Thu, 25 Sep 2008

An installation created by graphic design guru Stefan Sagmeister for Droog has been confiscated by Dutch police as a ‘precautionary’ measure to safeguard the artwork from being stolen.

Szebeko wins British Council prize

25 September 2008

The British Council has awarded public service and communication design consultancy Think Public founding director Deborah Szebeko the inaugural UK Young Design Entrepreneur Award.Indian designer Siddhartha Das, director of Siddhartha and Spaced Out Productions, takes the International Young Design Entrepreneur Award, worth £7500, which will help fund a collaborative project with the council.Szebeko, who was presented with her award by Studio Conran managing director Sebastian ...

Design Skills Alliance push launches

Mon, 22 Sep 2008

The Design Council today launches a marketing campaign for the UK Design Skills Alliance, which it set up earlier this year with Creative & Cultural Skills.

London Design Medal for Newson

Thu, 18 Sep 2008

Industrial designer Marc Newson is the winner of the London Design Festival’s second London Design Medal.

AIG creates identity for Helen Hamlyn Trust learning drive

18 September 2008

Grants and innovation charity the Helen Hamlyn Trust has enlisted design group AIG to create an identity for its Open Futures learning initiative.AIG creative director Malcolm Garrett was introduced to Lady Hamlyn in August and was asked to review collateral materials, including handouts and information packs.Working with project research director Lucy O'Rourke, AIG was asked to develop a visual coherence for Open Futures, an initiative that seeks to establish 'a skills ...

Fringe shows take limelight

18 September 2008

Though 100% Design is still expected to be one of the key attractions at this year's sixth London Design Festival, top names within the industry have created a raft of alternative events, installations and exhibitions across the capital.Building on the success of last year's installations by architects and product designers Zaha Hadid and Amanda Levete, David Adjaye's undulating tulipwood pavilion Sclera, for Size & Matter, is set to take centre stage on the South Bank, ...

BAA design director joins London 2012

Wed, 17 Sep 2008

BAA's design director David Bartlett is to join the London 2012 team as head of design for the Olympic Village. He is leaving BAA following the completion of his major project, Heathrow Terminal 5.In Design Week's Interaction Design supplement, published today, Bartlett reveals the planned interactive design elements for T5 yet to be realised. These include the Human Mosaic, an installation which allows passengers to send messages and pictures to people waiting in the arrivals ...

Government makes design central to manufacturing strategy

11 September 2008

The Government is looking to knowledge assets, including design, software and brand building to improve the global competitiveness of UK manufacturers.Its manufacturing strategy – New Challenges, New Opportunities – set out earlier this week by the Department for Business and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, outlines plans to improve perceptions of the manufacturing sector, and aims to place the UK as a forerunner in the development of low-carbon ...

100% Design

100% Design

Seasoned industry watchers will be eyeing this year’s 100% Design more closely than previous events. It was schemed and costed long before the economic indicators turned nasty, and how it responds to the ever darkening news could shape the design industry for some time to come.

Product design calls on universities to stop undermining them

Wed, 10 Sep 2008

The Design Council concurs with product designers that universities that offer commercial product design services must clearly define their offer if the reputation of design is not to suffer.In a letter published today in Design Week, product designers signal their growing impatience with higher education providers running consultancies.Signed by 19 designers from across the UK, the letter argues that some academic institutions are undercutting design professionals ...

YouGov panellist wins car

Fri, 5 Sep 2008

Research specialist YouGovCentaur LLP has named creative panel member Rob Spicer as the winner of its latest prize draw.

BBC redesigns Focus magazine

Thu, 4 Sep 2008

The BBC is redesigning its science and technology magazine Focus.

Lego minifigures - a higher honour than Oscars and Baftas

4 September 2008

It was great to see Lego minifigures - a true design classic - get some recognition in your pages (Toys feature, DW 21 August). However, the claim that Harrison Ford is the only actor to have been Lego-ised twice is wrong. That honour also falls to our very own Alfred Molina, who has been immortalised both as Doctor Octopus and Satipo (his character from Raiders of the Lost Ark, pictured). Hopefully, he'll overtake Ford when Lego finally releases a playset based ...

Revival of the fittest

4 September 2008

Companies frequently draw on their heritage and revisit archive designs.But as Claire Dowdy discovers, old doesn’t have to mean old-fashioned

The results of unconventional illustration commission

28 August 2008

In a break from conventional commissioning practice, one publisher has let artists pick the stories they would like to illustrate. The results of this brave approach are quirkily imaginative reinterpretations of some well-known titles, discovers Simon Lox

Dixon lined up for new fashion title

Mon, 1 Sep 2008

Tom Dixon is helping to compile a new bimonthly fashion digest magazine, Distill, which hits the newsstands today.

Zoo qoo creative platform launches

Tue, 26 Aug 2008

A new creative platform that will allow designers to upload and share work on a community website officially launches tomorrow.

Eurobest honours design

Fri, 15 Aug 2008

Advertising industry awards body Eurobest is launching a design category at this year’s event, for the first time in its 20-year history.

Digital relaunch for Dazed & Confused

Thu, 14 Aug 2008

Dazed & Confused has relaunched its website, with design by its in-house digital team.

London design festival goes sustainable

7 August 2008

This year's London Design Festival will host a creative space that will reach out to the design community, its clients and the wider political arena on the key issues around the role of design in sustainability.It is the first time that the LDF has hosted a major dedicated sustainable design event, backed by such a breadth of industry, political, academic and client supporters, according to an LDF spokesperson. Greengaged will be held on weekdays throughout the festival, which ...

Female directors rare, says LCC report

Thu, 31 Jul 2008

Women make up just 8 per cent of directors sitting on the boards of a selection of London’s creative businesses, according to a report by the London College of Communications.

British Council in restructuring U-turn

Fri, 25 Jul 2008

The British Council will announce later today that it is to abandon its restructuring proposals put forward earlier this year, and almost double its global arts budget.

Leading US design college focuses on business

Fri, 18 Jul 2008

Detroit’s College for Creative Studies is launching a suite of graduate programmes later this year to address the increasing emphasis on design within business.

Loewy purchase of Templar Downie revealed

Tue, 15 Jul 2008

Loewy Group has absorbed internal communications design specialist Templar Downie, it has emerged.

Boris calls on designers

Thu, 10 Jul 2008

London Mayor Boris Johnson is calling on designers and architects for their views in shaping policy for London’s city planning.

Prince Andrew backs design sector

10 July 2008

The UK design industry must ‘not rest on its laurels’ in the face of competition from emerging markets, according to HRH The Duke of York.

New Designer of the Year crowned

Mon, 7 Jul 2008

Textiles graduate Abigail Borg has been named the Business Design Centre New Designer of the Year.

Sunday Times rolls out redesign

Fri, 4 Jul 2008

The Sunday Times unveils its full-colour redesign this weekend, with a new masthead, font and updated strapline.

Ealing library revamp nears completion

Mon, 30 Jun 2008

Bisset Adams is set to unveil its new-look interiors for Ealing Central Library next month.

New Blood sought at Earls Court

Mon, 23 Jun 2008

D&AD’s international graduate recruitment show New Blood kicks off tonight at Earls Court, London SW5.

Design still needs to prove business case, say experts

22 May 2008

The Creative Economy Programme's relevance to the design industry was assessed last week by a group of designers in London.The Designers Breakfast event sought industry views on the Creative Britain - New Talents for the New Economy report, published as a framework for the creative industries by an interdepartmental group of Government departments (DW 21 February).Since the publication of the document, the vital questions remain - how can design make a difference to the ...

The Art of Football book

15 May 2008

The Art of Football book, using images by photojournalist Ewen Spencer and produced in partnership with photographer Nick Knight's website Show Studio, is an assignment for Nike's The Art of Football initiative. The images and design by Italian consultancy Sartoria take the concept of 'all the world's a football pitch', and aim to show football as 'epic drama, a tragi-comedy fuelled by passion, hope and pure adrenalin'.

Design will see us through the downturn, says Sorrell

Mon, 12 May 2008

Sir John Sorrell is promoting design as a force for good that will see the UK through the economic downturn it currently faces.

Snap up an effectiveness award

Tue, 6 May 2008

The Design Business Effectiveness Awards is calling for entries to its 2008 awards scheme, though it has yet to announce its line-up of judges.

Design-led refresh for FT Weekend

Fri, 25 Apr 2008

The Financial Times launches its new-look FT Weekend edition tomorrow, with an in-house redesign led by FT Weekend editor Andy Davis.

C&C updates Discovery Initiatives’ image

Fri, 25 Apr 2008

‘Ethical’ travel agency Discovery Initiatives unveils a new identity by C&C Design today.

What rate should you be paid?

Sat, 19 Apr 2008

The demand for senior and digital talent has never been stronger. But reduced client budgets are starting to impact on salary levels and recruitment strategies, threatening to stall the freelance sector while promising better packages for permanent staff.

Sony World Photography Awards shortlist announced

Mon, 14 Apr 2008

Four British photographers have made it on to the shortlist for the inaugural Sony World Photography Awards.

The Brand Union sets pay minimum for graduate recruits

3 April 2008

The Brand Union is to launch an initiative to raise employment standards for young designers in response to Design Week's Salary Survey.The consultancy will introduce a £20 000 minimum wage for graduate recruits, following Design Week reports that in 2007 'UK-wide rates for senior designers increased by 3 per cent, yet rates for junior designers were static' (DW 20 March).Glenn Tutssel, executive creative director of The Brand Union, says, 'Young people are the lifeblood ...

Bristol groups take on London market

Mon, 7 Apr 2008

Bristol design consultancies are joining forces to launch a directory of local design, animation and marketing groups, in an effort to take on the London design market.

Beyond branding

3 April 2008

Imagine an ‘experimental year’ without briefs, with total freedom to create what you like and design something truly worthwhile. Daunting for some, maybe, but Stefan Sagmeister rose to the challenge. Oliver Bennett admires his latest book project

James Dyson unveils his design school

Wed, 2 Apr 2008

As James Dyson forges ahead with his design innovation school following approval by the local council, Emily Pacey looks at the ideas behind it

Beda lobbies Europe to fund design

27 March 2008

The Bureau of European Design Associations is lobbying the European Commission to encourage European Union member states to invest a percentage of their annual GDP in design.

Design Council asks business to invest in UK skills

Wed, 26 Mar 2008

The Design Council is asking Government and private business to invest millions in a raft of initiatives intended to boost the value of UK design through improving skill levels.

Design moves centre stage

13 March 2008

Last week's 'party pooping' Budget was loudly condemned for its domestic fiscal strategy, but quietly celebrated by the business community, in part for plans to offer nearly a third of public contracts to innovative small companies.

DBA appoints membership director

Tue, 18 Mar 2008

The Design Business Association has appointed Jacqueline Rose as its membership and communications director in a bid to boost the number of people joining.

DIUS to unveil Government innovation strategy

Thu, 13 Mar 2008

The Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills is set to publish its innovation strategy today.

Frayling to quit RCA rectorship

Tue, 11 Mar 2008

Last chance for Top 100 survey

Fri, 7 Mar 2008

Consultancies wishing to take part in the Design Week Top 100 survey have just over a week to submittheir entry forms.

Design Week Awards podcast goes live

Thu, 6 Mar 2008

Design Week Award winners were queuing to be featured on our awards podcast on Tuesday at the London Hilton, Park Lane.

Ars longa, illustrata brevis

28 February 2008

This is a handy volume for designers and art directors, joining Taschen's many beautifully presented and affordable reference tomes, showcasing 150 illustrators from across the globe. With contributions from Seymour Chwast, Brian Cairns, Tokyo's Kacchi and Bangalore's Varshesh Joshi to name a few, you get the picture that this is a multicultural selection, and hence a book of very beautiful, diverse signatures. This new, second edition of Illustration Now follows rather hotly on the heels ...

Fig

28 February 2008

Fig, published by Steidl, features more than 80 images by photographers Adam Broomberg and Oliver Chanarin. Designed by Victoria Forrest and Allon Kaye at Smith Design, the book features pictures of strange objects found at the Booth Museum of Natural History, Brighton, such as a merman's body, a unicorn's horn and a dodo skeleton, and traces the link between photography, imperialism and the colonial impulse to acquire, map and collect.

Design Week hits the Hilton

Tue, 4 Mar 2008

The 20th annual Design Week Awards takes place tonight at the London Hilton, Park Lane, W1.

Indie band Elbow

21 February 2008

Indie band Elbow releases its latest single on 10 March with a sleeve crafted by Red Design. According to the consultancy, the artwork has a classic feel through the use of the Caslon font. A series of watercolour illustrations by Oliver East depict scenes of Manchester.

Profile

21 February 2008

More men in sheds than men about town, John Holton and Simon Myers created a strategic brand consultancy with top-tier clients from a garage in Notting Hill. Mike Exon explains what drives their success

The recruiters' view: time to stay or go?

Wed, 20 Feb 2008

It isn’t always easy for costly senior designers to move on – especially not in tougher economic climates. But experienced staff who can help in the battle to win and retain clients should stand a good chance, says Emily Pacey

Hot fifty - Apple

14 February 2008

If design head Jonathan Ive's proven creative prowess isn't enough, the launch of the iPhone last autumn guarantees Apple a place among the 2008 Hot 50. Its touch-screen technology has changed the way in which we expect to communicate, and brought new hand gestures into international sign language.The early models of the iPhone are not without their problems, and the West Coast company has been accused of cynicism in the way it dropped the price dramatically a couple of months ...

Hot fifty - Beck's Fusions

14 February 2008

Public music events aren't new, but the concept behind Beck's Fusions takes them into a different dimension. The brainchild of lager brand Beck's and London's Institute of Contemporary Arts, this series of multimedia events, held in a temporary performance pod during September last year, combined music with visual art at prominent venues across the UK and Ireland.

Hot Fifty - Blogging

14 February 2008

There are times when a phenomenon, rather than a person or organisation, merits a mention for the influence it exerts on design and related creative media. One such phenomenon is blogging, the vogue for running Internet diaries that encourage comment and criticism from anyone who happens by.

Hot fifty - Gordon Brown

14 February 2008

Controversy surrounds Gordon Brown's Government as we go to press, but design still has much to thank the Prime Minister for.

Hot fifty - Sheridan Coakley

14 February 2008

Sheridan Coakley has long been a champion of great design. Through his SCP stores he has promoted and commissioned largely British or UK-trained furniture and accessories designers, creating a number of modern classics in the process.

Hot fifty - Comme des Garçons

14 February 2008

Last December, fashion brand Comme des Garçons delighted the Mayfair set with a guerrilla store in London's Burlington Arcade to promote the launch of its Comme des Garçons 8 88 perfume.

Hot fifty - Professor Martin Darbyshire

14 February 2008

While he glories in the title of professor, Martin Darbyshire is a practising product designer and also chief executive of seminal London design consultancy Tangerine.

Hot fifty - Tom Dixon

14 February 2008

If an overseas design aficionado was asked to put a face on British design, you can guarantee that Tom Dixon would be in the running.

Hot fifty - The Drawbridge

14 February 2008

In this age of on-line blogs, it is refreshing to see an independent magazine that gives good copy on a mix of cultural and social issues and blends it with great art direction.

Hot fifty - Martino Gamper

14 February 2008

The highly inventive designer Martino Gamper has a wonderfully mixed background, which shows through in his eclectic work. This was evident in the exhibition A 100 chairs for 100 days, which was held in London last autumn to coincide with the publication of his book, which bears the same title. For the show he made a chair a day in a bid to make 100 chairs in 100 days.

Hot fifty - Helen Hamlyn Centre

14 February 2008

It is often hard for an organisation to redefine itself once it is established. This is particularly the case in academia, where habits tend to stick more easily than they do in the commercial world and change can be slow.

Hot fifty - Gary Hustwit

14 February 2008

It is rare for design of any kind to make it on to the entertainments circuit, let alone a specialist area such as typography. But the documentary Helvetica, directed by Gary Hustwit, had showings in several major cities across the world, not least at Oxford's BritDoc festival and London's Institute of Contemporary Arts, and even made it on to national TV in the UK.

Hot fifty - Nick Jones

14 February 2008

Members' club supremo Nick Jones has long catered for the creative community at work and play, with venues such as Soho House in London and New York, Electric House in west London and a 'country hotel', Babington House near Frome in Somerset.

Hot fifty - Land Securities

14 February 2008

For the second year running, property developer Land Securities has made it into the Hot 50. It is here again for the consistency of its design management process and commitment to great creativity, of which there has been even greater evidence over the past 12 months.

Hot fifty - Robin Levien

14 February 2008

Robin Levien has long been acknowledged as an expert in industrial ceramics. His taps and toilets are legendary, particularly for UK bathrooms company Ideal Standard, for which he became non-executive design director in 2003.

Hot fifty - John McAslan Family Trust

14 February 2008

Architect John McAslan is behind the John McAslan Family Trust, which supports projects largely relating to young people in the arts and education, as well as film, TV, music, dance, drama and sport.

Hot fifty - Sophie Murray and Jane Wood

14 February 2008

It is rare to see a mother and daughter combination featuring in a listing such as this. But in this instance it is justified, given that both were involved in commissioning Thomas Heatherwick's first building in the UK - the East Beach Café at Littlehampton on the South Coast.

Hot fifty - Nokia

14 February 2008

In February, Nokia finally opened its long-awaited flagship store, designed by Eight Inc, in London's Regent Street, after some three months' delay. But you have to applaud the Finnish telecoms giant for its plans to take the West End by storm and consolidate its UK design team at the new central London offices.

Hot fifty - Royal College of Art

14 February 2008

The Royal College of Art hasn't made it into the Hot 50 previously. Its high-profile rector Professor Sir Christopher Frayling, now also chairman of the beleaguered Arts Council, made the listing when he was chairman of the Design Council, and its inclusive design arm, the Helen Hamlyn Centre, features this year . But though it fulfils its remit admirably, the London postgraduate art and design college wasn't deemed to have gone beyond the brief before.

Hot fifty - At Six Cities Design Festival

14 February 2008

Organisers of Scotland's Six Cities Design Festival are still considering how to take the venture forward, but they should be applauded on what they achieved first time round. It ran from 17 May to 3 June 2007 and the programme included a host of business, design and learning activities as well as public events.

Hot fifty - Sir John Sorrell

14 February 2008

If a knighthood doesn't qualify you for a place in the Hot 50, it would be difficult to know what does. An award in the New Year's Honours List therefore puts Sir John Sorrell here as an untiring champion of design.

Hot fifty - Peter Spence

14 February 2008

Peter Spence is an unlikely champion of design. But the former business advisor set up the South Coast Design Forum in May 2006 as a response to local designers who had moved out of London for family and other reasons, but missed the buzz of the capital.

Hot fifty - Michael Thomson

14 February 2008

Regular conference-goers in design will be aware of Michael Thomson. The self-effacing Irishman may seem an unlikely champion of design, but for years he has battled on the international scene to gain greater recognition for design among European governments.

Hot fifty - Thorsten van Elten

14 February 2008

Promoting emerging talent can be a thankless task - and not always commercially successful. This has been the experience of Thorsten van Elten, who closed his wonderfully quirky London shop in January to promote independent designers in a different way.

Hot fifty - Wally Yachts

14 February 2008

If you ask any sailing fanatic to name the best in yacht design, chances are they'll cite Wally Yachts.

Surge of interest in Siku’s Manga Bible

Mon, 18 Feb 2008

A manga cartoon version of the Bible has caught the nation’s imagination, after being published by Hodder & Stoughton earlier this month

Smale wins Skoda writer award

Tue, 18 Dec 2007

Car manufacturer Skoda’s Design Writer of the Year award has been handed to writer and journalist Glen Smale.

Setting the standard

22 November 2007

Consultancy newcomer Buddy triumphed at last night's Design Week Benchmarks awards. The virtual start-up, founded by three friends, took the Best of Show for the design of The Cornish Mill and Bakehouse's branding.Land Securities took the Client of the Year award, a newly introduced category, while The Partners had a strong performance scooping three awards in total.The Cornish Mill and Bakehouse was put forward for Best of Show having won the Food and Drink category. Buddy ...

Foreword - Photography & image supplement

8 November 2007

Welcome to Design Week's photography supplement. It's no secret that this industry has been through several twists and turns, many of which are explored here. Yet all change has both pros and cons, and there remain as many opportunities for photographers in these image-led times as there are new hurdles to overcome. As ever in creative disciplines, good talent shines through and continues to be sought by commercial and artistic buyers alike. Whether you are a photographer, someone tasked ...

Bitten by the shutterbug

8 November 2007

Photography is finally being taken seriously as an art form in the UK, says Edward Barber, but at the same time digital technology is giving everyone – no matter what their experience – the opportunity to make a mark in the industry

Three to watch

8 November 2007

Who are the current stars on the professional photography scene? We present three of the top names in fashion and portraiture, reportage and commercial work – Diana Scheunemann, John Angerson and Jason Tozer

Barnet Homes releases its annual report today

8 November 2007

Barnet Homes, the group responsible for managing and improving Barnet Council's estates and properties, releases its annual report today, designed by Dog Star.

Editorial work: an overview

8 November 2007

Where do I look for good editorial photography? When I can get to see them, I'm always inspired by The New York Times Sunday Magazine and its style magazine, T. Editorial photography comes in lots of forms - classic reportage, portraiture, fashion, still life and conceptual. The New York Times supplements, under creative director Janet Froelich and picture editor Kathy Ryan, cover the whole range in an intelligent and committed way. Budgets help, but it is really about art direction; the ...

Income growth tempered by cost warning for design groups

Fri, 9 Nov 2007

Willott Kingston Smith’s annual survey holds a warning for design consultancies, as operating costs continue to rise in the face of potentially challenging trading circumstances.

Times cartoonists triumph at awards

Mon, 5 Nov 2007

Studio Output

6 September 2007

Studio Output has redesigned the website of photographic agent Morgan Lockyer. Launching this week, the new site coincides with the company's fifth birthday (www.morganlockyer.com).

Pentagram's Angus Hyland...

30 August 2007

Pentagram's Angus Hyland has designed the 50th anniversary edition of Jack Kerouac's On The Road. The jacket design of the uncensored Original Scroll edition references the manuscript stuck together by Kerouac in 1951, designed to avoid the problem of changing the paper in his typewriter. The new edition is published by Penguin Classics today, priced £25.

A worthy magazine for the sophisticated reader?

16 August 2007

Reading last week's news about Esquire, I couldn't help thinking about how it compares to Monocle magazine.

Fat chance

9 August 2007

Fat faces are moving out of 19th-century textbooks and into the 21st century, taking a stand against the monotony of modern typography, says Simon Loxley. We also ask three designers if sans serifs have dominated for too long

News in Pictures

2 August 2007

Specialist arts design group Design United Worldwide has designed Tokyo Tales, an account of artist Stella Whalley's journey through the seedy underbelly of Tokyo life, with a mix of photography and Manga-style imagery.

Sunday Herald gets a revamp

Fri, 3 Aug 2007

Tomato finds signs of Intelligent Life

Wed, 25 Jul 2007

US designer honoured by SVA

Tue, 24 Jul 2007

Steven Heller, one of US graphic design’s most prolific figures, is to be honoured with a Masters Series Award from the School of Visual Arts in New York and a retrospective exhibition.

Design: Intelligence Made Visible

12 July 2007

Terence Conran has joined forces with Stephen Bayley to produce an authoritative collection of essays on design's place in modern history, entitled Design: Intelligence Made Visible, published by Conran Octopus. The book, which is being branded as 'the indispensable guide to the contents of the modern world', contains an A-Z of iconic people, products and processes from the 20th century to the present day.

Trees in the City

14 June 2007

Trees in the City, a poetry collection commissioned by Lloyd's of London, has been designed by Axon Publishing. It aims to raise awareness of climate change and its effect on the insurance industry.

The Guardian on-line look and content plans unveiled

10 May 2007

The Guardian creative editor Mark Porter has outlined plans to reshape the newspaper's on-line look and content over the next 18 months.Speaking after last Thursday's relaunch of the newspaper's homepage, Porter says that the newly launched functional format will be applied to all Guardian sites over the coming months. The same design, honed by the paper's in-house design team, was initially trialled with the redesign of The Guardian's travel site in November.The site was ...

FT ‘sharpens’ design

Mon, 23 Apr 2007

The Financial Times sports a fresh look today, devised by its in-house design team in conjunction with US external design consultant Ryan Bowman. Development editor Andy Davis oversaw the project.

News in Pictures

5 April 2007

In a bid to save Comic Relief red noses from the dustbin, designers David Bruno and Tom Seymour have created The Chair That Grows. The Bertoia chair by Knoll is fitted with 576 used red noses. It is being exhibited at Knoll in London before being auctione

Triumph

15 March 2007

FMS has designed and published a customer magazine for motorcycle manufacturer Triumph. The publication launches in June 2007.

Monocle

15 February 2007

Newsstand: An overview (Publishing & Design supplement)

15 February 2007

Standing in front of the racks in WH Smith at Heathrow, there is nothing on the shelves that grabs you. It’s just rows and rows of newspapers and magazines featuring cover shots of a celebrity or some anonymous, beautiful face. In terms of editorial design, everyone is doing the same thing. It’s all rather bland and the room to stand out is immense – if you’re brave enough.

Redesign for Times Online

Mon, 5 Feb 2007

The Times relaunches its Times Online website today, following a major redesign. The news website was redesigned in-house by Tomaso Capuano and Jon Warden and uses lime green in the masthead, as well as green, blue and grey throughout the rest of the cont

E-books will make designers more, not less, important

25 January 2007

The role of the book designer could grow to be ever more crucial if digital versions of books are to become commonplace.Speaking last week ahead of an industry gathering in London, Penguin Press art director Jim Stoddart suggested that the design world needs to be ready for the tipping point when electronic literature starts to become the norm. Though e-books are still not a widely spread phenomenon, their growth, he says, will demand more of the print book designer in creating ...

Big prizes for Bristol design winners

18 January 2007

Bristol Media, a design promotion body, is launching a contest next month where designers will be able to win a substantial investment fund made available to creative and media companies in Bristol.The contest is called Goldbrick 6 and is being launched by Bristol Media as part of a wider strategy to establish a more dynamic design community in the South West region. For the competition, designers and companies will present work to a board of six local entrepreneurs in the hope ...

35 Wins Cadbury Schweppes annual review and report pitch

11 January 2007

Confectionery giant Cadbury Schweppes has appointed the consultancy 35 Communications to design and produce its 2006 annual review and report, following a four-way pitch.35 Communications beat Pauffley, SAS and incumbent of eight years Addison to win the pitch, which took place after the shortlisting of eight design consultancies.This is the first time the consultancy has been appointed to work with Cadbury. 35 Communications director Nigel Forsyth says the review aims ...

Revamp for Jewish Chronicle

Fri, 15 Dec 2006

New Statesman

14 December 2006

Current affairs magazine New Statesman has launched a redesigned version of its website. The site - at www.newstatesman.com - was designed by interactive design consultancy Wilson Fletcher.

WMH scores double in survey

Tue, 28 Nov 2006

Williams Murray Hamm dominates Design Week’s Creative Survey, published tomorrow. It tops the chart for all award wins for a second year running and heads the Effectiveness charts, toppling last year’s leader Wolff Olins.

Living legacy

16 November 2006

As a major retrospective of the late Alan Fletcher's innovative and playful work opens at London's Design Museum, Yolanda Zappaterra talks to some of today's design students about what he means to them