5 design things to look out for in June 2018

This month you can see the work of 3,000 budding creatives at New Designers, visit the first ever Birmingham Design Festival and read about some of the most influential women in the industry.

Festival: Birmingham Design Festival

What: The first ever Birmingham Design Festival takes place this June, spread over four days that will include talks, workshops, exhibitions and more. The inaugural event will see speakers including US-based designer Aaron Draplin, Pentagram partner Marina Willer and Atlas creative director Astrid Stavro. Exhibitions will include a pop-up typography lab, hosted by type enthusiast Sarah Hyndman, where you will be able to taste, smell and even go on a date with different fonts, and an ode to print and paper company G. F Smith. The four-day extravaganza will be the first large-scale design venture for the UK’s second-biggest city.

When: 7-10 June 2018.

Where: Various venues across the city. For a map, head here.

Info: Many events are free but some are ticketed. For more information, head here.


Book: Women Design

What: You may have heard of Ray Eames and Margaret Calvert, but do you know about Muriel Cooper, who pioneered digital design in the 1980s, or Brazilian-based architect Lina Bo Bardi? A new book profiles 25 influential female figures in the design and architecture world, with the aim of celebrating the known names and shining a light on the unknown ones. Written by ex-Design Museum curator Libby Sellers, Women Design looks to alert readers’ attention to the contributions of women to an industry that is so male-dominated and has not come far enough in terms of gender equality, she says. Read Design Week’s interview with Sellers here.

When: Published 7 June 2018.

Where: Available to order in the UK and US.

Info: Women Design: Pioneers in architecture, industrial, graphic and digital design from the 20th century to the present day, is published by Frances Lincoln Publishers, and is available to buy for £20. For more information, head here.


Exhibition: Print! Tearing It Up at Somerset House

Courtesy of Somerset House

What: The Face; Private Eye; The Gourmand: Delayed Gratification; Gal-dem; the list of UK independent magazines that have existed in the last 100 years goes on and on. All these publications, whether political, cultural or advocating diversity, pride themselves on their dedication to print but also their originality and radicalness. A new exhibition at Somerset House, co-curated by the gallery’s Claire Catterall and writer Paul Gorman, will showcase roughly 300 independent zines from past to present, including a news-stand installation featuring 40 contemporary ones that people can flick through. Read more about the upcoming show here.

When: 8 June – 22 August 2018.

Where: Terrace Rooms, South Wing, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA.

Info: Entrance is free. For more information, head here.


Competition: Design Council Spark

Workey, by Geoff Rolandsen – one of last year’s Design Council Spark winners

What: The Design Council’s Spark programme has been running for four years, and aims to bring new products that help people in some way to market. This year’s programme sees 12 shortlisted concepts, all of which will receive funding and mentoring to turn them into a reality. Previous years have seen things developed to make life easier for those with arthritis, as well as those assisting people with visual impairments, and those that tackle air pollution. This year’s products include a range of lingerie for women with mobility problems, and strength-training gym equipment for people with long-term health conditions. All 12 concepts will be revealed this month, following the Design Council’s Spark Showcase event. Read about last year’s competition here.

When: The concepts will be revealed on 26 June.

Where: London, UK.

Info: Look out for coverage on Design Week this month.


Exhibition: Degree shows nationwide

What: Summer is the season for graduate degree shows, where final year art and design students showcase their best work with the hopes of attracting potential employers and commissions, as well as inspiring other students. Taking place nationwide, some top picks include D&AD New Blood Festival and New Designers in London, which showcase creative work by students from all over the country, as well as Leeds Arts University, Glasgow School of Art and Plymouth College of Art.

When: Various dates from June to September.

Where: Various locations.

Info: Head here for more info on: D&AD New Blood, New Designers, Leeds Arts University, Glasgow School of Art and Plymouth College of Art.


Do you have an event, talk or exhibition you would like to share? Get in touch sarah.dawood@centaurmedia.com.

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