5 design things to look out for in March 2019

Talk: New Monuments for Women

What: This International Women’s Day (8 March), the Design Museum is hosting a free discussion about monuments dedicated to women — or lack thereof. There are around 16 statues of men for every one of a female in the UK, according to the museum, but a handful of new statues for women were unveiled last year, coinciding with the centenary of women’s suffrage, in a bid to redress the balance. This talk questions the relevance of monuments today and looks at other ways we can commemorate inspirational women. Speakers include Justine Simons OBE, deputy mayor for culture and the creative industries in London, author Anna Minton, and Nigerian-born artist Sokari Douglas Camp. The talk coincides with the David Adjaye: Making Memory exhibition, which explores the role of monuments in today’s society through the architect’s work — read our article on the exhibition here.

When: 6.30pm-8pm, 8 March 2019.

Where: Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, Kensington, London W8 6AG.

Info: The talk is free but booking is required. For more information, head here.

Book: How to Do Great Work Without Being an Asshole

What: From long hours to colleagues with over-sized egos, a new tongue-in-cheek book explores ways in which working in the creative industries can be less than ideal. This book takes a playful look at how things work in the world of the arts, from design to film, and offers plenty of advice on how to create a more positive working environment, hopefully leading to a “happier team” and “better work”. Written by designer and illustrator Paul Woods, this book is packed with light-hearted cartoons, quizzes, anecdotes and suggestions about how creatives can work better together. Look out for our interview with the author, coming soon.

When: Published 11 March 2019.

Where: Available to buy through Laurence King.

Info: The book costs £12.99. For more information, head here.

Exhibition: Charles Rennie Mackintosh — Making the Glasgow Style

What: This exhibition explores the Glasgow Style, a significant contribution to the British Art Nouveau movement. Around 250 objects will go on show, including furniture, embroidery, graphics and architectural drawings. Highlights include parts of the tearooms Charles Rennie Mackintosh created for businesswoman Miss Catherine Cranston, including panelling, furniture and light fittings. The exhibition will also explore the stories and work of some of the designers who came out of the Glasgow School of Art and spearheaded the Glasgow Style — including James Herbert McNair and sisters Frances and Margaret Macdonald, who along with Mackintosh, became known as The Four, a designers’ collective.

When: 15 March — 26 August 2019.

Where: Walker Art Gallery, William Brown Street, Liverpool L3 8EN.

Info: Tickets cost £9 and concessions cost £8. For more information, head here.

Trade show: London Design Week 2019

What: Around 600 brands will show off their wares at this design extravaganza, with a focus on interiors and furniture. There will be opportunities to meet designers, workshops, demonstrations, launches, and a variety of other activities taking place. There will also be a series of ticketed talks and panel discussions called Conversations in Design, with speakers including interior and furniture designer Francis Sultana, interior designer Kit Kemp and lighting designer Michael Anastassiades.

When: 13 March — 15 March 2019.

Where: Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, London SW10 0XE.

Info: Entry is free to the trade show but tickets for Conversations in Design talks cost £10 each and must be booked in advance. For more information, head here.

Exhibition: Matilda at Thirty

What: This World Book Day (7 March), the Roald Dahl Museum is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Matilda first being published. Dahl’s story of the clever and brave little girl, who loved to read and used her brain to overcome bullies, has been a favourite among generations of children. Illustrator Quentin Blake, who is behind the images in the original book, has drawn eight new pictures for the show imagining what Matilda might look and act like as an adult, inspired by her many talents. Images from the original book will also be on display.

When: 7 March — 2 June 2019.

Where: The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, 81-83 High Street, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire HP16 0AL.

Info: Museum entry costs £7 and £4.70 for concessions. Admission to the exhibition is included with museum entry. For more information, head here.

Other stuff to catch:

Book: Bauhaus Gals. A tribute to some of the most inspirational women associated with the Bauhaus movement, including Marianne Brandt, Gertrud Arndt, and Lucia Moholy, published by Taschen. For more information, head here.

Exhibition: Illustrator in Residence, 29 March — 14 July 2019. A new exhibition at the House of Illustration showcases the work of this year’s illustrator in residence, YiMiao Shih, which includes satirical images on the theme of Brexit — only with rabbits, not people. For more information, head here.

Talk: Representation of women in the arts, 9 March. Gal-dem magazine’s art director Leyla Reynolds will host a conversation about how women are represented in the arts, as part of a series of events known as the International Women’s Weekender. For more information, head here.