Competition heats up for Dott 09

The selection of a second host region for the Design Council’s ten-year programme of biennial events will go to tender after Christmas, following the formal launch this week of the Designs of the Time scheme.

Dott 07 launches in North East England next year, under programme director John Thackara, in partnership with Regional Development Agency One North East (DW 20 October). Tenders for Dott 09 will go to the seven remaining RDAs in England, and to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The biennials aim to ‘improve national life through design’ in a two-year schedule of Public Design Commissions, education programmes and Design Showcase events. Each biennial will have a fixed fund of £5m. For Dott 07, £3.5m is provided by One North East, £1m by the Design Council and the rest by local organisations.