First design association for the North East launches

Five Newcastle-based graphic design consultancies have formed the north east of England’s first design association, with the aim of reaching out to small and medium-sized local businesses.

The organisation, called A, has been set up by Sumo, The Roundhouse, Outline, Fat Frog and Blue River. It launched on Monday and aims to be a ‘non profit-making collective promoting graphic design to the North East and beyond’, says Sumo creative director Suzanne Evans (pictured).

The organisation will stage talks aimed at the design community and events to help local businesses improve their understanding of design.

‘We hope to become an essential resource for companies in the North East,’ says Evans. ‘Around 70 local consultancies have expressed an interest in the association and we hope they’ll join up as members.’

A will be funded by subscriptions, Newcastle City Council and local development agency One Northeast, she adds.

The name A was chosen as ‘it represents absolute excellence’ and ‘can be whatever people want it to be’, Evans explains. The logo, a letter A in Helvetica, will not be designed ‘until we get a measure of who we are’, she adds.

For more information about A send an e-mail to info@adesign association.org.