RSCG Conran head joins Coats Viyella

RSCG Conran Design’s design marketing director Keith Appleby has joined textiles giant Coats Viyella as design director of its Home Furnishings division.

Appleby says he will be evaluating his division’s use of design consultancies for projects such as packaging – a move which may lead to the formation of a roster.

But most of Appleby’s work will be dealing with designing Coats Viyella’s products. Coats Viyella has an in-house textiles team of around 30 designers plus new-product development staff.

Appleby’s departure from RSCG Conran Design completes its changes in senior personnel. Head of graphics Ray Ally left for a move to Hong Kong before Christmas. Creative director David Chaloner, who joined RSCG Conran last March, has taken on responsibility for what the consultancy terms “retail brand communication”.

Arrivals at RSCG Conran in 1995 included former Richmond International managing director Noel Pierce, David Judge from Manchester-based group Judge Gill Associates and Tony Lorenz from Coats Viyella – a move unconnected with Appleby’s.

Pierce heads the consultancy’s hospitality work, Lorenz is marketing the consultancy’s printed communication offer and Judge is project director.

Judge’s first major project at RSCG Conran, Sears’ homewares concept The Source, is to pilot a second outlet before Easter after November’s launch of a pilot store at Thurrock (DW 29 September 1995).

RSCG Conran Design has created a new 120-page UK brochure for German domestic kitchen appliance brand Neff.