Liberty to hold design open day

Liberty buying director Ed Burstell is to hold an open day next month in a bid to find new design talent for the historic London department store.

As part of Liberty’s Open Design Day the public is invited to bring their creations – from ceramics and silverware to accessories and homewares – to be assessed by a panel of design ‘experts’, who will give advice on product development and commercialisation.

It is ‘a chance for new designers to get sympathetic and helpful advice from experts on how to nurture and develop their ideas’, according to a Liberty statement.

The ‘best’ designs will be picked up by a panel comprising the Liberty buying team – headed up by Burstell – Liberty creative consultant Yasmin Sewell, Daily Telegraph design editor David Nicholls and fashion journalist Sarah Mower.

Liberty is expected to support designers deemed of a high enough calibre through the manufacturing and delivery process.

A spokeswoman for Liberty explains that the event is the brainchild of Burstell, who organised a similar event while at New York department store Bergdorf Goodman and wanted to try out the idea in the UK.

‘It would be fantastic if we found some find some amazing jewellery designer or a ceramicist,’ says the spokeswoman.

Liberty’s Open Design Day will be held on Saturday 25 April from 10am until 3pm at Liberty, Regent Street, London W1.