Dott 07 (Designs of the time 2007) and Northumbria University School of Design are uniting to host a conference on design practice this autumn and have assembled a line-up of top speakers – several of them School of Design graduates. They will share their opinions and experiences of the current issues facing designers, as well as debating the future of design.
Intersections is happening in Gateshead, Newcastle at the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art on 25 and 26 October. Speakers include Tim Brown, Deyan Sudjic John Thackara, Peter Saville, Richard Seymour and Gillian Crampton-Smith.
Jeremy Myerson, founder and Director of RCA’s Helen Hamlyn Centre and Professor of Design Studies at the RCA, will chair the conference, which will tackle key issues facing designers as they adapt to the changing world.
The conference, produced by design strategist Kevin McCullagh, will highlight the current debate around blurring boundaries between design disciplines. Topics include the impact of design on the environment, design in business and public services, and design’s claim to stimulate innovation, drive strategy and solve problems.
Intersections takes place at the end of the Dott 07 festival. Dott 07 is a year of community projects, events and exhibitions based in North East England that explores what life in a sustainable region might look like – and how design might help get us there.
Dott 07 is a Design Council initiative delivered in partnership with regional development agency One NorthEast
Full details of the conference and to purchase tickets go to www.intersections07.com
For more information please contact Jenny Owen at the Design Council on 020 7420 5240 or jenny.owen@designcouncil.org.uk
1. Dott 07 is the first event in a 10-year programme of design innovation, developed by the Design Council, taking place every two years in a different region or nation across the UK. It is funded by One NorthEast and the Design Council.
2. Dott 07 asks the question ‘Who Designs Your Life?’ and looks at six key themes: energy; food; school; health; travel and tourism.Dott 07 projects are about finding ways to improve aspects of daily life through the use of design. The programme sets out three core strands: Public Design Commissions, Education Projects and Design Showcases. The programme culminates in October with a Dott 07 Festival, which brings together everyone involved through the year. www.dott07.com
3. Northumbria University School of Design has a long-standing reputation for producing innovative designers who go on to make directional contributions to the design industry on a global scale. The School was identified as one of the top 20 design schools in the world by Business Week US. www.northumbria.ac.uk/design
4. Full list of speakers: Andy Altmann, John Bates, Durrell Bishop, Christoph Boninger, Tim Brown, Allan Chochinov, Gillian Crampton-Smith, Chris Downs, Richard Eisermann, Iain Ellwood, Ignacio Germande, Sarah Maynard, Jeremy Myerson, Vicky Richardson, Jonathan Sands, Peter Saville, Richard Seymour, Richard Shed, Daljit Singh, Deyan Sudjic, John Thackara, Johnny Vulkan, Austin Williams, James Woudhuysen.
5. The Design Council is the UK’s national strategic body for design. It aims to strengthen and support the economy and society by demonstrating and promoting the role of design in making business and public services more effective. It is funded by the Department of Trade and Industry. www.designcouncil.org.uk
6. One NorthEast is the Regional Development Agency covering the North East of England. It was set up in 1999 to transform the area through ‘sustainable economic development’ and to create jobs, prosperity and a better quality of life for residents. It covers the region comprising County Durham, Northumberland, Tees Valley and Tyne and Wear. www.onenortheast.co.uk'