Dott 07 (Designs of the time 2007) is a year of community projects, events and exhibitions in North East England that explore what life in a sustainable region could be like and how design can help us get there. A partnership between regional development agency One NorthEast and the Design Council, Dott 07 enables communities and individuals in the region to collaborate with designers in realistic situations.
The ECO Design Challenge has been running since September 2006 and has involved thousands of students establishing the carbon footprint of their school, identifying problem areas and then developing design briefs to address these issues. Out of 86 that originally registered, 38 briefs from 20 schools are going forward to the next stage of the project. Between now and June, experienced and well known design professionals will be visiting the schools to collaborate with the students and develop the briefs into practical design solutions.
Final design submissions will be made by schools in July. The best of these projects will be worked on further in a spectacular “eco design projects factory” which will be a centrepiece of the Dott 07 Festival (15-28 October). The best projects will be celebrated and awarded prizes during the Creative Community Awards ceremony at the festival.
The hope is that everyone who has been involved in the project will be motivated by this practical exposure to sustainability issues relating to their school, and will be equipped with the skills to continue with similar projects in the future.
Nick Devitt, ECO Design Challenge project manager, said:
“We have been overwhelmed by the interest that this project has generated, from schools across North East England. Since its launch last September, over 15,000 students have got involved in some way and it was a really exciting job shortlisting design briefs to submissions from just 20 schools.
“We have some great designers lined up to work with the students and turn the briefs into practical solutions that can reduce the carbon footprint of the schools and put sustainability firmly on the education agenda. The very best designs will win ECO Design Challenge Awards at the Dott 07 Festival in October, but the prize for everyone involved could be a legacy of sustainable, eco-friendly schools for generations to come.”
The 20 schools on the shortlist are:
- Acklam Grange School, Middlesbrough
- Allendale Middle School, Allendale
- All Saints Church of England Secondary, Ingleby Barwick
- Barbara Priestman School, Sunderland
- Cleaswell Hill School, Guide Post
- Dryden School, Low Fell, Gateshead
- George Stephenson High School, Killingworth, Newcastle upon Tyne
- Longbenton Community College, Longbenton, Newcastle upon Tyne
- Lord Lawson of Beamish School, Birtley
- Macmillan Academy, Middlesbrough
- Ponteland Community Middle School, Ponteland
- Sandhill View School, Sunderland
- Spennymoor School, Spennymoor
- St Anthony's Girls' School, Sunderland
- St Hild's Church of England School, Hartlepool
- Stanley School of Technology, Stanley
- Tanfield Specialist College, Stanley
- Valley Gardens Middle School, North Tyneside
- Venerable Bede Church of England Secondary School, Sunderland
- Walker Technology College, Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne
For more information contact Saskia Sissons on 020 7420 5248, or saskia.sissons@designcouncil.org.uk
- Dott 07 (Designs of the time 2007) is a year of community projects based in North East England that explore what life in a sustainable region could be like - and how design can help us get there.
- Dott 07 is a partnership between the Design Council and One NorthEast
- Dott 07 is the first biennial in a 10-year ‘Designs of the time’ programme of design innovation, developed by the Design Council, and taking place every two years in a different region or nation across the UK.
- Dott 07 asks the question ‘Who Designs Your Life?’ and looks at six key themes: health and wellbeing, food and nutrition, school and community, energy and environment, sustainable tourism, and mobility and access.
- Dott 07 is ‘user centred’ – it enables communities and individuals in the region to collaborate with designers in realistic situations.
- Dott 07 projects address real questions and issues, using design principles to find solutions.
- Dott 07 is being led by programme director John Thackara, renowned internationally for his work as director of design futures network Doors Of Perception, which encourages designers, technology experts and grass roots innovators to work together in new ways.
- Executive producer is Robert O’Dowd, who has extensive experience in business and creative development. He was a founding director of Classic FM and is now chief executive of Real Health (UK) Ltd and 180 Solutions (UK) Ltd.
Dott 07 forms part of North East England’s world class programme of events and festivals for 2007
- 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.
- Dott is one of two national programmes of social and economic change driven by the Design Council. Designing Demand, its national business support programme, rolls out in the region later in the year.
- One NorthEast is the Regional Development Agency covering North East 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.