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21– 25 October 2015 www.design-event.co.uk

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Hello & Welcome

Welcome to the 2015 Northern Design Festival. I can hardly believe that 2015 marks our tenth year of promoting and supporting good design. Over this time we’ve welcomed over 250,000 visitors to our festivals, worked with in excess of 1,400 designers and earlier this year won the Homes & Gardens award for best Backer of British Design, all cause for celebration.

To mark our tenth birthday we are working with Newcastle Arts Centre and will be taking over a stunning Grade II* listed building. A beautiful backdrop against which to present the best in contemporary craft and design.

Our programme builds on the amazing decade of design we have showcased so far. The Design Event MART will feature work by the best designers from across the north of England. Our Crafts Council partnership showcases work by 11 emerging makers from their Hothouse programme and we have selected 10 rugs from NODE’s beautiful collection of hand made rugs by Chris Haughton, Sanna Annukka and Oliver

We are thrilled to be part of the UK launch of David Irwin’s M Lamp that was originally developed with investment from Design Event.

decorative details of our stunning building.

We are also pleased to be working with the RIBA this year to present innovative design ideas. Their Work in Progress exhibition will provide both inspirations and food for thought. Likewise our Design Talks with William Russell, partner at Pentagram and Chris Haughton, illustrator and founder of NODE.

2015 is also Deadgood’s tenth birthday and they will be presenting a selection of products from their latest range as well as sponsoring the Architects Breakfast.

We look forward to seeing you at the Festival.

Karen Nairstone Director

Please see centre

what’s on and

Design Event Pop Up Store— buy locally designed and made products and prints in our curated pop up shop starting from just £10

Design Event MART

in contemporary design from across the North of England.

Design Store Online— buy a range of carefully selected products from some of our favourite designers at:

www.design-event.co.uk/shop

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Barbara ChandlerBarbara Chandler, who will open the 2015 Northern Design Festival, is an award-winning specialist writer covering design and interiors for over 35 years for numerous national and international publications. Currently, she is freelance Design Writer for Homes &

is chair of the judges for the Homes & Gardens Designer Awards, and writes a monthly column for this magazine. She sits on the selection panel for the furniture Design Guild Mark. Her work takes her to leading design events at home and abroad. Barbara Chandler is also a successful photographer. Her recent exhibition, 20 20 Vision at 100% Design in 2014, presented portraits of designers in the setting of their work.

@sunnyholt @sunnygran

A Decade of Designin numbers...

250,000visitors

1,400designers

120exhibitions & events

40talks & workshops

£250,000in direct sales

50bursaries awarded

10seed investments

Design Event and the Northern Design Festival are ten years old this year. And their story is one of innovation, enterprise, and tenacity - as displayed by Design Event founder and director Karen Nairstone. I chair the judges for the Homes & Gardens Designer Awards, and earlier this year we were delighted to present the Award for Backer of British Design to Karen, who came to London to accept it. Karen had the initial vision to see that numerous individual sparks of Northern design could be nurtured and grown, and then combined into a great beacon of excellence, to illuminate the region and to attract attention from all over the country and beyond. Karen has fought for funding,

professional expertise, and opened up markets.

has worked with over 1,400 designers. That’s a big tribe and I think the North is very lucky to have her.

My own work is mainly rooted in the South, since I write for the London Evening Standard, but over the years I have of course learned a lot about

design from the North. For example, I met Festival sponsors Deadgood - always cheerful, sometimes cheeky - very early on when they came to 100% Design, bringing to London their own brand of imagination, functionality and wit. I have curated the New Wave collection with leading Lancashire wallpaper makers Graham & Brown. More recently, I explored the new Centre of Ceramic Art in York Art Gallery. And it’s been great fun meeting the Design Event contingent at more recent London Design Festivals.

“Standards are high over a huge range of disciplines”But I wanted know more, so this summer Karen and I did an assault course on design studios in the Newcastle area. I also got in touch with designers I had not had the chance to meet

Northern design? Firstly it has to be the product

itself. Standards are high over a huge range of disciplines, from large pieces of furniture and ambitious lighting to printed and woven textiles and small pieces of ceramic.

Time and again I’ve seen designs that are unquestionably original and often poetic - from the

digital print. Designers tell me they are inspired by the North itself, by its landscape, its architecture, and its traditional industries. Craft skills are highly valued, learned if necessary painfully, and then

enterprising and, if necessary, dogged. They work long hours anywhere from a lean-to conservatory to studios and cavernous workshops carved out of old warehouses and factories.

“Time and again I’ve seen designs that are unquestionably original and often poetic”The region is famously friendly, looking out for its own. Design Event is a good example, as is

programme has allowed a succession of talented graduates access to university resources so they can progress their work. But of what is Karen most proud, as we celebrate ten years of Design Event?

and growing success of our Northern designers,” says Karen. I’ll say aye to that.

Deadgood — Design Event 2005 Our Friends — Design Event 2007 MART — Design Event 2008Dan Civico — Design Event 2006

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Featuring

Beatrix BakerWood / Mixed Media

Jasmine SimpsonCeramics

Joanna GordonJewellery

Judith WatsonTextiles

Katherine LeesCeramics

Libby WardJewellery

Lynne HutchinsonCeramics

Simon WilksCeramics

Stephanie LawtonSurface Pattern

Studio LW (Emma Leslie & Rhiannon Wilkie)Furniture

Tom PhilipsonFurniture

Crafts Council Hothouse

In partnership with the Crafts Council, this exhibition will showcase work by emerging makers taking part in the 2015 Hothouse programme, including jewellery, ceramics, textiles and furniture.

About Hothouse

Hothouse is a Crafts Council programme of creative and business support for new and emerging makers who have set up their business in the last three years. Design Event is delighted to be partnering with the Crafts Council for the 2016 programme to support more emerging Northern designers and makers.

For more information including a Hothouse participant blog, videos and links to participants’ websites visit:

craftscouncil.org.uk/what-we-do/hothouse

Featuring

Chris Haughton

Craig Robinson

Lesley Barnes

Oliver Jeffers

Jon Klassen

Sanna Annukka

Petra Borner

Michelle Romo

Geoff McFetridge

NODE A graphics showcase of beautiful rugs by leading artists, designers and illustrators including

winning children’s book author and illustrator, Chris Haughton from NODE and their fair trade

works have been shown together in this way and the UK launch for Michelle Romo’s piece.

NODE aims to connect a worldwide network of designers and artists with traditional Nepalese carpet makers to create beautiful handmade rugs by Kumbeshwar, a founding member of Fair Trade Nepal. Employees are taught literacy and skills. In addition to fair wages, their work supports a school of 260 children and an orphanage.

www.madebynode.com

BLH Ceramics Judith Watson

Chris Haughton

Oliver Jeffers

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David IrwinDavid Irwin graduated in 3D Design at Northumbria University in 2007. He completed a fellowship on the Designers in Residence programme at Northumbria’s School of Design in 2010 and went on to establish his own Industrial design studio in 2011. David works for leading manufacturers and design-led companies including Habitat, Heal’s and Deadgood within contemporary furniture, product and lighting design. The goal with all of his work is to combine a strong concept with fundamental usefulness.

www.davidirwin.co

David Irwin: Lighting Installation

Newcastle-based designer David Irwin developed the prototype for his M Lamp with seed funding from Design Event through the Design Event Presents programme in 2011. The M Lamp has since been put into production with US-based design brand Juniper

in September 2015 where it will be available exclusively through The Conran Shop.

For the 2015 Northern Design Festival, David will present a site-

Josh South — Beacon Paperweight

Prototypes

M Lamp

DeadgoodDeadgood will be showcasing a carefully curated selection of products from their cutting edge collection of modern British furniture, lighting and interior accessories, including new designs fresh from their launch at the London Design Festival.

Over the last ten years the company has established a reputation for designing, developing and distributing an exclusive collection of products to some of the most creative and forward thinking companies in the world, supplying their own brand

collections to cutting edge commercial environments within the hospitality, education, hotel, and workplace sectors.

Deadgood’s ethos is to create modern British interior ‘products with personality’; an eclectic collection with a distinct style and a unique sense of place in the world, built on their true values of fun, quality and longevity.

www.deadgoodltd.co.uk

Deadgood 2015

Northumbria University Tools for Everyday Life

The Tools for Everyday Life project is an ongoing initiative to investigate the role and relevancy of materials and processes knowledge in the design and use of products. Its goal is to treat people not as passive ‘victims’ in need of designed goods

rewarding products, hence calling the things they design ‘tools’.

The project is run from Northumbria University’s School of Design and draws its designers from the community of practice that surrounds BA (Hons) 3D Design and the postgraduate Designers in Residence scheme.

www.toolsforeverydaylife.com

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DAVIDIRWIN

RIBANODE

DEADGOOD

NORTHUMBRIAUNIVERSITY

POP-UPSHOP

ACCESSIBLE ENTRANCE

MAIN ENTRANCE

CRAFTSCOUNCIL

DESIGN EVENTMART

Venue Map1

GLocationThe Assembly House 55 Westgate Road Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 1SG

The Assembly House is a short walk from Newcastle Central Station, directly behind the Thistle Hotel. Talks take place at the nearby Black Swan, accessed from the Newcastle Arts Centre courtyard at: 67 Westgate Road, Newcastle NE1 1SG

TicketsBuying a ticket to this year’s Northern Design Festival contributes to the renovation of this historic Grade II* listed building.

Pay on the door (subject to availability), or book in advance at:

www.design-event.co.uk

What’s on?Events & Talks PAGE

ARCHITECTS BREAKFAST 12 Thursday 22 October 8.30am

DESIGN TALK: CHRIS HAUGHTON 13 Illustrator and Founder, NODE Wednesday 21 October 6pm

DESIGN TALK: WILLIAM RUSSELL 13 Partner, Pentagram, Thursday 22 October 6pm

Exhibitions PAGE

CRAFTS COUNCIL Hothouse showcase 06

DAVID IRWIN Lighting Installation 09DEADGOOD Showcase 12DESIGN EVENT MART 14 – 18NODE Rugs by leading artists, 07 designers and illustrators

NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY 08 Tools for Everyday Life

RIBA North East Architecture Open: 12 Work in Progress

Opening Times21 – 25 Oct 2015

Wednesday & Thursday10:00 – 18:00

Friday & Saturday10:00 – 17:00

Sunday11:00 – 17:00

Exhibitions* £2.50under 18s free

Talks £5

Festival pass £11exhibitions + 2 talks*unlimited visits

THE ASSEMBLY HOUSE

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RIBA Architecture Open 2015: Work in Progress

A showcase of shortlisted projects from the RIBA’s design competition, Architecture Open 2015. The theme this year is Work in Progress – concept drawings, models, paintings, sketches and artworks that have been a fundamental part of the creative process in great or unrealised projects.

The exhibition will give an insight into how architects work and develop ideas; from the inspiration for a project or a sketchbook with

notes, to models and drawings that have been an important part of the creative process. The resulting exhibition will be a showcase of innovative work by Northern architects.

William RussellPartner, Pentagram

Thursday 22 October 6pm

William Russell studied architecture at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and the Royal College of Art. Having graduated from the RCA, he set up practice with David Adjaye before establishing William Russell Architecture

His clients include The London Jewellery Centre (a joint venture between Holtz Jewellers and The London Borough of Camden), Alexander McQueen, Cass Art, COS, Krug Champagne, the London Borough of Camden, Margaret Howell, H&M and the Tate Gallery. In addition to these, he has designed numerous residential projects for clients such as Ewan MacGregor and the

East London, has attracted critical acclaim from around the world. William will discuss some of his favourite projects from his ten years at Pentagram.

Chris HaughtonIllustrator and founder of NODE

Wednesday 21 October 6pm

Chris Haughton is the author/illustrator of award winning children’s books including A Bit Lost and Shh We Have a Plan. He also works as a designer for fair trade companies with several fair trade craft projects and set up the fair trade project NODE with Akshay Sthapit as a social business to connect UK and worldwide designers with fair trade. They launched NODE in the Design Museum in London by inviting 18 artists to each design a rug which was then exhibited at the exhibition and sold through the Design Museum. They have since exhibited the rugs in Spain, Finland and have an upcoming show in LA. They have been commissioned to install rugs throughout a ward in the Royal London Hospital. Chris will discuss the development of NODE and their products and his interior for the Royal London Hospital.

Chris Haughton - NODE rug

William Russell - Alexander McQueen Los Angeles Flagship Store

Architects BreakfastThursday 22 October 8.30am–10am

An exclusive opportunity for architects, interior designers, developers and commissioners to visit the exhibitions and meet some of the designers

Event sponsors Deadgood will be giving an insight into their work, plus Mike Tilley, owner of the Assembly House, will also give a short talk on the history of the building and its restoration.

Light breakfast included. Booking essential. Book online at:

www.design-event.co.uk

Design TalksWe’ve put together a programme of talks from leading national practitioners designed to inspire, excite and stimulate. Talks take place at the Black Swan, accessed from the Newcastle Arts Centre courtyard:

The Black Swan, 67 Westgate Road, Newcastle NE1 1SG.

Tickets£5 per talk, or buy a Festival pass for £11 which includes unlimited entry to the exhibitions and both talks. Book online at:

www.design-event.co.uk

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The Design Event MART is a curated selling exhibition presenting the best in contemporary design by 16 designers from across the North of England working in a range of design disciplines including furniture, ceramics, textiles, lighting, product and jewellery. The original products featured in the exhibition are available to buy at the MART shop.

Design Event MART exhibitors are selected by a panel of experts looking for excellence in the application of form, function, use of materials and processes. The result is an exhibition of the highest quality innovative work at various stages

pieces and commissions.

For 2015, panel members were:

Carmel AllenCreative Director at Heal’s

Joanna Feeley Founder, Trend Bible

Karen NairstoneDirector, Design Event

Rickard WhittinghamProgramme Leader 3D Design & Designers in Residence at Northumbria University

Sara LeyHead of Retail at BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art

designers visit:

www.design-event.co.uk/designers

Design Event MART

AFID Design

British furniture designer/maker Michael Armstrong

handmade furniture and product commissions as well as developing pieces for manufacture. Located in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Michael works with private clients, architects, interior designers, manufacturers and retailers. ‘B’ range hand made furniture incorporates bold geometric details and graphic elements for a simple, uncomplicated aesthetic.

07971 564 513 |

Annabel Perrin

colour combinations and ‘full of life’ geometric patterns. Her range of mid-century modern homeware includes fabrics, cushions, lampshades, kitchenware and wallpapers. Each product combines hand drawn and digital imagery, bringing an eclectic twist to her British-made products.

07841 536 128 | info@annabelperrin.com www.annabelperrin.com

Ben Ashby

A recent Northumbria University BA (Hons) 3D Design graduate, Ben’s Esker range of elegantly designed benches inspired by colour and texture is made with a solid ash frame and a soft upholstered cushion wrapped in high quality stitch detail Blazer fabric by Camira, providing contemporary and comfortable seating for waiting areas and foyers.

07854 596 415 | ben.ashby@hotmail.com www.benashbydesign.com

BLH Ceramics

Led by Lynne Hutchinson from her studio in Newcastle, BLH Ceramics create decorative and functional ceramics. Combining traditional craft elements, hand built pieces demonstrate a range of

contrasting smooth, grey, unglazed surfaces

0191 246 1343 | blhceramics@virginmedia.com www.blhceramics.co.uk

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Jane Eastwood

Based in the renowned textile region of Yorkshire, Jane produces luxurious textiles sold in New York,

her Edo-Deco-Bauhaus collection of high quality silk and wool throws were spun from scratch in the UK. Using crisp, stone white silk against soft charcoal black wool provides both warmth and softness to these edgy, timeless pieces.

07526 238 703 | info@janeeastwooddesign.com www.janeeastwooddesign.com

Gianluca Mingolla

A recent graduate from Manchester School of Art, and recipient of the Ferrious graduate award, Gianluca Mingolla is fascinated with exploring the link between craft and technology creating a blend that moves beyond the limitations of the handmade, yet celebrates traditional skills. Now, as a maker, he strives to develop this balance which is core to his making process.

07535 031 070 | mingolla.design@gmail.com www.gianlucamingolla.com

Based in Newcastle, Jennifer creates bespoke ceramic

masking the natural characteristics of the clay. Taking inspiration from her collaboration with Susi Bellamy,

range, Jennifer created the Parian Ginger Jar collection, combining scrapes of colour while still retaining natural characteristics.

07584 303 883 |

Inertia Projects

Led by David Oxley, Inertia Projects specialise in LED desk lamps designed and assembled in a small

was made possible with capital raised by a successful Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. Inertia develop precisely engineered, fully functional products that are a pleasure to use, and will be exhibiting their Bankers and Bedside lamps.

07725 213 171 | david@inertiaprojects.com www.inertiaprojects.com

Mollie Paling

A graduate from Manchester School of Art, Mollie is inspired by the relationship between an item of jewellery and the wearer. Her work features simplistic design

are personal to the wearer. Through precious metals and semi-precious stones she creates jewellery that explores the ideas of hidden meaning.

07581 008 014 | mollierosepaling@hotmail.co.uk

Jake Barker

Jake graduated from Northumbria University in July

both traditional and contemporary processes, his Lux bedside table is dual-purpose - users can position the light either as an ambient light, by attaching it to the back edge using rare earth magnets, or on the top for a more functional light.

07535 623 089 | jakebarkerdesign@outlook.com www.jakebarkerdesign.com

Novocastrian

Novocastrian are metalworkers, designers and architects whose craft stems from the manufacturing heritage of the North of England. Each of their handmade pieces is a collaboration between design and fabrication. Time-honoured techniques create contemporary aesthetics with just a hint of opulence. Metal is their passion, but a carefully-curated range of Cumbrian slate permeates their work.

07793 279 057 | richy@novocastrian.co www.novocastrian.co

James Design

Newcastle-based Nick James combines natural materials with intelligent design, using his craftsmanship skills to produce unique, high quality furniture. Using traditional woodworking techniques, Nick’s exquisite cabinet and beautiful sideboards are reminiscent of the current trend for 1950s furniture. The solid European

and specially selected woods creating beautiful, classic design combinations.

07771 763 414 | nick@jamesdesign.co.uk www.jamesdesign.co.uk

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About The Assembly House

1680sHome to Sir William Creagh, Mayor and Freeman of the City by Royal Mandate

1716 – 1736Host to a school for young ladies and public assemblies for dancing and card playing

1735

subscription concert here

1776Opening of the Assembly Rooms on Fenkle Street, designed by architect William Newton of Newcastle; 55 Westgate Road continued to be used occasionally as an Assembly House up to this point

1870sHoused the Northumberland Club

1885

adding workshops to the rear (since demolished)

1886Walker & Son convert the building into showrooms, preserving the historic Georgian interiors

1925The Walkers invite architectural conference delegates to view the building

1956Walker & Son was still trading here while Westgate Road remained a busy street

1960s – PresentIn the 1960s the attempt to modernise Newcastle, with a massive redevelopment plan that stalled with the property crash of 1974, placed much of Westgate Road under severe planning blight which, together with the building of Eldon Square Shopping Centre, moved the focus of the City north.

The result was a period of rapid decline and the accidental preservation of many historic buildings that are now regarded as a valuable heritage. The interior in particular contains some rare and elaborate ‘Imperial’ plasterwork in a Northern version of the Italian style. The delicate doorway is made from very

commission or salvaged from another building. Landlords Newcastle Arts Centre have begun work on substantial restoration. For further details:

www.newcastle-arts-centre.co.uk

RASKL

RASKL use their wealth of experience in design, furniture making and engineering to create bespoke design-led furniture, products and 3D solutions. Using their traditional craft skills, their latest products incorporate new material Valchromat with brass hardware, resulting in high quality and functional products. Their inspirations range from Japanese style, Melbourne minimalism and Bauhaus. Each highly unique and beautiful product is manufactured in-house.

0191 261 2214 | info@raskl.co.uk www.raskl.co.uk

Susi Bellamy

Inspired by her time in Florence, Susi’s British-made cushion collection, which she describes as “art for the sofa”, draws together her love of painting and interiors. Techniques include dye sublimation printing and digitally transferred artwork onto Mapperley non-crease fabrics, demonstrating rough textures of palazzo walls. Susi’s collection has a luxurious feel and oozes vibrant colours alongside rich designs.

07984 440 239 | susibellamy@gmail.com www.susi-bellamy.com

Terrarium

Founded by designer Sophie Thompson, Terrarium showcases her desire to bring the beauty and abundance of nature into the home. Her cushions are specially selected to complement the trends and colours for Autumn/Winter 2015, inspired by

of the natural world, including The Garden at Night and In the Undergrowth. Using hand drawn imagery, these pieces retain delicate, textural qualities.

07521 777 548 | info@terrariumdesigns.co.uk www.terrariumdesigns.co.uk

Tuli Storm

Based in Zimbabwe and Newcastle, Tuli Storm produce beautifully recycled and hand crafted jewellery. Their latest collection, taking inspiration from physical transformation

journey that each piece undergoes before reaching its destination. Each piece is intricately carved and hand made using traditional processes. The collection supports opportunities for social change, skill development and sustainable design practice.

07954 420 801 | hayleymardon@hotmail.com www.notonthehighstreet.com/tulistorm

The Assembly House The Assembly House — Staircase

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Thank youMART Selection Panel: Carmel Allen, Heal’s Joanna Feeley, Trend Bible Karen Nairstone, Design Event Rickard Whittingham, Northumbria University Sara Ley, BALTIC Shop

AFID Design Annabel Perrin Arts Council England Barbara Chandler Beatrix Baker Ben Ashby BLH Ceramics Chris Haughton Clive Jackson Crafts Council David Irwin Deadgood Gianluca Mingolla Heal’s Inertia Projects Jake Barker Jane Eastwood Jasmine Simpson

Joanna Gordon Judith Watson Katherine Lees

Libby Ward Marc Ross Mike Tilley Mollie Paling Newcastle Arts Centre NewcastleGateshead Initiative Nick James NODE Northumbria University Novocastrian Pentagram Potts Printers RASKL RIBA

Seen PR Seven Stories Simon Wilks Sophie Thompson Stephanie Lawton Studio LW Susi Bellamy The Lakes Distillery Thistle Hotel Tom Phillipson Tuli Storm Walker Books William Russell

21 – 25 October 2015

Wednesday & Thursday 10:00 – 18:00

Friday & Saturday 10:00 – 17:00

Sunday 11:00 – 17:00

The Assembly House 55 Westgate Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1SG

www.design-event.co.uk

On behalf of Design Event we’d like to thank you for buying a ticket to this year’s Northern Design Festival and contributing to the renovation of this historic Grade II* listed building.