The North East’s design, architecture and creative businesses will come together at the region’s inaugural Design NOW symposium, taking place in Gateshead on 7 October.
Organised as part of the 2016 Northern Design Festival, the symposium will see some of the most influential names in the UK design industry give insights into their creativity and practice. Speakers include the 2015 Turner Prize winners Assemble, internationally-renowned artist Noma Bar and Newcastle-based design brand Deadgood.
Dan Ziglam, CEO of Deadgood Ltd, said: “The Deadgood brand has its roots in the North East so it’s fantastic for us to be a part of this event, speaking alongside some of the biggest names in design today. The region’s creative sector is going from strength to strength so it’s appropriate that this celebration of good design takes place here.”
Deadgood Ltd was established by Northumbria University 3D design graduates Dan Ziglam and Elliot Brook. The firm produces a cutting edge collection of furniture, lighting and interior products, working with clients including Tyneside Cinema, The Core and the Toffee Factory in Newcastle, as well as producing interiors for venues across the UK and Europe.
The symposium will be moderated by graphic designer, writer and Senior Tutor in Visual Communication at the Royal College of Art, Adrian Shaughnessy. The line-up is completed by Angus Hyland, partner at the world’s largest independent design consultancy, Pentagram; and Liv Taylor, Head of Research at PATTERNITY which is the world’s leading specialist organisationdedicated solely to pattern.
Karen Nairstone, Director of the 2016 Northern Design Festival, said: “The North East has firmly established itself as a real hotbed of creativity. We’ve seen a marked increase in recent years in the number of design, architecture and creative businesses choosing the North East as their base so it makes sense that a symposium like Design NOW, which will bring together the leading lights of the industry, takes place in Gateshead.”
The Northern Design Centre in Gateshead, which is home to many of the region’s creative and design-led businesses, is hosting the Design NOW symposium.
Gateshead Councillor Gary Haley, Cabinet Member for Economy said: “Northern Design Centre is not only the place to find some of the region’s hottest design talent but it’s also a regional resource for industry to learn about what good design looks like and how it can drive and sustain business growth.
“We are thrilled to work with the Northern Design Festival again and host the Design NOW symposium, where our world class speakers will share their experience on the value good design brings.”
The visual identity for the 2016 Northern Design Festival was created by Newcastle’s JUMP, a full-service creative agency which has recently announced new contract wins with Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The Design NOW symposium is on Friday 7 October at the Northern Design Centre in Gateshead. It is part of the 2016 Northern Design Festival, which takes place from 7 to 16 October at venues across Newcastle and Gateshead.
Full details at www.NDesignFest.co.uk.