- Design
experts Iain Aitchison of Plan and David Freer of O Street leading events as new
Design Network in the Highlands and Islands launches.
Iain Aitchison of Plan and David Freer of O Street
The
Design Network has unveiled the first events in a programme to be staged across
the Highlands and Islands in the coming weeks beginning with Skills for
Strategic Design Consultancy in Inverness tonight, 21 August 2015.
Design Network has unveiled the first events in a programme to be staged across
the Highlands and Islands in the coming weeks beginning with Skills for
Strategic Design Consultancy in Inverness tonight, 21 August 2015.
The
network is part of an exciting new partnership between The Glasgow School of
Art (GSA) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The Creative Futures
Partnerships sees the expansion of the GSA across the region, and will make a wide range of teaching and research
opportunities available to students, businesses and communities.
network is part of an exciting new partnership between The Glasgow School of
Art (GSA) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The Creative Futures
Partnerships sees the expansion of the GSA across the region, and will make a wide range of teaching and research
opportunities available to students, businesses and communities.
The Design Network will take the form of an
internationally linked, entrepreneurial design and design research network. Beginning
with events in Inverness, the network then goes to Oban and the Shetland
Islands and will reach across the region as the programme develops.
internationally linked, entrepreneurial design and design research network. Beginning
with events in Inverness, the network then goes to Oban and the Shetland
Islands and will reach across the region as the programme develops.
The initiative
is led by Kate Hooper, Senior Production Manager at the GSA’s Institute of
Design Innovation and Iain Hamilton, Head of Creative Industries at Highlands
and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
is led by Kate Hooper, Senior Production Manager at the GSA’s Institute of
Design Innovation and Iain Hamilton, Head of Creative Industries at Highlands
and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
“Through the Design Network the GSA and HIE are collaborating
to support a flourishing design community in the Highlands and Islands,” says Kate Hooper. “It will link communities
and businesses in the region into national and international design expertise
and design research.”
to support a flourishing design community in the Highlands and Islands,” says Kate Hooper. “It will link communities
and businesses in the region into national and international design expertise
and design research.”
“We are particularly aiming to develop a nuanced
understanding of design and designers in the region, and to create a greater
awareness amongst non-design companies of the transformational qualities that
design brings to businesses and communities,” she
adds.
understanding of design and designers in the region, and to create a greater
awareness amongst non-design companies of the transformational qualities that
design brings to businesses and communities,” she
adds.
Iain
Hamilton, Head of Creative Industries, HIE said: “We’re delighted to launch the Design Network, which will give voice to
the design community across the Highlands and Islands. The idea is that the
network will grow along with the businesses themselves, and by recognizing the
skills and talents that already exist in the area we can all work together to
grow this reputation far beyond the region.”
Hamilton, Head of Creative Industries, HIE said: “We’re delighted to launch the Design Network, which will give voice to
the design community across the Highlands and Islands. The idea is that the
network will grow along with the businesses themselves, and by recognizing the
skills and talents that already exist in the area we can all work together to
grow this reputation far beyond the region.”
“I’m particularly excited to see the level of demand
that there has already been for these sessions.”
that there has already been for these sessions.”
In
the first Design on the Road event tonight – Skills for Strategic Design Consultancy – Iain Aitchison Director
of London-based design strategy consultancy, Plan will share his experience and
expertise with design practitioners.
the first Design on the Road event tonight – Skills for Strategic Design Consultancy – Iain Aitchison Director
of London-based design strategy consultancy, Plan will share his experience and
expertise with design practitioners.
The
second Design on the Road event – Bespoke, boutique
and international – will take place in Kinetic Studios in Oban on 10 September. It will be
led by David Freer, co-founder of boutique design studio, O Street, and is
aimed at small to medium sized creative businesses who are keen to reach out to
national and international clients.
second Design on the Road event – Bespoke, boutique
and international – will take place in Kinetic Studios in Oban on 10 September. It will be
led by David Freer, co-founder of boutique design studio, O Street, and is
aimed at small to medium sized creative businesses who are keen to reach out to
national and international clients.
The
third event – Exploiting
creativity with software tools – will take place in Lerwick on 1 October
and will see Don McIntyre from the GSA’s Institute of Design Innovation return
to his roots to lead an exploration of creative approaches to using software
tools to help small businesses.
third event – Exploiting
creativity with software tools – will take place in Lerwick on 1 October
and will see Don McIntyre from the GSA’s Institute of Design Innovation return
to his roots to lead an exploration of creative approaches to using software
tools to help small businesses.
Meanwhile The Design Network is also hosting a sell out
session, Preparing for Art School at the beginning of September.
session, Preparing for Art School at the beginning of September.
Further
details of the events and how to book below.
details of the events and how to book below.
Ends
Notes for
Editors
Editors
- The
Creative Futures Partnership’s Design Network is a collaboration between The
Glasgow School of Art and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. It aims to offer
communities and businesses across the Highlands and Islands access to national and
international design expertise through a range of formal and informal events.
Its programme will also be aligned with the research and teaching work of The
Glasgow School of Art.
DESIGN ON THE ROAD 1:
SKILLS FOR STRATEGIC DESIGN CONSULTANCY
Date: 21st August 2015, 6pm – 8pm
Venue: Ironworks, Academy Street, Inverness, IV1 1LX
Free to attend
An
informal session aimed at designers and aspiring designers who may be
interested in broadening their roles.
informal session aimed at designers and aspiring designers who may be
interested in broadening their roles.
Research
shows that there is a direct link between design and better business
performance. As a result, designers’ skills are increasingly in demand in
a wide range of strategic roles advising on areas such as business processes
and decision making.
shows that there is a direct link between design and better business
performance. As a result, designers’ skills are increasingly in demand in
a wide range of strategic roles advising on areas such as business processes
and decision making.
Iain
Aitchison is Director of London-based design strategy consultancy, Plan. He
often works from the Highlands and Islands, where he has a home. He’ll share
his perspective on the top skills designers in the region can develop to
take on more strategic roles. From being able to frame complex problems to
facilitating multidisciplinary decision making or developing your own design
brief, Iain will share his top tips from over a decade consulting to top global
firms including Bacardi, British Gas, Lenovo, Mars, Samsung, Unilever,
Wrigley’s and Yamaha Motors.
Aitchison is Director of London-based design strategy consultancy, Plan. He
often works from the Highlands and Islands, where he has a home. He’ll share
his perspective on the top skills designers in the region can develop to
take on more strategic roles. From being able to frame complex problems to
facilitating multidisciplinary decision making or developing your own design
brief, Iain will share his top tips from over a decade consulting to top global
firms including Bacardi, British Gas, Lenovo, Mars, Samsung, Unilever,
Wrigley’s and Yamaha Motors.
To
sign up for the free event visit: (http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/design-on-the-road-1-skills-for-strategic-design-consultancy-tickets-18038201747)
sign up for the free event visit: (http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/design-on-the-road-1-skills-for-strategic-design-consultancy-tickets-18038201747)
DESIGN ON THE ROAD 2:
BESPOKE, BOUTIQUE AND
INTERNATIONAL.
INTERNATIONAL.
Date:
Thursday 10th Sept 6-8pm
Thursday 10th Sept 6-8pm
Location: Kinetic Studios, Oban
Bespoke, boutique and
international.
international.
This informal session is aimed at small to
medium sized creative businesses who are keen to reach out to national and
international clients, and is hosted by David Freer, co-founder of boutique
design studio, O Street. David will share ideas and examples on building
new business leads and relationships in national and international locations,
as well as looking at new ways of working remotely.
medium sized creative businesses who are keen to reach out to national and
international clients, and is hosted by David Freer, co-founder of boutique
design studio, O Street. David will share ideas and examples on building
new business leads and relationships in national and international locations,
as well as looking at new ways of working remotely.
David co-founded boutique design studio, O
Street in Glasgow 8 years ago. He specialised in Graphic Design at the GSA and
Rhode Island School of Design. He has lived on both sides of the Atlantic and
spent the start of his career at Saatchi & Saatchi in London. He is now
also a research associate of the Institute of Design Innovation at the GSA
Street in Glasgow 8 years ago. He specialised in Graphic Design at the GSA and
Rhode Island School of Design. He has lived on both sides of the Atlantic and
spent the start of his career at Saatchi & Saatchi in London. He is now
also a research associate of the Institute of Design Innovation at the GSA
To
sign up for the free event visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/design-on-the-road-2-bespoke-boutique-and-international-tickets-18202711801
sign up for the free event visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/design-on-the-road-2-bespoke-boutique-and-international-tickets-18202711801
DESIGN ON THE ROAD 3:
EXPLOITING CREATIVITY
WITH SOFTWARE TOOLS
WITH SOFTWARE TOOLS
Date:
Thursday 1st October
Thursday 1st October
Lerwick,
Shetland, venue to be confirmed.
Shetland, venue to be confirmed.
Creative
Technologist and Programme Director at the Institute of Design Innovation, Don
McIntyre heads to the place of his birth to host this session, which explores
creative approaches to using software tools to help small businesses.
Technologist and Programme Director at the Institute of Design Innovation, Don
McIntyre heads to the place of his birth to host this session, which explores
creative approaches to using software tools to help small businesses.
Booking
information will be released soon
information will be released soon