About Design East

What is Design East?

Design East is a new creative network for contemporary designers and makers living and working in the East of England.

The aim of Design East is to increase and expand the opportunities for contemporary designers living and working in the east of England and highlight the talents of design graduates in the region.

It’s a network set up by designers for designers, with the support of East Herts Council.

East Herts Council’s Involvement

East Herts Council are the main partners in the project and are dedicated to supporting and developing opportunities for artists in the district. Lucy Shaw, East Herts Council’s Arts Development Officer is passionate about developing a new, exciting and progressive project which also promotes new arts space within the district and is working in partnership with local designer Selina Rose to create this new initiative for the region.

There will be 3 main routes of communication for the network........

The Design East, Contemporary Design Fair.

3rd-5th April 2009, Fletchers Lea, The Priory, Ware.

A brand new event for the region, showcasing the work of contemporary, cutting edge designers living and working in the East of England. The hottest design talent from the East will gather to exhibit, sell and promote their wares in this state of the art building in the picturesque, historic town of Ware. Textiles, ceramics, jewellery and furniture will all be on show offering people the opportunity to view, buy and commission work from regional designers.

Website

A website showcasing the work of the designer-makers.

Each designer will have a profile page allowing visitors to the site to view images of the designers work, read their biography, get in touch and link to the designers own website.

Online Forum

An online forum for designers to network, discuss ideas and opportunities. (to be launched at the Design Fair, 3rd-5th April 2009)

The story behind Design East

Award winning designer-maker designer Selina Rose lives and works from her home in Hertfordshire. She began to realise that she was constantly travelling out of the region to exhibit and sell her textiles at shows in London, Paris and New York, but not exhibiting locally in the East of England.

“I have never exhibited my work to local people and until they visited me and saw the house filled with my felt designs my neighbours were completely unaware of what was being designed and made in their street”

Selina approached her local council, East Herts and teamed up with Lucy Shaw the East Herts Arts Development officer. The duo, both passionate about design, set about their grand plan for creating a hub of design talent in the East of England.

Design East was born, a new creative network for contemporary designers and makers living and working in the East of England.

The new and exciting initiative will be kick started by the first Design East, Contemporary Design Fair, 3-5th April 2009 at Fletchers Lea in Ware, Hertfordshire.