South West Design Forum Summit attracts influential industry Speakers

The South West houses one of the highest concentrations of professional designers outside of London and the creative industries contributes £3.7 billion to the region’s economy. With award-winning agencies of all sizes and across all specialisms, it’s only natural that the South West Design Forum Summit has become an annual fixture bringing together design industry leaders, professional bodies and policy makers to hear inspirational speakers, share knowledge, create programmes and learn about ground-breaking new projects.

Supported by University College Falmouth, Business Link Peninsula, The South West Design Programme and the Design Council, the summit will be taking place on Thursday 18th March at the St. Mellion International Resort, Nr. Saltash, Cornwall. Keynote speakers are John McFaul, a leading light in contemporary art & design, a founding member and Director of the South Coast Design Forum and partner at Big Daddy; and Sam Hecht an industrial designer and founder of Industrial Facility, with clients such as Muji, Yamaha, Epson and Whirlpool.

The summit is an invitation only event and will bring together individuals from the region’s design industry and it’s most distinguished academic and professional institutions, for debate, discussion, planning and action. Chairs and representatives from the 6 individual design forum groups (Cornwall, Devon, the West of England, Dorset, Somerset and Gloucestershire), along with representatives from the region including the South West RDA, Design Council, Arts Council, South West Design Programme and Business Link – a total of 80 of the most influential design sector professionals in the South West.

The day will also be an opportunity to learn about some exciting new initiatives that have been developed for the region’s design sector over the last year including:

• Launch of the Inspirational Speakers Programme in conjunction with the Arts Council.

• * Updates on our exciting Return on Design Investment project

• * Launch of Buddies – a mentoring project whereby current professionals help young talent in the industry

• * SWDF Design Train programme update.

The summit will provide an opportunity to debate the direction of the design industry, reaffirm its importance to the region and its potential to help deliver economic, social and cultural wealth of the South West. By planning for the future, design can ensure that it makes its full contribution, not only to the region but also the rest of the UK.


Event Highlights

• 80 invited designers, educators, policy makers, professionals and thought-leaders
• 8 hours in St Mellion culminating in an evening reception followed by the Media Innovation Awards
• Forum Focus where by each Design Forum updates on their year of activities and plans for the future
• 2 inspirational keynote speakers
• Launch of the SWDF Inspirational Speakers Programme with Arts Council England
• 2 breakout work sessions of highly participatory small group brainstorming to look at future ambitions of the sector and the Forum
• Presentation from Design Council report on latest Design Industry Research
• Updates on SWDF projects including Design Train, Return on Design investment and Design Student Buddies projects
• Time to talk, think, learn, problem-solve and imagine the future

Since it’s inception in 2001, The South West Design Forum has become the voice of design in the region, being the lead body for strategy and communication. It aims to reflect and drive the aspirations of the whole sector throughout the seven counties of the South West, at the highest level. The South West Design Forum connects and shares ideas between sub-regional and cultural agencies, national design bodies, higher education institutions and other key public and private sector organisations.

For further information contact: karen@swdf.co.uk