Here at Design-Nation we are lucky to work with some of the brightest and most creative minds in the business, and can draw on a wealth of expert knowledge across the UK. Our recent merger with Design Factory is a great example of how working together makes us stronger, and we’re celebrating this with a special programme of Meet The Expert sessions at Top Drawer this month.
If you would like to know more about us and what we do, please drop by our Top Drawer stand CR421 upstairs in CRAFT. And look out for our visiting experts and brand ambassadors who can help with so many aspects of running a design practice, especially around doing trade shows. They will be available for one-to-one sessions at the times listed below, but it’s first come first served, so if you want to speak to any expert in particular, please let us know by 5pm Friday 12th January via: [email protected]
Sunday 14 January
1100-1300 Andrew Tanner, Design-Nation brand ambassador & senior designer for Home at Sainsbury’s. Andrew has a long history with us and has also built an illustrious career, starting as product designer and ceramicist whose practice was developed in the traditional potteries in Stoke, before going on to work for major high street names such as Joules and Next. Andrew is a great champion of emerging design and can give valuable career advice.
1400-1530 Barbara Chandler, Design-Nation consultant curator and independent design journalist/photographer. Barbara is well known for her weekly design columns for the Evening Standard and her amazing address book – she really does knows everyone in design and has worked with the best, being a real force for good in her support of young designers. Barbara has a sharp eye for detail and will be happy to advise on publicity, promotion and PR, especially imagery.
Monday 15 January
1100-1200 Margo Selby, Design-Nation ambassador and leading textile designer/artist. Margo’s eponymous homeware label grew out of her love of weaving, pattern and colour. Margo has been a member of Design-Nation for many years and has extensive experience of working wih major retailers and interiors brands, designing collections for Habitat, John Lewis, and Osborne & Little as well as her own brand.
1530-1630 – David Gorrod, Design-Nation PR, design press and communications expert. David is director of Seen PR, a leading publicity agency for the design and craft sector, and has worked with many designers and design venues and events, such as London Design Festival/Tent, Barbican Shop, Lindsey Lang, Max Fraser and Mini Moderns.
Tuesday 16 January
1100-1200 Sue Pryke, Design-Nation ambassador and leading ceramics designer/maker. After designing simple and elegant homewares of the likes of IKEA and Next, Sue has more recently returned to handmade work in her East Midlands studio. She has an excellent eye for design and styling, and a wealth of ideas about to make displays interesting at both trade and retail fairs.
1400-1500 Adam Thow, Commercial Director at Soane Museum, where amongst other things he oversees licensing of their amazing cultural assets and brand. Adam has worked with and commissioned many designers throughout his career at leading cultural venues in London such as Barbican and Southbank Centre, and is happy to advise on how to engage with retailers and what to consider when pricing work.
We are grateful to Clarion Events for supporting our programme.
Portraits (top-bottom, L-R: AndrewTanner, Barbara Chandler, Margo Selby, David Gorrod, Sue Pryke, Adam Thow. (Sue’s portrait by Yeshen Venema.)
