PLANT & MOSS Clamp Lamp
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Be inspired Welcome to the inaugural Birmingham Made Me Design EXPO – a project of the think tank, Idea Birmingham. It’s a pleasure to welcome over 100 exhibitors to the Mailbox Birmingham. We’re proud to showcase what’s being made right here in the Midlands. Innovation and design have been at the heart of our endeavours as a region for well over 300 years. At Jaguar we continue to innovate and we’re really proud to display our new C-X75, our ground-breaking hybrid super car concept, for the first time on public view in the UK. The Birmingham Made Me Design EXPO provides a chance to tell our unique story and to draw on this inspiration to develop our own unique platform for growth. We’re pleased to welcome a host of guest speakers to our packed programme of fringe events. With so many iconic brands on display created by the region’s design-led businesses, combined with a wealth of new talent, we’re sure you will find plenty to inspire you. Ian Callum RDI
Director of Design, Jaguar / Founder Chairman, IDEA Birmingham
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birmingham-made-me.com
JAGUAR C-X75 Concept Car
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“Design is a world strength for the UK, connecting us with other people. We are able to develop new approaches and styles in a way that others find difficult to do.” Martin Donnelly
Permanent Secretary, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
“Good design is for everyone – thought provoking, inspirational, challenging and compelling.” William McGrath
Chief Executive, AGA Rangemaster Group plc
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birmingham-made-me.com
AGA 3-Oven Aga Cooker Exterior finish design, Emma Bridgewater
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INDEX 1 7
Chairman’s Message Be Inspired
Birmingham Made Me - Messages of Support
Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP, Department for Business, Innovation & Skills Councillor Sir Albert Bore, Leader, Birmingham City Council
9 11 13 14 15 17 19 73 77
Welcome Birmingham City University Birmingham Made Me Founders Design EXPO Curators Birmingham Made Me Design EXPO Map Exhibitor Locations Exhibitor Profiles Event Listings Design and Innovation Awards and Finalists
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lAND ROVER Land Rover Defender
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BIRMINGHAM MADE ME The inaugural Birmingham Made Me Design EXPO and Awards aims to highlight the importance of design-led manufacturing in Birmingham and the Midlands and the role this region has played through design in improving the quality of life for people around the world. We applaud this initiative being led by Birmingham City University and supported by leading brands including Jaguar Land Rover and AGA Rangemaster and look forward to hearing more about the work of Idea Birmingham, the think tank behind the EXPO and Awards. We have been impressed by how closely Idea Birmingham has been working with the all party think tank, Policy Connect and their work to highlight successful and innovative British Manufacturers, through ‘Made By Britain’. Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP
Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
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I am delighted to see the work being led by Birmingham City University and supported by leading brands including Jaguar Land Rover and AGA Rangemaster moving forward and to hear that over 100 companies and brands will be exhibiting at the Design EXPO at the Mailbox in June. I look forward to continuing to work with and support the work of Idea Birmingham, the think tank behind the EXPO and Awards in promoting our region’s design and innovation excellence and encouraging greater collaboration and best practice across all growth sectors. Councillor Sir Albert Bore Leader, Birmingham City Council
Jack Row Architect Fountain Pen
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WELCOME Welcome to our celebration of design from across the Midlands. Our Design EXPO has been brought together through the ideas, coordination and management of a wide range of academics, business and design leaders. It is presented in zones, curated by experts from universities and industry. Our region’s unique history and continued ability to produce innovative design is born out of our creative ‘can-do’ and collaborative spirit. Thanks are due to everyone who has invested their time, energy, belief and resources into this project, helping to get it off the ground in this, its inaugural year. By building on such ‘exquisite collisions’, by taking stock of the giants of design and innovation who have bequeathed us with this great legacy, we aim to stand on their shoulders and view the future with pride and optimism. Beverley Nielsen
Director Employer Engagement, Birmingham City University
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birmingham-made-me.com
PASHLEY Clubman Urban
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Birmingham CITY UNIVERSITY At Birmingham City University we place creativity and innovation at the heart of our approach to curriculum design, student development and how we work with businesses to help them enhance competitiveness.
With BIAD offering courses including fashion, textiles, product design, design management, visual communication, architecture, to name just a few, and with this new development including the largest concentration of media studios between London and Manchester housing TV, radio and photographic studios, we will be offering a range of multi-disciplinary options for students and businesses to meet emerging competitive needs.
Recognising this, we are investing a total of £180m in new state of the art facilities around the city to include a new building next to Millennium Point (which currently houses our Faculty of Technology, Engineering and the Environment) to house Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD) and a splendid new Media Centre.
Our development is a key part of the 170 hectare multi-million pound regeneration of Birmingham’s Eastside learning and technology quarter which aims to drive forward growth in up to 12,000 new knowledge economy jobs in the heart of the city. We hope you will watch our campus grow with interest and we want to ensure that as many as possible benefit from our new facilities. We are keen to engage with businesses, prospective students or partners to see how we can work with you to develop your creative focus to meet emerging competitive needs, develop talent and drive forward your business.
This first phase of our developments around the new City Park will open in the summer of 2013. It has been designed by former Birmingham City University architecture students who set up as Associated Architects and is a ‘landmark’ building of five storeys, seamlessly mixing the Victorian authenticity associated with our 168-year heritage with new technology and environmental sustainability.
Professor Mary Carswell
Pro Vice-Chancellor, Birmingham City University
Professor Chris O’Neil
Executive Dean, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, Birmingham City University
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SPONSOR MESSAGE “Birmingham needs more of the Simon Rattle effect and we’d like to provide it” Professor Chris O’Neil
Executive Dean, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, Birmingham City University
Birmingham City University, home to Birmingham’s Institute of Art and Design (BIAD), is one of the largest providers of art and design education outside London. Its research performance resulted in the University being recognised as a rising star institution with one of the highest percentages of submitted work rated as world leading compared to other modern universities in the UK. Over the past 10 years, Birmingham City University has helped first hand more than 5,000 businesses – of all shapes and sizes, in many sectors including design, environmental, advanced engineering and health. Combined with our research excellence the University has a track record of facilitating pioneering ideas within the Higher Education sector.
Representing a wide variety of sectors within the design community, our academics provide the backbone of our teaching and industry engagement philosophy. Our mission in design is to create partnerships where businesses, academics and students flourish in a culture of innovation. We welcome approaches from all sectors of the business community interested in working together to drive innovation, new solutions and address problems which improve business performance. There are also a number of ways you could work with us: • Become a mentor • Offer your industry experience as a guest lecturer • Provide input into our curriculum • Provide structured work experience opportunities • Provide student projects For more information log onto: www.bcu.ac.uk/business
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Birmingham Made Me Founders The Idea Birmingham project is possible thanks to the support of its founder members and the role played by Birmingham City University in leading this collaborative project.
KPM MARINE LTD INNOVATING SAFETY AT SEA
Obsessionistas
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Design Expo Curators 1
Interiors & Lifestyle 1
John Hall, Exhibition Manager, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design Claire Farrell, Director, EC-Arts
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Design Archives
Graham Powell, Founder Director, Obsessionistas & Course Director, MA Product Design, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design
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Entrepreneurs Store
Sahiba Kaur & Jyoti Mittal, Creative Lab
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Gamer Camp, Future Media & Cross Innovation
Sara Middleton, New Technology Institute, Birmingham City University Alexa Torlo, New Technology Institute, Birmingham City University
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Architecture
Kevin Singh, Birmingham School of Architecture, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design
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Art & Visual Design
Mona Casey, Curatorial Practice, School of Art, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design
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Fashion & Performance
Simon Andrews, Senior Lecturer, Design Studies Programme, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design Sophia Tarr, Artistic Consultant and Project Manager
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Urban Living
Davinder Bansal, Glenn Howells Architects
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Interiors & Lifestyle 2
Kathryn Burns & Gay Penfold, Interiors & Lifestyle Futures
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Jewellery & Silversmithing
Hannah Fewtrell-Bolton, School of Jewellery, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design
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Automotive & Engineering
Dr Christian Mclening, Senior Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering & Design, Aston University
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Cars, Tyres & Diggers
Sophia Tarr, Artistic Consultant and Project Manager
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Birmingham Made Me Design EXPO Map The Mailbox, Birmingham A colour key indicating each Design Zone and its location is listed with each exhibitor’s profile showing where their designs can be viewed.
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birmingham-made-me.com
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Interiors & Lifestyle Zone 1 Level 3
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Design Archives Level 3
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Birmingham Made Me Entrepreneurs Store Level 3
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Gamer Camp, Future Media & Cross Innovation Level 3
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Architecture Level 3
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Art & Visual Design Level 3
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Fashion & Performance Level 3
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Urban Living Level 5
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Interiors & Lifestyle Zone 2 Level 5
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Jewellery & Silversmithing Level 5
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Automotive & Engineering Level 5
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Cars, Tyres & Diggers The Mailbox Main entrance
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Exhibitor Locations 1
Interiors & Lifestyle 1 Level 3
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Acme Whistles AGA Rangemaster BA (Hons) Interior Design and BA (Hons) Product Design, BIAD BA (Hons) Visual Communication, BIAD Interior & Design Trends, BIAD Brintons Carpets Denby Emma Bridgewater Ermine Jackson-Miles Grabkowska Applied Arts Hille Heritage Silverware Jade Devall Kate Farley MA Interior Design & MA Product Design, BIAD Opus Tessalatum Plant & Moss Robin Furlong Sara Page Thorneywork Studio Vax Ltd
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Design Archives
61 19 19 42 43 53 58 59 63 69
Obsessionistas including archives for: Acme Whistles AGA Deakin & Francis Denby Jaguar Laney Amplification The Library Of Birmingham Pashley Cycles Triumph Motorcycles
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Entrepreneurs Store
21 23 36 39 41 46 47 49 49 58 65 67 68
Angela Burman Bangers&Mash Bonnie Lush Hair Coco’s Closet Creative Lab Gemma Elizabeth Holz Grabkowska Applied Arts Hannah Fewtrell-Bolton Hille King Charles I Kidderminster Penelope Jordan Sara Page Design Sit on My Face
Level 3
Level 3
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birmingham-made-me.com
Gamer Camp, Future Media & Cross Innovation Level 3
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New Technology Institute, Birmingham City University
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Architecture
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Birmingham School of Architecture, BIAD
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Art & Visual Design
28 27
School of Art, BIAD School of Fashion, Textiles & 3-D Design, BIAD
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Fashion & Performance
25 37 37 39 58 63 66
Birmingham Royal Ballet The Birmingham Repertory Theatre Brintons Carpets Brooks England Laney Amplification Pashley Cycles Royal Shakespeare Company
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Urban Living
47 55 55 56 59 67 69
Glenn Howells Architects JCB JCDecaux Kier Construction MADE Squire Sanders The NEC Group
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Interiors & Lifestyle 2
33 27
Interiors & Lifestyle Futures Interior & Design Trends, BIAD
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Jewellery & Silversmithing
19 21 41 42 42 43 49 56 53 68 32
Acme Whistles Alice Gow Designs Cookson Precious Metals David Louis Deakin & Francis Domino Jewellery, Weston Beamor Hannah Fewtrell-Bolton Jack Row James Newman The Birmingham Assay Office School of Jewellery, BIAD
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Automotive & Engineering
23 61
Aston University Shell Eco Marathon Concept Car Morgan Motor Company
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Cars, Tyres & Diggers
45 55 45 53 34
Dunlop Commemorative Tyre JCB (20-22June) Dunlop Isle of Man TT Bike & Projection (20-22June) Jaguar C-X75 Concept Car Birmingham City University Off-Road Buggy
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Level 3 Level 3 Level 3
Level 5
Level 5 Level 5
The Bridge, Level 5
The Mailbox Main Entrance
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Exhibitor PROFILES
acmewhistles.co.uk
agarangemaster.com
Acme Whistles
AGA RANGEMASTER
Acme Whistles are the world’s largest and most famous producer of whistles, with a string of firsts to their name and an assured heritage, having produced the first Police Whistle and the first whistle to be used by a football referee, The Acme Thunderer. Amongst many notable inventions are the “silent” Dog Whistle, The Lifejacket Whistle and the incredibly powerful Tornado Whistles which will be seen on duty at the Olympics this summer. The company is headquartered in Birmingham’s prestigious Jewellery Quarter, where it was founded in 1870 by Joseph Hudson. Not surprisingly, they also manufacture jewellery whistles in precious metal, including miniature reproductions of the whistles made for use on the steamship Titanic in 1912.
The AGA Rangemaster name is synonymous with all that is traditionally British. The iconic AGA heat-storage cooker is manufactured in Coalbrookdale where the Industrial Revolution began in 1707. Rangemaster cookers are manufactured in Leamington Spa with a history dating back to 1777. AGA Rangemaster is known the world over for its technical excellence and innovation - as well as its heritage - as demonstrated by its products such as the new AGA Total Control cooker with separately controlled ovens which can be operated remotely, and Rangemaster’s induction cookers.
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3 2 10
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birmingham-made-me.com
Acme Whistles Acme Thunderer
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alicegowdesigns.com
angelaburmanfineart.co.uk
Alice Gow Designs
Angela Burman
Alice studied at Birmingham’s prestigious School of Jewellery at the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, and has since stayed on, working in Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter, where she creates bold and beautiful kinetic jewellery featuring textured coloured aluminium and silver and gilt. Alice’s innovative designs display movement, simplicity and elegance. Alice’s range includes necklaces, earrings, brooches, cufflinks and rings all in a wide spectrum of colours, from vibrant purples to muted greens, to icy blues as well as classic combinations of silver, gilt and wood.
Joy, Light, Colour - with no inhibition or justification. Angela Burman creates contemporary art by using traditional painting techniques and digital processes and paying homage to the things she loves with a visual documentation of her life’s experiences, explorations and influences. In 2009 she became a visiting consultant to the Tate Britain on their very successful book How To Paint Like Turner and recently exhibited as part of an Interiors and Lifestyles Futures show at the School of Jewellery. 2012 sees her stepping into the commercial arena by creating small and large scale prints for corporate settings on canvas, perspex, paper and aluminium. She is also in the process of building a database of licensed images for the manufacturing and creative industries. ‘Art is when you hear a knocking from your soul and you answer.’ Terri Guillemets
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birmingham-made-me.com
Alice Gow Designs Petaliform Brooch
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aston.ac.uk
bangersandmashlife.com
ASTON UNIVERSITY
Bangers&Mash
Founded in 1895 and a University since 1966, Aston is a long established research-led University known for its world-class teaching quality and strong links to industry, government and commerce. Student teams from Aston Engineering and Design courses have designed and built two innovative racing cars. The Formula Student car has a carbon fibre chassis and tuned motorbike engine to give a 0 to 60 time of just 3.4 seconds, the car will be racing at Silverstone in June. The Shell Eco Marathon car is designed using lightweight sustainable materials and uses a Hydrogen fuel cell, giving an insight into possible city cars of the future. Aston University provides students with the skills, knowledge and industry practice that is the ideal start for a successful career. The University is currently ranked 5th in the UK and 1st outside London for graduate employability (2012 Sunday Times University Guide).
Bangers&Mash (B&M), is run by Birmingham City Business School final year student, Joah Edwards who has always combined a keen interest in business along with his active interest as a practising artist. Speaking about B&M, Joah says, “Our products are home grown. We creatively combine talent & add the B&M Flare to create nothing but One Offs & Exclusive Products drop after drop of the highest quality. We have worked hard to put ourselves in a position where we can produce the majority of our own products and designs that means long nights & Hard Maths. You have to Squeeze Oranges before you get Orange Juice & hope you don’t have Dry Fruit. Bangers & Mash is a Celebration of ‘Hard Work in Hard Ship’. – Creatively Combined”
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birmingham-made-me.com
ASTON UNIVERSITY Shell Eco Marathon Car Winner 2012 Eco-Design Award Rotterdam, Europe
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bean2bed.com
brb.org.uk
bean2bed
Birmingham Royal Ballet
Bean2Bed is a unique, Birmingham designed, award-winning bean bag that swiftly transforms into an unbelievably comfortable bed in less than 30 seconds. No hassle, nothing complicated, just a good night’s sleep all wrapped up. Their revolutionary bean bags contain a blend of highgrade and memory foam - taking comfort and relaxation to a whole new level. The innovative, dual purpose Bean2Bed are available in over 30 different designs and five materials.
Birmingham Royal Ballet was formed in 1990, when Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet moved to Birmingham. It is a company in which every member proudly celebrates the versatility and flexibility of an organisation that creates challenging new work alongside the classics. As Director David Bintley states, ‘The hallmark of the Royal Ballet Companies has always been a mixing of classical and more avant garde work.’ In 2011, the Company invited a group of independent designers to create an exhibition of graphic design work inspired by one of ballet’s most celebrated fairytales, Coppélia. Each designer was given creative control of their individual piece, taking inspiration from the story of the ballet, rather than the production. Under the title Pointe Blank, the project has become a regular event, providing new opportunity for Birmingham Royal Ballet to continue to collaborate creatively both on and off-stage.
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bcu.ac.uk
bcu.ac.uk/biad
Birmingham city University
BIRMINGHAM institute of art AND design
Birmingham City University provides practical solutions for business using extensive industry links delivering employable skills and experience to our students. Our position in the UK top 30 for placing students into graduate level work, combined with our research excellence, has enabled us to build a strong track record of facilitating pioneering ideas. Over the past 10 years, we have helped more than 5,000 businesses in many sectors including design, environment, advanced engineering and health. Our mission is to create partnerships where businesses, academics and students flourish in a culture of innovation and we are interested in working to drive innovation and new solutions to improve business performance.
Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD), founded in 1843, is one of the most established, largest and most significant centres for jewellery, art, design and architecture education in the world. Ranked in the UK top 10 for its research during the last Research Assessment Exercise, it has a consistent focus on excellence in practice and collaborative partnership. Industry collaborations are fundamental to course design, the delivery of curriculum and a key reason why students enjoy a rich study experience. In recent years partnerships and collaborations with Cartier, Natural History Museum, Global Color Research™, UBM Live, Tektura, AGA Rangemaster, Triumph Motorcycles and Pashley Cycles have resulted in new product developments, company-wide innovations, new work opportunities for high quality graduates and innovation in the teaching curriculum.
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bcu.ac.uk/biad/fashion
bcu.ac.uk/biad/viscom
School of Fashion, Textiles and 3-D Design
School of Visual Communication
One of the largest and most successful providers of fashion, textiles, interior and product design education in the world, the School’s origins can be traced back to the middle of the 19th century. Today it is renowned as a centre for design innovation, industry engagement and research. Our expert staff ensure the School has good relationships throughout the design sector. With a strong multicultural and international student community, the School also offers a welcoming and diverse environment for the study of design and an opportunity for staff and students alike to develop a truly global perspective. Programmes address the design, managerial and communication aspects of the fashion, textile, interior and product industries.
The School of Visual Communication has an international reputation and offers innovative visual communication education. The School engages with industry partners such as Magnum Photos, the Association of Illustrators, Live Nation, Merlin Entertainments, Flatpack Film Festival, McCann Erickson, to name a few. The School boasts state-of-the-art digital technology, such as the MILO Motion Control Rig, allowing film-makers and animators access to the most sophisticated visual effects technology, a whole range of digital cameras and postproduction facilities. In addition photography darkrooms and print workshops demonstrate a commitment to the more traditional technologies. A truly international perspective is enriched by delivering top-up degrees at the Hong Kong Design Institute in Hong Kong and at Silpakorn University International College in Bangkok, providing both collaborative and exchange opportunities.
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bcu.ac.uk/biad/art/about/margaretstreet
distrakshun.blogspot.com
SCHOOL OF ART
THE INSTITUTE OF MEANINGFUL INTERACTION
The School of Art located in its magnificent Grade I listed and purpose-built building in Margaret Street, Birmingham, forms a stunning, modern art school with light airy studios and cutting-edge technology. A £5.5m refurbishment programme has enhanced facilities at the campus, creating dedicated, purpose-built studio/ presentation spaces, an extensive range of workshops – for wood, metal, plaster, fibreglass, ceramics, digital media, print and photography – and research facilities that are among the best in the country. The School also boasts digital suites, galleries/ installation spaces and a fine art library together with the Faculty’s archive library. The Art and Visual Design space, The Little Shop of (Art) Works, has been curated by Mona Casey working in collaboration with the Institute of Meaningful Interaction, Margaret Street FREE Arts Council, the Craftswomen’s Club and individual artists including: Aly Grimes, Amanda Pearce, Anna Cottle, Dane Bridgman, Daniel Salisbury, Jessica Cooper, Jo Lloyd, Kimberley Maxwell, Matt Webb, Sophie Maltby, Sara Dobson and many more.
The Institute of Meaningful Interaction is directed by Aby Duffy, a former student of the School of Art, Birmingham City University. Since 2007 she has been working under the pseudonym of the Institution of Meaningful Interaction, which has been a platform for participatory live art. IMI create events and happenings that set out to redefine the relationship between audience, object, space and performer through play and use the observations of everyday situations to engage the audience in ritual activity highlighting our humanity.
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Margaret STREET FREE ARTS COUNCIL (MSFAC) MSFAC is a Print/ Fine Art/ Activism based art collective. MSFAC is founded by Niall Singh, Matt Springer and Amy Wallis. Margaret Street FREE Arts Council takes its name from the School of Art, Margaret Street (a Fabian institution) and the ‘Situationist’ aims of creating workers councils. Currently MSFAC produces a newspaper, with artists showing individually as well as collectively, curating projects and working with activist groups such as ‘Birmingham Occupation’ and the ‘Birmingham Social Centre’. Amy Wallis: A fine Artist studying at the School of Art, Margaret Street. Working primarily as a photographer, her work combines sublime imagery with mundane / industrial settings. Utilising print, projections and other timebased media, she responds to environment and architecture to create site-specific works that highlight cracks in our current social system. Amy is an active member of the art collective MSFAC, which creates monthly publications. They have recently curated an independent show at the Birmingham Social Centre.
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Matt Springer: The work utilises both paint and print as a vehicle for an anti-capitalist political agenda, largely dealing with such issues around violence, materialism, morality and ideology and how they are intrinsically linked. The processes within both paint and print are concerned with the layering of surfaces, furthermore the obscuring and manipulation of an image. Niall Singh: The work focuses on anti-consumerist messages through print, referencing through the aesthetics and the materials the context of radical art practice. The creation of a collective by which to produce work puts both Niall and the other artists he works with in a chain with the Situationists and the constructivists as the artist as a worker.
Programme of Activity The Little Shop of (Art) Works Free attendance, open to all IMI Interaction 16 June, 11am-3 pm MSFAC Activity 16 June, 3-7pm MSFAC Activity 17 June, 11am-5 pm IMI Interaction 17 June, 2-5 pm The Craftswoman’s Club Workshop 20 June, 11am-7pm MSFAC Activity & IMI Interaction 22 June, 6-8pm
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archivesandcreativepractice.posterous.com
annasophieart.co.uk
The Craftswoman’s Club
ANNA COTTLE & Sophie Maltby
Created as part of Grace Williams’ work with Birmingham City University Art and Design Archives, ‘The Craftswoman’s Club’ provides an alternative to the nineteenth century Craftsman’s Club, convened once a month in Birmingham but which excluded women members. The first activity of the Club was the creation of a series of prints outlining the original entry rules of the club as documented in the 1904 minute book held within the archives. Grace Williams is currently a student on the MA Fine Art course at the School of Art, Margaret Street.
Cottle and Maltby are current students on the BA Fine Art course. As part of The Little Shop of (Art) Works they are presenting a showreel of student video work chosen by them. Cottle and Maltby have worked collaboratively on their films for the past two years after recognising similarities between their interests and research. Combining individual themes from previous work and technical skills learnt through workshops, their work embodies ideas around media imagery, slapstick comedy, the multiverse, the ‘other’ versus real time and art history. Their current work is a multi screen installation portraying aesthetic qualities from different styles of painting in short filmic clips. Each clip has a trapped, isolated character performing a simple movement with sound used in an immersive environment to reinforce what is seen by the viewer. Inspired by an extensive list of artists, photographers and directors, namely Gregory Crewdson, Jeff Wall, Ryan McGinley, Bas Jan Ader, Lars Von Trier and Stanley Kubrick, they create painterly tableaus of moving image.
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bcu.ac.uk/biad/architecture
Birmingham SCHOOL OF Architecture
Architects & LANDSCAPE Architects
Birmingham School of Architecture is the only RIBA accredited School of Architecture in the West Midlands, and is therefore a key contributor of new talent to architectural practice. The School is a mirror of the rich diversity of the region, attracting students from the locality in addition to students from all across the UK, Europe, and indeed the world. Renowned for graduates being employable and despite the recession our current employability rate is 90 per cent. This success reflects the School’s partnership with numerous practices locally and top practices regionally who support our teaching approach. We welcome opportunities to collaborate with business through our expertise, research and through our students via industry projects.
Alma-nac alma-nac.com Andrew Mulroy Architects mulroy.info Andy Wolfe andywolfe.co.uk Associated Architects associated-architects.co.uk Bryant Priest Newman bryantpriestnewman.com Chapman Design chapman-design.co.uk D5 Architects d5architects.net Fira fira-la.com Glenn Howells Architects glennhowells.co.uk Hawkins Brown hawkinsbrown.com Howl Associates howl.co.uk IBLA ibla.uk.com Vivid Architects vividarchitects.co.uk k4 Architects k4architects.com Make Architects makearchitects.com Mecanoo mecanoo.nl Peter Morris pmarch.com Seymour Harris seymourharris.com The Space* Studio thespacestudio.com 3D Reid 3dreid.com Urban Synthesis urbansynthesis.co.uk Zero Zero Architecture architecture00.net
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bcu.ac.uk/biad/jewellery
CONSULTANTS & PARTNERS
SCHOOL OF JEWELLERY
Acoustic Dimensions acousticdimensions.com Code Green codegreen.ltd.uk Andrew Wilkes Management andrewwilkes.co.uk Arup arup.com BDP Architects bdp.com Buro Happold burohappold.com Capita Symonds Landscape capitasymonds.co.uk DKS Consulting dksconsulting.co.uk Eco Design Consultants ecodesignconsultants.co.uk ETP etp-scotland.ac.uk GCA Consulting gca-consulting.com Glazzard Architects glazzards.com Greenwood Projects greenwoodarchitects.co.uk Halcrow Yolles halcrow.com/halcrowyolles Morrison Associates morrisonassociates.co.uk Ramboll ramboll.co.uk Rigby and Rigby thompsonsarchitects.ie Sandwell Council sandwell.gov.uk Thomasons thomasons.co.uk Turner and Townsend turnerandtownsend.com Willmott Dixon willmottdixongroup.co.uk
The School of Jewellery, located on Vittoria Street, Birmingham, has been at the heart of Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter since 1890. Staff at the School are renowned for their expertise and for the support provided to awardwinning students through their chosen courses and into professional life. The Artist in Residence (AIR) programme was established to allow recent graduates of UK and overseas jewellery and silversmithing courses to spend a further academic year within this outstanding environment. The residency position is viewed as an opportunity for AIRs to develop their own work and technical skills in a creative atmosphere, without the constraints of set course work or timetable. During this time they develop a new body of work, mount a group exhibition, and present personal lectures. In return, AIRs act as role models and mentors to undergraduate and postgraduate students, in addition to assisting in the School’s studios and workshops one day per week.
As part of Love Architecture the Birmingham Walking Architecture App(BAApp) has been developed. It is an interactive mapping tool allowing people to experience the best of Birmingham’s architecture in real time. For architects, visitors or simply those interested in the fantastic buildings that make Birmingham what it is, BAApp is the first app to unveil the stories and people behind the city as you go along. The Birmingham Walking Architecture BAApp has been developed by Birmingham Architectural Association, RIBA West Midlands and Five Counties Architectural Association. Visit: walkingarchitecture.co.uk
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bcu.ac.uk/biad/jewellery/industry
ilfutures.co.uk
Jewellery Industry Innovation Centre
Interiors & Lifestyle Futures
Alongside the the School of Jewelley, the Jewellery Industry Innovation Centre (JIIC) supports industry through research, knowledge transfer, training, mentoring and industry focused collaborative consultancy and projects. The core technical capability of the JIIC involves combining digital product development tools such as CAD and RP with finishing, and casting technologies to bring to market high value, low volume products manufactured from precious metal materials. The Centre offers a one stop option for companies seeking assistance in the areas of new product development, design, technology application and close to market research. Areas of expertise include scanning, reverse engineering, laser welding and marking, surface finishing, anodising and colouring, investment casting, rapid prototyping, computer aided design (CAD), and computer aided manufacture (CAM). The centre has provided assistance to over 300 individual companies including designer makers, start-up businesses, SMEs and large companies with a global presence, from a wide range of industries.
Interiors & Lifestyle Futures is showcasing the design and manufacturing talent of the West Midlands’ interiors and lifestyle companies. The products include a stunning selection from the creative community working in ceramics, furniture, jewellery and giftware, textiles, fashion, artwork and design services, from cufflinks to conference tables. Over the last three years, Interiors & Lifestyle Futures has worked with over 370 West Midlands businesses. It has helped them by identifying suitable strategies for business growth, through workshops, trade shows, exhibitions, overseas visits and networking events. A notable achievement is the setting up of 20 new West Midlands companies through the ILF Venture programme. The team at Interiors & Lifestyle Futures is a partnership of business advisers at CIF (Ceramic Industry Forum) and Birmingham City University (Design Knowledge Network and Jewellery Industry Innovation Centre). All activities are funded by Advantage West Midlands and the European Regional Development Fund.
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bcu.ac.uk/tee
bcu.ac.uk/pme
Faculty of Technology, Engineering and the Environment
FACULTY OF PERFORMANCE MEDIA and ENGLISH
Located at Millennium Point, Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Technology, Engineering and the Environment is a national centre of excellence for learning, innovation and technology transfer. The Faculty includes the School of Digital Media Technology, Birmingham School of the Built Environment, the School of Engineering Design and Manufacturing Systems, and the School of Computing, Telecommunications and Networks. A feature for the School of Engineering, Design and Manufacturing Systems has been its participation in the Formula Student competition, a testing ground for the next generation of worldclass engineers, challenging students around the world to design and build a single-seat racing car, put to the test at the famous Silverstone Circuit. View: formulastudent.com
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Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Performance Media and English brings together several nationally and internationally renowned institutions with the common aim of developing creative individuals. Birmingham Conservatoire educates and trains musicians to professional standards in solo performance, composition, chamber music, orchestral playing and jazz. Birmingham School of Acting specialises in professional training for actors, stage managers, community theatre practitioners and voice practitioners. Birmingham School of Media is committed to producing professionals who can lead the UK’s creative industries to the forefront of productivity and innovation on a global scale.
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bcu.ac.uk/pme/nti
New Technology Institute The New Technology Institute (NTI) Birmingham, plays a major role in supporting the University’s creative and cultural provision through pioneering postgraduate courses for budding games developers and digital media innovators; creative industries project management; Apple and Adobe short training courses; and the odd bit of consultancy thrown in there for good measure.
Programme of Activity Get a taste of what our MA/MSc Future Media and Gamer Camp: Biz (MSc Video Game Enterprise and Production) courses are all about at our practical and innovative open day. This free event gives you a chance to meet some of the course team and find out all you need to know about these industry-endorsed courses. You also have the opportunity to visit other exhibitions in the Mailbox as part of the Idea Birmingham Design Expo. Free attendance, open to all. 16June 2012 12.30-1pm Registration and refreshments. 1-1.20 pm Presentations on Gamer Camp: Biz (Oliver Williams) & Future Media course (Sara Middleton). 1.20-2pm Guest speakers: Guy Wilday, The Structure of the Video Games Industry and How Money is Made. Mark Brill, Gamification, what is it & why should you be interested. 2-3.30pm Practical Excerise: a taster of the courses. You will be given a games business, design and marketing scenario to respond to with support from Mark Brill, Guy Wilday, Oliver Williams and Sara Middleton. 3.30-4pm Feedback and questions. 4-5pm Time to discuss your career with a member of Gamer Camp &/or Future Media course team. Booking Information Please register at Eventbrite.
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bcu.ac.uk/business_school
BIRMINGHAM CITY BUSINESS SCHOOL
Bonnie Lush Hair
Birmingham City Business School is one of the longest established and most respected business schools in the UK. With over 3,200 students, it’s also one of the largest. Internationally recognised for practice-based learning and links to business, its three specialist centres are leading the way in finance, international business, marketing and management. Its Centre for Leadership and Management Practice, renowned for blending academic rigour with practical experiential learning, has been delivering measurable performance improvement combined with genuine innovation in business, helping to achieve successful strategy implementation and change particularly within multi-unit retail, leisure and hospitality organisations. This thinking underpins its Master’s programme in Multi-Unit Leadership and Strategy as well as an in-company BA degree in Leadership and Management Practice which can be tailored to meet specific needs.
Bonnie Lush Hair supplies beautiful, natural, luscious hair that delivers wow factor helping you to look great everyday. Within hours you can have hair like Beyonce, Kim Kardashian, Cheryl Cole or enjoy hair styles you never thought possible! Transform your looks adding volume, curls, colours, or length curls and amaze your friends. We help you to create your own hair concepts and introduce you to essential hair care and maintenance. Our hair extensions are completely natural and easy to attach by plaiting through or clipping into your own hair making it simple and safe to detach. Our aim is to bring the latest international hair trends and styling right to your doorstep at affordable prices transforming the way you feel about how you look.
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birmingham-rep.co.uk
brintons.net
the BIRMINGHAM REPERTORY THEATRE
Brintons Carpets
Founded in 1913 by Sir Barry Jackson, The Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company boasts a history of innovation and radical design having hosted many world premieres and launched the careers of many great British actors including Ralph Richardson, Edith Evans, Laurence Olivier, Paul Scofield, Derek Jacobi, Elizabeth Spriggs and Albert Finney. In 1971 the company moved to Broad Street to a newly built theatre with a stage of epic proportions and a democratic auditorium with no balconies, pillars or boxes. The theatre is currently undergoing redevelopment alongside the new Library of Birmingham. Whilst its building is closed the company has continued to produce shows in other theatre and site-specific spaces across the city. 2013 will be a year of celebration for the company as it marks its centenary and returns to its newly refurbished home under the new artistic directorship of Roxana Silbert.
Brintons is the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality woven carpets operating in both commercial and residential markets. Brintons’ reputation is built on design innovation, product excellence, technical expertise and customer focus. Operating in all major markets worldwide, Brintons deliver unrivalled carpet solutions to its customers. By investing continuously in developing patented looms they have engineered the best weaving technology solutions available today. Their latest High Definition Weave (HDW) looms have increased colour inspiration providing up to 24 colours in carpet design. Brintons pioneered the 80/20 wool nylon blend of yarn, the industry standard today, and as the world’s leading supplier of wool rich carpet provides the ultimate in custom woven Axminster, Wilton and tufted flooring. With over 20,000 designs produced every year, their design library holds digitally created patterns ready to be manufactured ondemand and their design archive, the largest in the industry, consists of over 100,000 designs, dating back to 1790.
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birmingham-made-me.com
the BIRMINGHAM REPERTORY THEATRE Dorothy’s shoes from The Wizard of Oz Directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, Artistic Director
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brooksengland.com
cocoscloset.co.uk
Brooks England
Coco’s Closet
JB Brooks & Co became known and respected for its beautiful leather handcrafted saddles passing down traditional techniques from generation to generation of craftsmen as the company grew under the guidance of the Brooks family until 1958. In the last decade they have struck out as Brooks England honouring the company’s heritage. Inspired by the timeless products designed by their predecessors, they have revived the original slogan ‘Saddles, Bags, Etc’ and introduced an exciting range of cycle bags and other cycling accessories
Coco’s Closet is an independent boutique bringing you the very best handmade and handpicked vintage and vintage inspired pieces lovingly sourced from around the globe. A collection of new, vintage and pre-loved trinkets, we carry a selection of beautiful and original handbags, jewellery and accessories. From kitsch to stylish, everything at Coco’s Closet is carefully selected and available exclusively through the store and online.
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birmingham-made-me.com
Brooks England B17 Select
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cooksongold.com
sahibakaur23@gmail.com
Cookson Precious Metals
Creative Lab
Cookson Precious Metals is the UK’s largest one-stop shop for the jewellery maker with over 12,000 products including a huge stock of silver, gold, palladium and platinum bullion cut to your requirements as well as huge ranges of findings, chain, ring blanks, jewellery making tools and much more. With almost 20 years experience in the industry, we despatch thousands of parcels every week to jewellers all over the world.
Creative Lab is an interior design practice specialising in the commercial, hospitality, retail and residential sectors run by Birmingham Institute of Art and Design qualified interior designers, Jyoti Mittal and Sahiba Kaur. They aim to raise the level of design ambition on any project with a vision of creating better and safer environments to enhance people’s interaction with the space. Consisting of a team of unique, entrepreneurial and highly imaginative designers they work with the clients to create an individual style translating their vision into reality. Through exciting designs that are both viable and aesthetically pleasing, they provide solutions that add value.
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david-louis.com
deakinandfrancis.co.uk
David Louis
DEAKIN & FRANCIS
“First and foremost each of our products are beautiful to look at, working sculpturally and visually in your home.” David Louis is an innovative product designer who works from his studio in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, harnessing his design skills in silversmithing, jewellery design and horology to develop his contemporary tableware and gadget ranges. David’s design ethos is to “blend function with beauty” and his goal is to create “inspirational lifestyle experiences - perhaps turning the ordinary everyday experience into a fun thing to do”. David-Louis also works as a commissioned product designer undertaking private commissions for high end brands to produce tableware and product designs currently on sale around the world in New York, Tokyo and London.
Deakin & Francis, founded in 1786, designs and manufactures the world’s finest cufflinks. The Birmingham workshops produce fine quality handmade jewellery in precious metal, incorporating vitreous enamel and fine gemstones. Seven generations after Charles Washington Shirley Deakin developed the product range, the business is today owned and managed by James and Henry Deakin. Over the last 200+ years the team of manufacturing jewellers and silversmiths at Deakin & Francis has created over 1,000 cufflink designs for business people, celebrities and members of royalty worldwide. Styles include gold and silver cufflinks, through to full dress sets in platinum and diamonds. Deakin & Francis® creations range from funky and fun to classic collections. Stockists include Harrods and other well known international department stores.
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denby.co.uk
dominojewellery.com
Denby Pottery
Domino Jewellery
Denby Pottery, founded 1809, is still world renown for designing and manufacturing unique, exceptional quality items for the kitchen and table. The pottery continues to innovate and evolve, recently celebrating 200 years of craftsmanship and heritage in Derbyshire. Denby draws it’s inspiration from many sources, from working with the designers of the day to more recent projects with students from the many universities and design courses across the UK. Recent additions to the Denby family are ‘Burleigh’ Pottery - renown for its blue and white pottery created in an authentic Victorian Pottery, ‘Leeds Pottery’ from Hartley Greens and Co, producers of handcrafted creamware with delicately pierced patterns and the iconic ‘Poole Pottery’ with it’s vibrant giftware. Denby is proud to uphold is position as one of the country’s key tableware manufacturers and looks forward to a future as diverse and exciting as it’s past.
Domino was established in 1983 to supply jewellery components and finished jewellery to the trade and is one of Europe’s most comprehensive and established manufacturers of fine jewellery. Domino has designed and crafted a stunning collection of innovative jewellery from castings, mounts as well as fully-finished wedding rings, diamond rings, pendants and earrings. Domino is a market leader in the field, maintaining its pre-eminence through a dedicated and forward looking design team and heavy investment in the technology required to keep its facilities at the forefront of a rapidly changing market. Domino’s products are made in a wide range of alloys including platinum 18ct gold, 9ct gold and palladium.
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birmingham-made-me.com
Domino Jewellery Flow Collection
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dunlop.eu
emmabridgewater.co.uk
Dunlop
Emma Bridgewater
Dunlop is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high and ultra high performance tyres with an impressive track record of motor sport successes. Dunlop’s extensive racing experience has led to innovative technologies for tyres designed for everyday motoring. From its Dunlop Motorsport factory in Birmingham, Dunlop manufactures more than 200,000 high technology racing tyres each year for the British Touring Car Championship teams, Isle of Mann TT, World Moto2 Motorcycle Championships, International GT and Endurance racing. Always looking to maximize driving pleasure, Dunlop offers all types of motorists the performance and durability of the latest tyre technologies, including tyres with RunOnFlat technology, which are fitted to award winning vehicles such as the Mini, BMW 1 Series, 3 Series, 5/6 Series, X5/X6 and others. Many of the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers, including Alfa Romeo, AMG, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Jaguar, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, VW and Porsche, fit Dunlop as standard.
Emma Bridgewater is a British ceramics manufacturer founded in 1985, owned and run by Emma Rice née Bridgewater and Matthew Rice. Noted for their polka dot design among others, Emma Bridgewater specialises in pottery with motifs drawing on expertise and traditional techniques stretching back over 200 years.
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creativegaps.co.uk
tinychair.co.uk
Ermine Jackson–Miles
Gemma Elizabeth Holz Jewellery
Made by Ermine’ design handmade mixed media fabrics from various recycled materials; she creates one-off unique bespoke pieces rich in texture and subtle colours. Her work is inspired by her surroundings, with the fabric she produces being suitable for fashion and interior. Her use of recycled materials in her work has encouraged her to explore the environment, leading her to research the vast amounts of disposable packaging that is generated and subsequently thrown away. Magazines, newspaper and plastic are a source of raw material with endless of potentials. “The material that she reuses is a starting point to the unpredictable process of transformation”
Gemma graduated from Birmingham’s School of Jewellery in 2009. She went on to do a year at Design Space in which she took part in Style Birmingham, London Jewellery Week and Harrogate Trade Fair. Gemma has also shown her range in Birmingham, London, Manchester and Munich. Gemma’s pieces take inspiration from flatpack furniture and miscellaneous everyday objects that we tend to ignore.
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glennhowells.co.uk
grabkowska.com
Glenn Howells Architects
Grabkowska Applied Arts
Glenn Howells Architects has built a strong reputation over the last 21 years for delivering design excellence and high quality, awardwinning projects. They have won a number of design competitions and in addition to being short listed for the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2007 and winning the British Council for Offices’, Best of the Best Award in 2010, they have received over 60 national awards.
Grabkowska Applied Arts brings art into design products. Most designs come as exclusive collections or one-offs. Dorota Grabkowska is a freelance designer working across two and three-dimensional disciplines including furniture, spatial, graphic design and applied arts. Her collection of limited edition photographs capturing colours, patterns, textures, abstract details and unconventional landscapes is now available from the Birmingham Made Me retail space. Dorota has recently collaborated with Kuba Kolec to produce an interactive installation. ‘What Made Me?’ for the week of the Design Expo. Through a visual language system that uses colour, line and grid composition, visitors will be able to communicate their feelings, thoughts and inspirations, becoming the creators of a complex artwork.
GRABKOWSKA APPLIED ARTS
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birmingham-made-me.com
Grabkowska Applied Arts Cocoon Lampshade
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hannahfewtrell-bolton.com
hille.co.uk
Hannah Fewtrell-Bolton
Hille
Hannah Fewtrell-Bolton is a jewellery designer from and based in Birmingham specialising in statement fashion accessories. After completing her BA in Jewellery and Silversmithing Hannah received an AHRC grant to continue her studies to MA level. Since her MA in Jewellery, Silversmithing and Related Products at BIAD’s School of Jewellery in 2011 she became an Artist in Residence at the university and continued to develop her personal brand, while working on her statement jewellery business HCFBoutique with the guidance and support of the ILF Venture programme. Hannah is passionate about fashion and encourages people to approach it with a playful nature exploring the idea of discovering their individuality. All pieces sold are hand made utilising both traditional and innovative materials and techniques with many of the pieces being bespoke encouraging personal style and individuality in a world, which revolves around mass production and fast fashion.
Hille Furniture has had the good fortune to have worked with some of England’s most prolific furniture designers including Robin Day, Fred Scott and more recently Prof Richard Snell, on the SE Ergonomic Chair. Prof Snell, has together with independent furniture designer, David Rowe, initiated many successful applied businesseducation research collaborations, having been based at the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design. Hille is known to all in the industry as a company of design excellence, having produced one of the UK’s most well known design classics - the Polypropylene chair - and they continue to provide new designs and new technology combined with a wealth of knowledge.
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birmingham-made-me.com
Hille SE Ergonomic Chair
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heritagesilverware.com
jadedevalldesigns.co.uk
Heritage Silverware
Jade Devall Homewares
Heritage Collection is a leading manufacturer of bespoke tableware for Hotel and restaurants around the world. Based in Birmingham the company was formed in 1976 as Heritage Silverware Ltd and has been making silverware for top hotels such as The Ritz, The Dorchester and The Lanesborough for over 30 years producing exclusive pieces such as silver plated Afternoon Tea stands, Stainless Steel, Silver Plated Cutlery or Wine trolleys in traditional or contemporary styles. It has now expanded its operations producing innovative and exciting ranges of Fine Bone China and Glassware which again have been selected for service in highly respected establishments.
Jade Devall Designs are fully functional stylised Ceramics and Textiles for your home, incorporating high quality, fun and charming design led products. Jade has a huge passion for pattern and by using it in a very practical way she was inspired to set up her own business, specialising in stylized pattern decoration onto China and printed Textiles. She works from her studio in Staffordshire to create designs that are innovative and beautiful. All of her items are Fine Bone China; decorated by hand and fired at her studio to make them dishwasher proof. “All my life I have enjoyed the simple things like going for afternoon tea, riding my bike down to the park and cooking to my heart’s content (or at least until I couldn’t eat anymore!). My unique collections include Teacups, Milk Jugs, Cake Stands, Tea towels and cushions. My new Spring collections will be sure to capture your imagination and make you smile.”
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birmingham-made-me.com
Jade Devall Homewares Teacup and saucer selection
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jaguar.com/gb/en
jamesnewman.co.uk
Jaguar
James Newman
Jaguar is proud to be able to support, encourage & inspire design creativity in the Midlands. With an incredible history of creating beautiful, advanced, pioneering cars, design is crucial to Jaguar, meaning attracting the very best talent within the UK & beyond has never been more important. Being displayed are Jaguars from the present day and a little way into the future - the current XF, the XJ and the C-X75 concept car. Each have been showcased to global acclaim, the C-X75 having made appearances in Frankfurt, Los Angeles, Delhi, Paris and Beijing. Created by Director of Design, Ian Callum at Jaguar Design at Whitley, all three cars demonstrate the very best in British creativity and industry-leading engineering. Each, like all the best Jaguars, looks firmly to the future. Such has been the reaction by the public that the C-X75 is now intended to reach production. It promises to be the fastest and most innovative Jaguar ever created. For now, the C-X75 remains unique and will lead a range of contemporary production Jaguars – the XF, XK and XJ – designed, developed and manufactured in the Midlands.
As a graduate from the School of Jewellery who has established his highly successful shop in the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, James Newman represents the pinnacle of a Birmingham “born and bred” Brand. His trademark style marries innovation with traditional skills in the creation of his unique and distinctive designs. He won 1st prize for design from the British Jewellers Association, has exhibited at the prestigious Goldsmiths Fair since 2003 and between 2004-10, served on the British Jewellers Association National Committee.
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birmingham-made-me.com
Jaguar C-X75 concept sketches
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jcb.com
jcdecaux.co.uk
JCB
JCDecaux
JCB is one of the world’s top three manufacturers of construction equipment. It has some of the finest engineering facilities across the globe, producing a range of over 300 machines and maintaining a reputation for unrivalled customer service. JCB is one of the world’s top three manufacturers of construction equipment employing around 7000 people on four continents and selling their products in 150 countries through 1,500 dealer depot locations. Throughout their 64 year history, they have invested heavily in research and development, keeping JCB at the cutting edge of innovation.
JCDecaux is the world’s number one outdoor advertising company and by revenue the largest in Europe with presence in 3,600 cities across 56 countries. For over 40 years JCDecaux has delivered quality and innovative outdoor advertising solutions. We are the only company worldwide to focus exclusively on out-of-home media and have a presence in all areas of the market - Street Furniture, Retail, Billboards, Transport and Digital. A cultural focus underscores the values on which JCDecaux has been built - a respect for the urban environment and its cultural heritage. Lord Norman Foster, Mario Bellini, Philippe Starck, Jean-Michel Wilmotte, Martin Szekely, Phillip Cox, Porsche Design are just some of 52 worldrenowned designers or groups that have worked in partnership with JCDecaux to create innovative Street Furniture found throughout the most beautiful and cosmopolitan cities in the world.
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jackrow.com
kier.co.uk
Jack Row
Kier Construction
Award winning British goldsmith, Jack Row, creates elegant writing instruments and accessories, intended for the most discerning clientele. Working in precious metals incorporating gemstones, this virtuoso designer skilfully fuses traditional goldsmithing skills with the latest technology to craft highly desirable objects d’art. Based in his Jewellery Quarter studio, Jack currently presents exclusive collections of limited edition fountain pens and complimentary cufflinks, inspired by the bold forms of iconic architecture and the intricate detailing of Islamic art. His `Architect Collection’ was recently launched at the world’s most prestigious department store, Harrods, in November of 2011 with his work available exclusively in their Knightsbridge ‘Writing Room’. Jack graduated from the School of Jewellery (BIAD) in 2009 with a first class honours degree in Jewellery and Silversmithing - Design for Industry. Before establishing his brand in 2011, Jack was employed by a leading manufacturer in the Jewellery Quarter, Weston Beamor, as a bespoke CAD designer.
Kier is a leading construction, services and property group specialising in building and civil engineering, support services, house building, and property development employing nearly 11,000 people worldwide and with annual revenues of £2.2bn. Working collaboratively with clients and designers they provide cost-effective, innovative solutions. Working with the Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and architects, The Design Buro, they have been designing, constructing and delivering best-in-class mental healthcare solutions. Their multi-million pound refurbishment to improve services for people with mental health needs at Penn Hospital, Wolverhampton is changing perceptions of how care is delivered. Colours and sensory features have been key, helping to improve communication, decrease frustration, and manage behaviour. As part of the ‘healing environment’, they have been creating therapy rooms, kitchens, art studios and gardens supporting rehabilitation.
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katefarley.co.uk
Kate Farley Homewares Following in the foot-steps of mid-century designers such as Bawden and Ravilious, Kate Farley has combined her skills and study of art, design and craft to create a unique collection of products featuring surface designs inspired by kitchen gardens, allotments and home-grown / cooked food, mixing garden and culinary tools as a journey from ‘Plot to Plate’. Other designs in her range feature plants and patterns evocative of the vegetable patch. This body of work has stemmed from a series of prints and drawings of the same subject made over the last few years featuring both private sites and National Trust estate gardens.
kate FARLEY Verbena and Poppies Print Collections
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kingcharlesschool.co.uk
laney.co.uk
King Charles I Kidderminster
Laney Amplification
King Charles 1 School is one of the first Academies in England to successfully set up a Community Interest Company run by students. Cattleya CIC was established in March 2011 and offers a range of alcoholic-free cocktails and smoothies based on ethically sourced fruits from Colombia. Cattleya’s mission is to help increase the UK demand for Andean fruits, raising the profile of the exotic fruit sector, which has huge potential to replace illicit crops as an alternative, sustainable rural economy.
Formed in 1967 by Lyndon Laney, Laney Amplification is a West Midlands based guitar and musical instrument amplifier manufacturer who were closely involved with Tony Iommi of BLACK SABBATH in the birth of the ‘Heavy Metal’ music genre. Since 1967, Laney Amplification has gone on from strength to strength and is presently a multinational company that continues to design ‘tone’ solutions to enable musicians of all playing styles and levels to attain their ‘tonal’ ecstasy. Laney currently work with globally renowned musicians and bands such as The Prodigy, The Foo Fighters, Killswitch Engage, Skindred, Black Sabbath and many more… As a brand, Laney is historically associated with Birmingham City and its vibrant live music scene. Last year, Laney sponsored the ‘Home of Metal’ exhibition at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery where we garnered press recognition (CNN, BBC news, SKY news, SKY Arts and The Guardian) of Laney’s contribution to the ‘Heavy Metal’ music genre, cultural heritage and historic link withThe Black Country and the City.
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birmingham.gov.uk/lob
made.org.uk
Library of Birmingham
MADE
The new £188.8 million Library of Birmingham will open to the public on Tuesday 3rd September. Birmingham City Council has been actively seeking the city’s residents to help shape the public art programme for the Library of Birmingham. It is encouraging residents to stop by to create a ‘Postcard to the Library of Birmingham’ with a short message and drawing to describe their journey to, and relationship with, the Library. The responses gathered will help guide the decisions made over the coming months about the art projects that will celebrate the opening of the Library of Birmingham in 2013. The artworks may be displayed throughout the Library of Birmingham, including the new exhibition and performance spaces, the rotundas and the Shakespeare Memorial Room.
MADE is an organisation dedicated to improving the quality of our towns, cities and villages. They believe that a high quality built environment is essential for economic prosperity and wellbeing.
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birmingham-made-me.com
Library of Birmingham Music Room and Cross section of new library
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morgan-motor.co.uk
obsessionistas.co.uk
MORGAN MOTOR COMPANY
Obsessionistas
In 2012 Morgan has expanded its Model range and doubled production. There are three pillars for the future for Morgan cars, the Morgan Aero, Morgan Classic and Morgan 3 Wheeler. Each has its own development programme to ensure an iconic design has the benefits and features of modern technology. 180 people assemble Morgans by hand in Malvern but parts are designed on computer and made from tooling to be as accurate as possible. Morgan matches production to customer demand and the specification can be tailored to individual choice. Although customisation may mean a modest wait for a new car, the rarity plus the durability and the quality of the materials used guarantee Morgans have strong residual value. Please see the brand new 2012 Morgan website for virtual car configuration, full details of the current Morgan range and for other information at: www.morgan-motor.co.uk
Obsessionistas is a cultural website focusing on the role collections play in relating narratives, sharing heritage, tracing design history and inspiring creativity. A key element of the Birmingham Made Me Design EXPO will be a Design Archives display, curated by Obsessionistas. Highlighting the unique industrial and brand heritage of the Midlands, the display will consist of a wide range of archive material from the individual collections of midlands companies and organisations, supported by a complimentary online resource. Those participating include: Acme Whistles, AGA Rangemaster, Brintons Carpets, The Library of Birmingham Deakin and Francis, Denby, Jaguar Laney Amplifcation, Pashley Cycles, Royal Institute of British Architects, Triumph Motorcycles
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birmingham-made-me.com
Morgan motor company Morgan Aeromax
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opus-tessallatum.co.uk
pashley.co.uk
Opus Tessellatum
Pashley Cycles
Opus Tessellatum creates truly innovative and impressive collections of hand-made English tiles. From traditional classic themes such as Game and Coastal, to the new and impressive Opulent arrangements incorporating glassmosaic and Swarovski crystals reflecting dazzling rays of colour and light, they bring a touch of glamour to the finest kitchens and bathrooms. The company, owned and operated by Nicola J Hulme, is a rare example of craftsmanship in the modern age. Maintaining fidelity to traditional techniques, she expertly designs and produces all products from her Staffordshire studio in the heart of the Potteries. Other ranges include the contemporary Trompe l’oeil with innovative woodeffects in ceramic - the perfect complement to every painted kitchen and Aga-style setting. The next stage in the Opus Tessellatum journey welcomes a new collection of work featuring original Polo sketches in precious metals, the result of a successful collaboration with highly regarded equine sculptor, Denise Dutton.
Pashley Cycles is England’s longest established bicycle manufacturer. Founded in 1926 and based in Stratford-upon-Avon, our dedicated team design and hand-build a unique range of specialist bicycles and tricycles.
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birmingham-made-me.com
PASHLEY CYCLES Pashley Guv’nor
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penelopejordan.com
plantandmoss.com
Penelope Jordan
Plant & Moss
Penelope Jordan’s Artworks have been creating a stir in the Art world since 2010, and shown in various galleries across the world, including London, New York and the Hamptons. Jordan’s unique and beautiful artworks are derived from old building plans, electrical systems, maps and musical instruments. Her obsession for linear lines fuels her original ideas, which are built upon with other imagery, ranging from colour combinations in foliage to mechanical machinery. Quilting techniques emerge in her work as she uses inventive ways of layering and stitching textures together. In addition to Jordan’s artworks, are her Limited Edition Giclée prints, available in limited editions of 50 (unless stated), each print is framed, numbered and signed.
Plant and Moss is a British design studio and manufacturer of contemporary furniture, lighting and products. Produced in limited runs they seek to create designs that will enrich interiors with exclusivity, style and character.
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robinfurlongfurniture.co.uk
rsc.org.uk
Robin Furlong
Royal Shakespeare Company
Robin Furlong, a furniture designer of distinction, represents some of the finest style and craftsmanship. Skilfully handcrafted in a wide range of refined hardwoods & veneers, he blends traditional and contemporary techniques to superb effect. Set off with feature recessed handles, exquisite joint detailing and polished to a fine finish demonstrating the breadth of his designs, his range includes dining furniture, cabinets and longcase clocks to boardroom suites. Robin has recently launched his ‘Collect 20’ range of ‘Pre-designed Furniture’, which is tailored to each client, choosing woods details and handle options. Robin comments, “My strongest inspirations are Charles Rennie Mackintosh, The Arts & Crafts Movement, nature & architecture. I draw on a library of design & style that has developed over time, so forming concepts as I discuss a project with the client.” The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers has awarded Robin Furlong four prestigious Guild-Marks for quality in design & craftsmanship.
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), admired internationally for performing Shakespeare’s works alongside other highly respected contemporary playwrights, has an annual income of around £30m. Generated through Box Office receipts and other related activity, grants from Arts Council England and with valued sponsorship and donations from individuals, trusts and companies, these revenues are enabling the Company to develop pieces of new work with over 30 writers under commission, to train artists and to introduce young people to the work of Shakespeare and live theatre. The RSC make all their own sets, costumes, props and armoury in their own workshops and their education work is central to their ethos as a Company. Each year they reach over 65,000 young people via the 300 schools in their Learning and Performance Network. They are producers of the World Shakespeare Festival, the biggest celebration of Shakespeare ever staged and one of the centrepieces of the London 2012 Festival. They attracted audiences from 70 different countries to Stratford upon Avon, continuing to draw 47% of their audience from the Midlands.
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sarapagedesign.co.uk
squiresanders.com
sara page design
SQUIRE SANDERS
Sara loves to paint and sew, cook and share meals. She loves the table and its wares, both textile and ceramic. These ‘loves’ have inspired Sara’s creativity for years. ‘Sara’s mark’ is made using painterly brush marks, CAD and traditional screen printing, embracing new technology, but always with the evidence of the ‘hand drawn’ or ‘hand sewn’ to give an artisan quality. A freelance designer for 5 years, her textile designs have sold in Designer’s Guild, Mint, White Stuff and Nautica. Having completed an MA Surface Pattern Design, with distinction, ‘Sara’s Mark’ was launched at Top Draw, London September 2011. The colourful designs depict the ‘flower’ garden, the ‘allotment’, the ‘hedgerow’ and the kitchen ‘bottles & jars’. Sara is a Visiting Tutor at Birmingham City University and De Montfort University Feb 2012 - Nominated for ‘Best Midlands Emerging Brand’ by Idea Birmingham member of Interiors Gap.
Squire Sanders is a top 20 full service global legal practice, formed through the recent merger of Hammonds and Squire Sanders & Dempsey. Whilst they have the benefit of the 9th largest global footprint (operating across 37 offices in 18 countries) their focus remains on the local needs of their clients. Their Birmingham Office employs over 170 people and provides a full legal service, representing many of the region’s top businesses across a range of industry sectors. Their Birmingham Intellectual Property & Technology Group covers a variety of different work areas, including general commercial, advertising & branding, franchising; intellectual property (IP), technology (IT), media and data protection & freedom of information. Their IP practice in particular, conducts major litigation in all IP areas, including trademarks, design rights and patents. They also carry out IP exploitation work including licensing and IP strategy reviews.
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somf.co.uk
theassayoffice.co.uk
SIT ON MY FACE
The Birmingham Assay Office
‘Sit On My Face’ was created by Jo Hancox in October 2011, after graduating in the same year from a Visual Communication: Illustration course at Birmingham City University. In her final year she was nominated for the ‘Young Pioneer’ award at the Dave Mckean Awards, which led her on to win the help and support of Interior Lifestyle Future’s Business Programme. As a portrait artist Jo has specialised in producing cushions with a cheeky twist...each cushion features a face that has been hand drawn in a way to create the illusion that it has been sat on.
The Birmingham Assay Office, now the largest Assay Office in the world, was established following Matthew Boulton’s personal intervention in lobbying Parliament in 1773. At the time silversmithing was booming and manufacturers, including Boulton’s Soho Manufactory, were having to send all items produced to Chester for hallmarking. Boulton, having teamed up with the Sheffield Cutlers, asserted the case for a new Assay office requiring an Act of Parliament. The 1773 Act established the Birmingham Assay Office as self-supporting, making its revenues from charges on assaying and today six million articles of gold, silver or platinum are tested every year prior to being hallmarked. It has developed into an independent centre of quality assessment and expert opinion for precious and base metals, gemstones, fine and costume jewellery and fashion accessories employing around 140 people in the Jewellery Quarter, which reputedly accounts for up to 60% of UK jewellery output. A ‘not for distributed profit’ organisation, it has invested heavily in sophisticated equipment and highly trained staff to ensure that it remains a leader in its own field.
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triumph.co.uk
The nec group
Triumph Motorcycles
In 1976 the visionaries behind the NEC might have made a fashion faux pas with their flared suits and big hair, but they got their vision for the NEC of the future spot on. Since the official opening of the NEC, the venue has built upon its early successes and now welcomes more than two million people every year. With 20 interconnecting halls, at the heart of the UK’s transport network, the NEC continues to be a conference and exhibition venue of today, and of the future. They stage around 140 trade and consumer events each year, ranging from world-famous public shows such as Crufts and Clothes Show Live, to huge international trade exhibitions like IFSEC and Spring Fair, Birmingham. The NEC is much more than space for hire, providing a multitude of services to make every event a success - event management, catering, security, marketing, ticketing, IT, utility and technical services.
First established in 1902 and now based in Hinckley, Leicestershire, Triumph is one of the most iconic motorcycle brands in the world and today is Britain’s largest domestically-owned automotive manufacturer, producing around 50,000 bikes per year. At the heart of Triumph’s philosophy is a commitment to develop truly unique motorcycles offering a blend of distinctive design, intuitive handling and ample performance. The innovation and engineering passion that gave birth to the legendary Bonneville of the 60’s has today created a broad range of bikes suited to all motorcycle riders, from authentic retro classics to high powered sportsbikes and relaxed, easygoing cruisers to mile-munching tourers. Around 85% of Triumph’s production is exported and Triumph’s market share of the global +500cc market now stands at 5.9%. With state-ofthe-art manufacturing facilities both in the UK and abroad, plus strong investment into R & D and a comprehensive new model development programme in place, Triumph is set to further strengthen its position in the market.
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Triumph Motorcycles Triumph Daytona
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thorneyworkstudio.viewbook.com
vax.co.uk
Thorneywork Studio
Vax Ltd
Thorneywork Studio is dedicated to bringing original art images to products which can be enjoyed every day in the home. The designs, which combine hand-drawing, digitally generated designs, and original art prints, are printed onto fine bone china plates in full colour, fired at high temperature and are washable. All products are designed in England, and printed and fired in the Potteries in Stoke-on-Trent, traditional home of the British ceramics industry. We welcome collaboration with retailers and manufacturers to make new products in ceramics, textiles, wallcoverings and prints.
Vax is the best-selling floorcare brand in the UK. Their iconic multi-vax orange tub was first developed in the Midlands in the late 1970s. It transformed homes, rapidly becoming the UK’s best-selling vacuum cleaner. Today’s Vax ranges are just as innovative, including the lightest and the most powerful multi-cyclonic vacuum cleaners in the world. When Vax first launched, they led the way with bold use of the colour orange, strong performance messages and a brand name that said exactly what it did... Vax. Today their brand still encapsulates what Vax has always been about, but delivers it in a style that’s designed for the modern world. Vax has made it their business to listen carefully to their customers, with their Birmingham-based design team making continual improvements to stay in tune with their customers’ needs. Their philosophy ‘Performance is everything’ is at the heart of everything.
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VAX Vax Air Lightweight Vacuum Cleaner
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Event Listings A programme of events has been organised for the Birmingham Made Me Design EXPO. They are open to anyone to attend free of charge unless otherwise specified. Please check the schedule for the latest events online at birmingham-made-me.com ideabirmingham.co.uk
Design Cultures - Launch Event Friday 15 June, 12.30-2.30pm
Entrepreneurs Store: No. 3, Level 3 Free attendance, open to all Speakers: Simon Topman, MBE, DL, Chief Executive, Acme Whistles Emma Bridgewater, Founder Director, Emma Bridgewater
Photo Opportunity Friday 15 June, 3pm By invitation only Speakers: Councillor Sir Albert Bore, Leader, Birmingham City Council Simon Topman & Emma Bridgewater
Midlands Design Archives – Our special heritage Friday 15 June 5-7pm
Entrepreneurs Store: No. 3, Level 3 Free attendance, open to all Speaker: Graham Powell, Course Director, MA Product Design, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design Founder Director, Obsessionistas, Birmingham
Crafts and Arts Events
Friday 15 & Saturday 16 June, 1-4pm Entrepreneurs Store: No. 3, Level 3 Free attendance, open to all Craftspace Collective, Arts Activities on a GRAND SCALE!
Birmingham Made Me ‘City in Sites’ Bus Tour
Birmingham City University Open Day and Graduate Degree Shows
By invitation only
bcu.ac.uk Free attendance, open to all
Friday 15 June, 3.30-4.30pm Courtesy of Birmingham Tours
Saturday 16 June
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Denby Halo Salt Pot
Hannah Fewtrell-Bolton Necklace
Jewellery / Accessories and Fashion Event
Urban Futures and Quality of Life
Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 June Visit birmingham-made-me.com for times Entrepreneurs Store: No. 3, Level 3 Free attendance, open to all Hosted by: Hannah Fewtrell-Bolton, Jewellery Designer
Hair Extension Showcase
Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 June Visit: birmingham-made-me.com for times Entrepreneurs Store: No. 3, Level 3 Free attendance, open to all Hosted by: Bonnie Lush Hair
Knitting and Crafts
Sunday 17 June, 11-5pm Entrepreneurs Store: No. 3, Level 3 Free attendance, open to all Hosted by: Sheila Arthurs, knitting and crochet demonstration with displays and lots of DRAMA!
Monday 18 June, 12.30-2.30pm
Entrepreneurs Store: No. 3, Level 3 Free attendance, open to all Speaker: Ruth Reed, Immediate Past President, RIBA
AGAs to Apps
Monday 18 June, 3.30-4.30pm Entrepreneurs Store: No. 3, Level 3 Free attendance, open to all Speaker: Dawn Roads, AGA Chief Home Economist and Food Editor, AGA Rangemaster
8 Chairs for 8 Decades
Monday 18 June, 5.30-7.30pm Entrepreneurs Store: No. 3, Level 3 Free attendance, open to all Speaker: Prof Richard Snell, Designer, Hille, and Lecturer, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design
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event listings Residential Futures
Tuesday 19 June, 12.30-2.30pm Entrepreneurs Store: No. 3, Level 3 Free attendance, open to all Speakers: Glenn Howells, GHA Architects Phil Jones, Phil Jones Planning Associates
Lessons from Britain’s Most Admired Companies Survey Tuesday 19 June, 5.30-7.30pm
Entrepreneurs Store: No. 3, Level 3 Free attendance, open to all Speaker: Prof Mike Brown, Birmingham City Business School
Automotive and Low Carbon Futures Debate
Wednesday 20 June, 12.30-2.30pm Entrepreneurs Store: No. 3, Level 3 Free attendance, open to all Speakers: Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar Stuart Wood, Chief Engineer, Triumph Motorcycles James Bailey, Communications Director, Dunlop Prof David Bailey, Coventry University Business School
Automotive Clay Modelling Demonstration Wednesday 20 June, daytime
Cars, Tyres and Diggers: No. 12, Main Entrance Free attendance, open to all
Dunlop Isle of Man TT Racing Bike Demo
Wednesday 20-22 June, daytime Cars, Tyres and Diggers: No. 12, Main Entrance Free attendance, open to all
‘Can you see Me?’ Effective Communication in the Outdoor Media Environment Wednesday 20 June, 5.30-7.30pm Entrepreneurs Store: No. 3, Level 3 Free attendance, open to all Speakers: Lee Humphreys, Director of Regional Sales, JCDecaux Claire Farrell, Director, EC-Arts & 48Sheet
‘Baroque and Roll’, Style through the Ages
Thursday 21 June, 12.30-2.30pm Entrepreneurs Store: No. 3, Level 3 Free attendance, open to all Performance by: Keith Horsfall and players, Royal Society of Arts
‘Diamond In theRough’ student and graduate recruitment through business –university collaborations
How to Fish for Innovation? Designing a unique legacy
Entrepreneurs Store: No. 3, Level 3 Free attendance, open to all
Entrepreneurs Store: No. 3, Level 3 Free attendance, open to all
Hosted by: Marcus Andrews, Graduate Employment Officer, Birmingham City University
Speakers: Stuart and Alistair Colam, Fish Innovation
Wednesday 20 June 2.30-4.30pm
Thursday 21 June, 2.30-4.30pm
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Love Architecture
Thursday 21 June, All day
Birmingham Made Me Design Awards Celebration
Architecture: No. 5, Level 3 By invitation only
Friday 22 June, 9-10pm
Launch of Friends of the Birmingham School of Architecture
Speakers: William McGrath, Chief Executive, AGA Rangemaster Group plc Jerry Blackett, Chief Executive Officer, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group Prof Mary Carswell, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Birmingham City University
Thursday 21 June, 6-8pm Architecture: No.21, level 3 By invitation only
Speaker: Gavin Orton, President, Birmingham Architectural Association (BAA) 2010– Present
MBA to MFA: The Rise of the Creative Apprentice
Friday 22 June, 12.30-2.30pm Entrepreneurs Store: No. 3, Level 3 Free attendance, open to all Speakers: David Osbaldestin, Subject Leader Graphic Communication, School of Visual Communication, Birmingham Institute of Art & Design Paul Slocombe, Acting Head of School, School of Visual Communication, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design
Talent Showcase
Friday 22 June, 6.30-7.30pm Fashion & Performance: No. 7, Level 3 By invitation only
BA (Hons) Fashion Design Graduate Degree Show, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design Friday 22 June, 7.30-8.15pm
Fashion & Performance: No. 7, Level 3 By invitation only
Fashion & Performance: No. 7, Level 3 By invitation only
Art Installation 15-22 June
Interiors & Lifestyle 1: No. 1, Level 3 Free attendance, open to all Applied Artist, Dorota Grabkowska Interactive Art installation– What Made Me? a concept based around a large scale visualisation of non numerical information generated by members of the public through their participation in creating the artwork.
Birmingham Made Me Tyre 15-22 June
Cars, Tyres and Diggers: No. 12, Main Entrance Free attendance, open to all Dunlop are producing a Birmingham Made Me commemorative tyre which will be on display during the course of the Design EXPO.
(See also The Little Shop of (Art) Works and New Technology Institute Exhibitor profile pages)
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DESIGN AND INNOVATION AWARDS AND Finalists As part of our Design EXPO we are delighted to launch the inaugural Birmingham Made Me Design Awards. Celebrating and recognising the achievements of our businesses and brands, universities and individuals at the forefront of innovation and design in the region, the Birmingham Made Me Design Awards 2012 are also focussed on driving further university-business collaboration. You can vote online now for your favourite brand at www.ideabirmingham.co.uk
Shortlist for Best Brand 2012 Representing Birmingham the Original Design City
Shortlist for Best Emerging Brand 2012 Representing Birmingham the Original Design City
AGA Aston Martin The Birmingham Assay Office Cadbury Codemasters Ikon Gallery Jaguar JCB Marmite Paul Smith Poundland The Royal Shakespeare Company
Cafe Blend Chase Distillery Disorder Boutique Fei Liu Fourseventy Media Jack Row Liam Treanor Urban Coffee Company
Shortlist for Best Innovation / Radical Design 2012 Representing Birmingham the Original Design City Acme Whistles AGA Total Control Hozelock Autoreel Morgan Aero Coupe Range Rover Evoque The Premier Group VAX Air Lightweight Worcester Bosch
Lifetime Achievement for contribution to design & innovation To be announced 22 June 2012.
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“Our aim is to drive lasting economic growth by continuing to create the ‘beautiful and useful’ as part of our culture of ongoing innovation part of the Midlands authentic heritage.” Beverley Nielsen
Director Employer Engagement, Birmingham City University
Shortlist for Best Design Collaboration 2012 between Education & Business
DESIGN AND INNOVATION AWARDS Panel
Aston University Shell Eco Marathon City Concept Car 2012
Our judging panel selected finalists for the public to vote a winner.
Birmingham City University Gamer Camp
Ian Callum RDI Director of Design, Jaguar; Founder Chairman, IDEA Birmingham Councillor Sir Albert Bore Leader, Birmingham City Council William McGrath Chief Executive, AGA Rangemaster Group plc Jerry Blackett Chief Executive Officer, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group Tim Pile Chief Executive, Cogent Elliott Andrew Clay Partner, Squire Sanders, Birmingham Prof Chris O’Neil Executive Dean, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, Birmingham City University Graham Powell Course Director, MA Product Design, BIAD; Founder, Obsessionistas Beverley Nielsen Director Employer Engagement, Birmingham City University
Birmingham City Business School collaboration in learning and teaching with Mitchells & Butlers Birmingham City University collaborative design with Morgan Cars Cattleya Community Interest Company, King Charles I Kidderminster Small Heath Project for Utensa and TKMaxx Stan’s Cafe Vax ev Cardboard Vacuum Cleaner with Loughborough University
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Shortlist for Best Brand 2012 Representing Birmingham the Original Design City AGA AGA, with its great heritage, also has its eyes firmly on the future. Made in Coalbrookdale at the World Heritage Site of Abraham Darby’s original foundry, the industrial revolution was launched when Queen Anne granted patent No. 380 in 1707 enabling the casting of iron cooking pots still made by AGA today, as seen in their new Jubilee Collection. The AGA itself was first made in the UK 1929 in Smethwick, having been made in Coalbrookdale since 1946. Since then it has become embedded in British culture, seen by many as more than just a cooker, but a way of life. Always ready to modernise, having run first on solid fuel, then offering oil and gas options, the company launched the AGA Total Control in Spring 2011 as a model that can be “on when you need it, off when you don’t”, using less than a fifth of the electricity of the classic AGA. It can be turned on and off using a standard mobile phone, smartphone, PC, Laptop or iPad. From the heart of England, AGA is reaching the hearts of people all over the world – iconic and timeless -- a design-led success story.
Aston Martin Combining ‘power, beauty and soul’, Aston Martin has become renowned for designing and producing the world’s most beautiful sports cars since the company was founded by Lionel Martin in 1913. Known for their starring roles in James Bond films including the DB5 in Goldfinger, the V12 Vanquish in Die another Day and the DBS in Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, they are framed in our consciousness as automotive icons. In 2013 Aston Martin will celebrate a century producing hand-crafted luxury sports cars. The company employs around 1200 people and continues to produce bespoke, hand-built cars within its state-of-art facility in Gaydon. Today the range includes the DBS, DB9, Virage, V8 Vantage, V8 Vantage S, V12 Vantage, V12 Zagato, One-77 super car and their luxury commuter car, the Cygnet.
In 2010, Aston Martin launched the Rapide, their first four door sports car. Other Archive marques include the DB4, DB5, DB6 and DB7. The company has built around 57,000 cars, 85% of which are still on the road bringing a unique kind of pleasure to owners and enthusiasts all over the world.
The Birmingham Assay Office The Birmingham Assay Office, now the largest Assay Office in the world, was established following Matthew Boulton’s personal intervention in lobbying Parliament in 1773. At the time silversmithing was booming and manufacturers, including Boulton’s Soho Manufactory, were having to send all items produced to Chester for hallmarking. Boulton, having teamed up with the Sheffield Cutlers, asserted the case for a new Assay office requiring an Act of Parliament. Staying at the ‘Crown & Anchor’ on the Strand, a coin was tossed, so the story goes, to determine that Birmingham -- miles from the sea – should adopt the ‘Anchor’ as its hallmark, with Sheffield taking the ‘Crown’. The 1773 Act established the Birmingham Assay Office as self-supporting, making its revenues from charges on assaying and today six million articles of gold, silver or platinum are tested every year prior to being hallmarked. It has developed into an independent centre of quality assessment and expert opinion for precious and base metals, gemstones, fine and costume jewellery and fashion accessories employing around 140 people in the Jewellery Quarter, which reputedly accounts for up to 60% of UK jewellery output. A ‘not for distributed profit’ organisation, it has invested heavily in sophisticated equipment and highly trained staff to ensure that it remains a leader in its own field, recently becoming the first Assay Office in the world to receive Responsible Jewellery Council certification for meeting their ethical, human rights, social and environmental standards.
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Cadbury A remarkable success story forming a key part of Birmingham’s historic culture, this truly international brand started back in 1824 when the Quaker, John Cadbury, began making and selling tea, coffee and drinking chocolate in Bull Street, Birmingham. Joined later by his brother, Benjamin, they formed Cadbury Brothers, Birmingham, receiving a Royal Warrant in 1854 as manufacturers of chocolate and cocoa to Queen Victoria. John’s sons, Richard and George, took over the running of the business in 1861, establishing the Bournville factory in 1879. George Cadbury bought 120 acres surrounding the factory in 1895 and set about erecting 143 houses, and in 1900 he established the Bournville Village Trust which now had control of 330 acres. In 1905 Cadbury launched Dairy Milk, with Cadbury’s Milk Tray following in 1915, Fruit and Nut in 1920, Cream-filled Eggs in 1923, Crunchie in 1929 and Roses in 1938. In 1919 Cadbury merged with JS Fry & Sons integrating Fry’s Chocolate Cream and Turkish Delight into their brand line-up. Cadbury merged with Schweppes in 1969 and in March 2010 Kraft Foods, with its own proud heritage, bought Cadbury’s. The brand now sits alongside global giants including Kraft itself and the likes of Maxwell House, Kenco, Suchard and Milka, Nabisco, Jacobs, Oreo, and others in the Kraft stable, all making up the world’s second largest food company.
Codemasters Codemasters, the UK’s largest independent games developer and publisher, enjoys a longstanding reputation for creating best-in-class racing games including the DiRT, GRID and FORMULA ONE series of games for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. GRID and F1 2010 are both winners of BAFTA awards for video games. Last year the company won acclaim and saw commercial success for both DiRT 3 and F1 2011. Established in 1986, Codemasters employs over 500 people in Warwickshire and over 100 in
Birmingham. This May, Codemasters will publish DiRT Showdown globally and launch its first free-to-play internet browser game F1 ONLINE, enabling players to become owner /managers of their own F1 team. Their Games Design and Development Studios have been recognised with the coveted Grand Prix Award from the Develop Industry Excellence Awards, an award bestowed on those judged to have contributed the most to the games medium in recent times.
Ikon Gallery Birmingham Founded by Angus Skene and four Birmingham School of Art artists – David Prentice, Sylvani Merilion, Jesse Bruton and Robert Groves, Ikon originated as an experimental “gallery without walls” with touring exhibitions planned for unlikely locations such as cinemas and post offices in a motorcycle sidecar... Established in 1965 in a small glass-walled kiosk in Birmingham’s Bull Ring its reputation for innovation, internationalism and excellence has developed over 40 years. Ikon Gallery features temporary exhibitions in a variety of media with a learning outreach programme aimed at promoting a greater understanding of contemporary visual art, recently announcing plans for Ikon 2, a new museum of contemporary art to be situated in the city’s Eastside district. Since 1999 Jonathan Watkin has led Ikon Gallery as its Director into its current successful incarnation having enjoyed an illustrious career at The Serpentine, Sydney Biennale, Tate and the Shanghai Biennale. Informed by his love of art history he has said, “We have to constantly remind ourselves that what we are looking at as historical was once contemporary. I want to convey that. Artists working today see themselves as working in traditions – both cultural and artistic. That is good to dwell on. There is an assumption that if you work in contemporary art you repudiate art history and I certainly don’t.”
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JCB
Jaguar Known for ‘Grace, Space, Pace’, the iconic Jaguar brand is part of the Jaguar Land Rover business and a subsidiary of the Indian company Tata Motors employing 19,000 employees. Jaguar’s sleek elegant designs and high performance luxury is enjoyed by many, including the British Prime Minister. Founded as the Swallow Sidecar Company by Sir William Lyons in 1922, Jaguar made its name by producing a series of eye-catching, high performance sports cars, including the E Type of 1961, displayed in New York’s MoMA. Ian Callum, RDI, Director of Design, has referenced Sir William Lyons vision of a ‘modern and technically sound car’, paving the way for the XK, XF and XJ models as well as the C-X75 groundbreaking supercar hybrid concept. These demonstrate the best in British creativity and industry-leading engineering, looking firmly to the future and have provoked such a strong reaction that the C-X75 is now intended to reach production. It promises to be the fastest, most innovative Jaguar ever created. The C-X75 will lead a range of contemporary production Jaguars designed, developed and manufactured in the Midlands. Ian Callum has stated, “Over the past four years the average age of a Jaguar owner has gone down by 10 years. As a designer I want to keep pushing as far as we can the boundaries of what we are capable of and what people will accept.”
The JCB mission is “to grow JCB by providing innovative, strong and high performance products and solutions to meet the company’s global customers’ needs.” JCB is one of the world’s top three manufacturers of construction equipment employing more than 10,000 people on four continents and selling their products in 150 countries through 2,000 dealer depots. Throughout their 66 year history, they have invested heavily in research and development, keeping JCB at the cutting edge of innovation. Today, JCB has some of the finest engineering facilities across the globe, producing a range of over 300 machines and maintaining a reputation for unrivalled customer service. JCB use their experience and understanding to develop more productive, more powerful and more profitable machines with the company now boasting one of the largest ranges of equipment in the world.
Marmite Marmite was established by the Gilmour family in Burton on Trent in 1902 following the discovery by German scientist, Liebig, that brewer’s yeast cells could be bottled and eaten, with the yeast for their venture being supplied by the Bass Brewery. The term, ‘marmite’, came from the French term for a large, covered earthenware cooking pot, and, since the 1920s, the product has been sold in glass jars resembling these pots with the labels carrying an image of a ‘marmite’. During World War I Marmite was issued to the troops due to its high vitamin B content and during World War II it became a supplement in prisoner-of-war camps. By the 1990s Marmite’s distinctive and powerful flavour had become notorious for producing a “love/hate” reaction. Today the Marmite brand, sitting within the Unilever portfolio, is represented by their website asking people to comment on why they either ‘Love it or Hate it’.
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Paul Smith Sir Paul Smith, CBE RDI, renowned as a fashion icon and dubbed ‘the indisputable don of British fashion’ was born in Nottinghamshire in 1946. His clothing, much loved throughout the world, inspires a feverish loyalty. Known as a ‘decent bloke’ he has an international reputation for his clothing collections and accessories, famously identified by his multi-stripe signature. Harbouring ambitions to become a racing cyclist, these were cruelly quashed when, on leaving school at 15 he was involved in an accident. Through a stint in hospital he met a new circle of art student friends, inspiring him to join their ‘colourful world of ideas and excitement’. Evening classes in tailoring followed and with the help of his girlfriend, Pauline Denyer, he was able to open his first shop in Nottingham in 1970. By 1976 he had shown in Paris, later becoming the first fashion brand to open in London’s Covent Garden with his flagship store opening in Notting Hill in 1998. That same year he showed his first women’s collection which escalated into an international phenomenon. With stores in Paris, Milan, New York and Tokyo, Dubai, Bangalore, Leeds, Antwerp and Los Angeles, he remains fully involved in the business, overseeing all developments in the company.
Poundland Poundland, established in 1990 by Dave Dodd and Stephen Smith with £50k capital in Willenhall, has since become Europe’s largest single price value retailer, following the opening of their first store in the Octagon Centre in Burtonupon-Trent. In 2003 turnover was £192.9m rising to £510m in 2010 delivering £19.8m in pre-tax profits. The business almost doubled their store portfolio over the 3 year period to 2006, from 80 to 150. From early 2008 they took advantage of the economic downturn to further expand their store portfolio at an average rate of 3.7 stores a month. Speaking in April 2005 Chairman Colin Smith revealed they had invested £20–25 million in building a 300,000 square feet distribution centre,
saying there was great scope for further growth. Poundland’s owners, Advent International sold to Warburg Pincus in May 2010. Results for the financial year ending 27 March 2011 demonstrated another year of strong growth with highlights including turnover of £642 million (net of VAT), up 25.8%; 64 new stores opened taking total store numbers to 327 (2009/10 263 stores); over 3.5 million customers served each week and with 2,000 new jobs created.
the Royal Shakespeare Company The RSC, admired internationally for performing Shakespeare’s works alongside other highly respected contemporary playwrights, has an annual income of around £30m. Generated through Box Office receipts and other related activity, grants from Arts Council England and with valued sponsorship and donations from individuals, trusts and companies, these revenues are enabling the Company to develop pieces of new work with over 30 writers under commission, to train artists and to introduce young people to the work of Shakespeare and live theatre. The RSC make all their own sets, costumes, props and armoury in their own workshops and their education work is central to their ethos as a Company. Each year they reach over 65,000 young people via the 300 schools in their Learning and Performance Network. Their ‘Stand up for Shakespeare’ campaign attracted 15,000 online signatures from people all over the world. They are producers of the World Shakespeare Festival, the biggest celebration of Shakespeare ever staged and one of the centrepieces of the London 2012 Festival. They attracted audiences from 70 different countries to Stratford upon Avon, continuing to draw 47% of their audience from the Midlands. The recently redeveloped building offers free exhibitions, family activity, theatre tours, an iconic viewing tower, restaurant, cafe, bars and shops attracting 500,000 day visitors each year.
84 the Royal Shakespeare Company Meera Syal in Much Ado About Nothing Director, Iqbal Khan with the RSC’s award-winning associate designer, Tom Piper
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Shortlist for Best Innovation / Radical Design 2012 Representing Birmingham the Original Design City Acme Whistles Acme Whistles are the world’s largest and most famous producer of whistles, with a string of firsts to their name and an assured heritage, having produced the first Police Whistle and the first whistle to be used by a football referee, The Acme Thunderer. Amongst many notable inventions are the “silent” Dog Whistle, The Lifejacket Whistle and the incredibly powerful Tornado Whistles which will be seen on duty at the Olympics this summer. The company is headquartered in Birmingham’s prestigious Jewellery Quarter, where it was founded in 1870 by Joseph Hudson. Not surprisingly, they also manufacture jewellery whistles in precious metal, including miniature reproductions of the whistles made for use on the Steamship Titanic in 1912.
AGA Total Control The launch of AGA Total Control has been the culmination of a seven-year development programme involving AGA reassessing the nature of its cooker, manufacturing processes and its sustained relevance in today’s economic and environmental climate. AGA Total Control – “On when you need it, off when you don’t” – has captured consumer imagination, driving sales internationally. It has led to the introduction of a range of new manufacturing processes, resulting in the AGA now largely being factory built rather than assembled in the home. To date the AGA has had a single heat source managing all the ovens; following the introduction of the AGA Total Control each individual oven and hotplate has its own heat source enabling them to be separately controlled with far shorter heat up time. With a touchscreen control panel, a remote controller from which the timings of the AGA can be managed over a weekly cooking cycle, as well as an AGA ‘App’ enabling AGA owners to use a mobile phone to turn their AGA on and off, the Total Control can operate using less than a fifth of the energy of the current electric equivalent. A Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Birmingham City University is examining ways to use the retention qualities of
the cast iron AGA to best effect by testing its ability to act as a battery, producing electricity economically and storing it at the domestic point of use. In addition, the first AGA Rayburn Energy Management Centre in Kidderminster is selling photovoltaic systems to consumers wishing to generate renewable energy and benefit from the ‘Feed In Tariff’.
Hozelock Autoreel Hozelock’s innovative new AutoReel is the ultimate easy to use hose reel which can be smoothly and easily rewound with no kinks, tangles or effort. With good design delivering export sales Hozelock products are sold in more than 60 countries, the company were the proud recipients of several awards for their export achievements during 2012. Hozelock is one of Britain’s favourite gardening suppliers. They continually invest in keeping their comprehensive range up to date with products covering garden watering, garden pressure sprayers, pond equipment and high pressure cleaners. Founded on an airfield in 1959 in the village of Haddenham, from their early days their drive has always been to develop technically perfect, visibly striking products that are part of a total system. Their first product was the world’s first plastic hose connector, the Hoze-Lock. Today, their head office is in Birmingham and although they are a global garden equipment manufacturer, over 75% of their products are made in Britain. With over half a century of horticultural expertise, Hozelock combines their knowledge and passion for gardening with pride in craftsmanship aimed at delivering solutions that help gardens flourish.
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Morgan Aero Coupe The Aero Coupe is an advanced supercar designed for practical long distance touring. This strong, rigid vehicle is inspired by the GT3 Aero which has enjoyed a number of racing victories. The enclosed cockpit of the Coupe body style takes the Aero experience onto the next level in terms of comfort and practicality with a large and secure boot in the rear for luggage. Constructed entirely from aluminium, one third the weight of steel, the Morgan Aero Coupe combines performance with environmental responsibility and a high level of safety. The fixed roof and enclosed cabin give a sense of security and silence. A stiff aluminium chassis cradles the 4.8 litre BMW V8 engine and the 6 speed manual or automatic transmission. The individual alloy parts are formed from tooling and are hand assembled by skilled craftsmen at the foot of the Malvern hills. The pioneering Aero platform continues to demonstrate British engineering at its very best and over 1000 examples of this technology are in regular use by drivers around the world. A Morgan Aero Coupe is a car that is designed to be durable with proven chemical coating and treatments of the rigid bonded chassis and body. Following research by the company on the road, the race track and in automotive laboratories the design of this versatile platform has been consistently improved and re-engineered. Now the Morgan Motor Company is a class leader in this chassis and car body technology.
Range Rover Evoque Jaguar Land Rover is the largest UK automotive investor in research & development and UK automotive employer with around 19,000 employees, indirectly supporting a further 140,000 jobs through its supply chain, dealer network and associated business operations. Around 4,700 people are employed at the Solihull Land Rover site with many more supporting the supply chain. Land Rover’s first major success of 2012 came when the Range Rover Evoque was named North American Truck of the Year. Reviewed by a judging
panel of 60 senior US automotive journalists the Evoque was chosen as the winner after being reviewed across six categories: value for money, innovation, handling, performance, safety and driver satisfaction. In the UK, the Range Rover Evoque has been named Car of the Year by several titles including Auto Express, Top Gear and The Sun. The Women’s World Car of the Year award, bringing together female journalists from 12 countries, also chose the Range Rover Evoque as their overall winner being the car with most points across four categories. Lorely Burt MP for Solihull said, “JLR is a world class global company manufacturing iconic products contributing to the UK’s balance of payments, with JLR exporting 75% of their products approaching £8bn export revenue last year.”
The Premier Group With a track record of success in turnkey engineering and associated services spanning 20 years, The Premier Group’s experience and commitment to innovation ensures customer satisfaction through effective project management, fair pricing, repeatable high quality and timely delivery. In June 2011 The Premier Group were delighted to be announced as manufacturer of the London 2012 Olympic Torch designed by London based design duo, Barber Osgerby, requiring the application of specialist innovative manufacturing techniques. The Premier Group of companies was established in 1992 with the founding of Premier Sheet Metal. Since then the company has grown from employing 12 staff working on a specialised ‘Body in White’ projects for Motor Panels to over 100 employees with a turnover in excess of £15m, developing a business that offers a full turnkey operation to the Automotive, Rail, Aerospace and Military sectors. The Premier Group’s mission is to be recognized as the first choice for the supply of high quality prototype and low volume products and associated services striving to produce components with their unmistakeable quality, packaged and delivered in a professional and timely manner.
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Vax Air lightweight vacuum cleaner The Air upright vacuum cleaner was created by Vax’s design team at their R&D labs in the West Midlands following research informing Vax that consumers wanted the power, performance and capacity of a full size upright vacuum cleaner, but in a more streamlined, lightweight package. Solving this problem beautifully, the Vax Air has full-size dust capacity combined with fullsize multi-cyclonic suction performance, while weighing a third less than conventional uprights. As the Air is so lightweight, it’s much easier to carry around the home, so it’s ideal for older people or for those with back problems. Other innovative design features include an eight position retractable telescopic handle that makes it easy to store and comfortable for everyone to use. An LED performance indicator alerts users to blockages, with a transparent, button-access brush bar cover providing easy maintenance. The Air was designed component by component to deliver the lightest weight possible and, three years after the first version launched, the Air is still officially the lightest full-size multi-cyclonic upright vacuum cleaner in the world. Following further consumer research, the range was extended to include the Air Pet, designed for people with pets, and the Air Reach, which has an extra-long hose and cord, giving it a 15-metre reach. Thanks to its unique design, the Air has been one of Vax’s most successful products. Within three months of launch, it was listed in more than 90% of potential retail outlets and it is consistently in GfK’s top ten best-selling vacuum cleaners list. It has also been awarded the Good Housekeeping Institute seal of approval for the past two years.
Worcester Bosch Since 1962, when Worcester pioneered domestic oil-fired boilers, the company’s commitment to innovation and excellence hasn’t changed. More recently as part of the Bosch Group - one of the world’s leading names in high-end technology - this commitment has continued to strengthen and thousands of boilers later, Worcester is the market leader in domestic heating and hot water systems standing for reliability, quality, efficiency and value for money. As a leading British company employing more than 2,000 people at their headquarters and manufacturing plants in Worcester and Clay Cross in Derbyshire with a network of over 300 service engineers and over 80 technically trained field sales managers they are a name to be trusted. Their home heating products include condensing boilers and renewable energy products - solar panels, ground source heat pumps and air source heat pumps. As part of the Bosch Group, a percentage of the profits made by Worcester is donated to charities and good causes by the Robert Bosch Foundation. This helps the organisation as a whole focus on long term activities rather than concentrating on share dividends. With a record of continuous innovation in its highly respected product range, Worcester’s solar water heating can provide up to 60% of householder’s annual hot water requirements, while Worcester’s heat pumps use sustainable energy sources to deliver low-cost heating and hot water and Greenfloor underfloor heating has been designed to deliver highly efficient heating as well as being an ideal partner to heat pumps and condensing boilers.
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Shortlist for Best Emerging Brand 2012 Representing Birmingham the Original Design City Cafe Blend
Chase Distillery
Café Blend is the creation of Sophie Highfield (27) who has 11 years’ experience in the hospitality business. Incorporated in February 2010 and opened in Birmingham in June 2010. Since then they have developed a strong brand image and opened a second store in Manchester (Dec 2011), been shortlisted in the Birmingham Retail Awards (Mar 2011) for the Best Café and have recently won Theo Paphitis #SBS award. They have featured in trade magazines for their innovation and are soon to run a coffee martini reception for the Caffe Culture Show in London in May 2012. They are also soon to be teaching barista courses at Bournville College in Birmingham as well as continuing to develop skills among their own team of baristas. Offering live music events, coffee cocktail classes and community fundraising; Café Blend is going strength to strength with a very ambitious future ahead; planning to open two stores in the next year; alongside an e-commerce website. Cafe Blend embodies a pure love for discovery, culture and nothing but romanticism for coffee. They are dedicated to providing their guests with new ways to enjoy quality coffee. They represent a blend of quality, authentic flavours inspired from around the world, a blend of coffee by day and liqueur concoction by night. The branding and design reflects their story, with serenity and relaxation being highlighted by the chosen colours of the logo; each store is an “oasis”. It is a place to be enjoyed.
William Chase, founder of Tyrrells has recently embarked on a new venture based out of his farm in Herefordshire, the Chase Distillery producing their first bottle of Chase Vodka in 2008 and voted the Best Vodka by San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2010. Telling his story William Chase says, “ I grew up here in Herefordshire and feel very lucky to have been brought up in this beautiful part of the world. I had been farming potatoes for 20 years, mostly supplying supermarkets as a commodity, which left me feeling detached - without any feedback from the end customer. I was hit one day with the ‘eureka’ moment by turning my potatoes into chips. I then spent 2002 travelling the world to source the equipment and recipe to make potato chips. By the summer, “Tyrrells” was born. As Tyrrells grew I was searching for the next step. In 2004 whilst travelling in the USA, looking for packaging equipment for the chips, I stumbled on a small distillery making potato vodka and thought this would be a great new chapter to life. So I returned home, thought about it and decided it would definitely be more fun making vodka. I researched the market and found it to be full of a lot of ‘twee’ marketing stories or large corporate companies. So I thought there would be a market if we could make a quality product and sell it with provenance and pedigree. From the idea in 2004, it took us until April fool’s day 2008 to make the first of our potatoes and then make the first batch of vodka in June 2008. Upon tasting the very first drop from the column before filtering I was so enamoured and proud of it I decided to call it Chase Vodka. So the William Chase distillery was born. The next shock was how little volume we produced: 16 tonnes of potatoes produced only 1000 litres of alcohol! Which after 40 hours was very disheartening but it is testament to the quality of our vodka. So with this supreme quality over all of the other mass produced vodka I was sure it would work.”
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Disorder Boutique
Fourseventy media
Disorder Ltd is Birmingham’s Award Winning Best Independent Retailer. Located on Needless Alley, just off New Street. Defined as, ‘super cool’ by Sixty Nine Magazine, recommended as one of 5 reasons to visit Birmingham by The Guardian, and endorsed as, ‘one of the cleverest retailers I have seen in the UK in years,’ by international Brand Consultant Mary Portas. Disorder has its own menswear label, specializing in truly ground breaking tailoring, made in the city itself and it combines art with graphics giving it an inconceivable edge. A beacon to those who love creatively made clothes with design integrity. ‘A very special shop even by world standards,’ Vogue Magazine. Refreshing and individual cutting edge clothing (particularly the menswear) in the heart of Birmingham, for those who want something different from the chain store, youth-market or bespoke classic tailor.
Founded in 2010 while studying at Birmingham City University, Steve Thornton and Chris Williams went on to become the first undergraduates to be nominated for a Sony Radio Award in 2011. It was for their feature length documentary UB40’s 30th Anniversary, which was nominated for ‘Best Music Special’. Since the incorporation of the company, Fourseventy Media are proud to have worked with the likes of Birmingham City Council, Birmingham City University, The NEC Group, Retail Birmingham, South Birmingham Police, Fused Magazine, Dyson Media and many more. Fourseventy Media endeavour to help charities and non-profit organisations within the Birmingham area free of charge; their nominated charity this year is Edward’s Trust, who offer bereavement counselling for children and parents in the West Midlands.
Fei Liu Listed as one of the Top 100 People in the Jewellery Industry by Professional Jeweller 2010, Fei Liu is growing in international acclaim. Originally from Chong Qin, China, Liu received his training from the School of Jewellery, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design and in 2006, launched his own company, Fei Liu Fine Jewellery. The essence of Fei Liu Fine Jewellery is that of great drama and elegance. For Liu, design is all about the intricate details. Pairing delicately sculpted settings with vivid and colourful stones, Fei Liu’s look is a refined mix of femininity and drama. Combining his Eastern heritage with Western design, each piece is uniquely inspired with a three dimensional edge. Creating pieces that redefine luxury, Fei Liu’s jewellery is lavishly delicate and elegantly bold.
Fei Liu Whispering Rose Quartz Earrings
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birmingham-made-me.com
Disorder Boutique
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Jack Row
Liam Treanor
One of the world’s most expensive pens worth £27,500 has been designed by an award winning graduate from Birmingham City University. 26 year-old Jack Row – originally from Nottingham, who now lives and works in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter has launched his début collection of luxurious precious metal fountain pens at Harrods, the world’s most prestigious department store. Amongst Jack’s designs is his exclusively hand crafted, white gold and diamond detailed fountain pen available at Harrods in London. His ‘Architect’ Collection of fountain pens and cufflinks are all individually hand-crafted in solid silver and gold and set with accents of precious sapphires and diamonds. His design inspiration is drawn from iconic British architecture, most notably one of London’s most famous landmarks, the ‘Gherkin’. The iconic profile and geometric spirals are reflected in the pens elaborate silver and gold filigree. Jack came up with the design prototypes whilst he was a student on the Jewellery and Silversmithing - Design for Industry course at the School of Jewellery, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design. His innovative designs also saw him winning a gold medal prize from the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths. He said: “I wanted to create a collection of functional items that could be valued as much as objects d’art as fine jewellery or writing instruments. I hope they will appeal to discerning, design conscious individuals and collectors who wish to invest in exclusive British design and craftsmanship.” Harrods interest in supporting the 26 year-old designer was initiated when he presented them with his initial prototype. “Jack’s fabulous collection is luxurious, eccentric and quintessentially British, aligning perfectly with the unforgettable Harrods experience.” commented Darren Walker, Gifts and Stationery Buyer at Harrods. See www. jackrow.com to find out more about the designer and Architect Collection.
In early 2011 Liam Treanor founded his self-titled designer furniture brand which has promptly established itself as one of the emerging brands to look out for. The studio, working alongside its series of carefully selected manufacturers, has produced a distinctly fresh and international range of timber based furniture and lighting for both domestic and cafe-contract use. The products adopt an elegant, minimal and seamlessly organic aesthetic pulled together by a selection of trend savvy colours. Stockists include renowned Hong Kong and Beijing designer retail store Lane Crawford.
Liam Treanor Homemaker Bookcase
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Urban Coffee Company The Urban Coffee Company is located in the business districts of major cities outside London and provides coffee via cafe emporiums and their online tasting club. Urban Coffee’s whole life revolves around creating a unique coffee experience for the customer. As they put it, “it goes without saying that our coffee is the best this side of the moon. We have created a “wine tasting for coffee” experience that’s not available anywhere else on the high street or online. But that’s not enough; we want the customer to be at the centre of everything we did so imagine this: In our cafe emporiums our Urbanistas (what we call our Baristas) are people who are naturally happy, friendly and smiley who enjoy their jobs (We hire them like that – they are harder to find than you think). Our Urbanistas remember our customers names and their usual drink order so the customer feels at home and loved and best of all they have the experience to make you a great coffee. So our customers can enjoy our coffee at home and work not just in cafe emporiums, we created the Coffee Connoisseurs Tasting Club. The club delivers single estate coffees to your door to experience on a monthly basis.” Amir & Simon had been in IT for over 10 years and until starting the Urban Coffee Company knew nothing about retailing coffee. Both of them had spent a lot of time in London and had enjoyed some great independent coffee shops, but they had always struggled to find a decent cup of coffee outside London. They feel that high street coffee chains have become the fast food equivalent of the coffee world and that customers deserve and want better.
“The UK has come a long way with coffee in the last 20 years, from polystyrene cups all the way to a fairly sophisticated understanding of coffee. However, we feel it can be taken up another notch and that’s our intent; think wine tasting meets coffee. So, unhappy with the quality of coffee on the average high street, we decided that the only way to get a decent cup was to start our own place. The Urban Coffee Company was born. We at Urban Coffee Company will have a positive impact on our community, which includes employees, suppliers, customers, the environment and the people of the cities in which we operate. We will make a difference and have fun doing it. Please visit the Coffee Kids website and think about making a donation – a little bit of investment can make a huge difference to the quality of these Latin American children’s lives.”
Jack Row Architect Cufflinks
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Shortlist for Best Design Collaboration 2012 between Education & Business Aston University Hydrogen City Concept Car 2012 The 2012 Aston University hydrogen city concept car is a collaborative team effort between engineering and design student to research, design and race a new hydrogen vehicle. This year the team from Aston University have worked together to developed a hydrogen car to race in the prestigious Shell European Eco Marathon challenge race to be held in Rotterdam. Aston students have taken a radical and innovative approach to the design and manufacture of the car, looking ahead to a future car for 2020. The Aston car produces zero emissions using a quiet and clean hydrogen powered fuel cell. The car itself is far from conventional, in fact it actually folds up when you want to fit into that small city parking space! The clever folding chassis is surprisingly light, being made entirely from a composite structure of plywood and cardboard panels. Automatically cut by machines the chassis is covered in fabric and bio-resin panels made from plant based materials. This innovative vehicle is a great showcase of technical innovation and great teamwork from the Birminghambased design and engineering students. The car challenges convention; hydrogen fuel, folding chassis, sustainable ply and cardboard composite constructions using scissor doors with an ecofabric body and bio-polymer panels. A great example of radical design thinking from the young design team at Aston University. See more on the team at astonshelleco.weebly.com
Aston University Shell Eco Marathon Car Winner 2012 Eco-Design Award Rotterdam, Europe
new technology institute, Birmingham city university, Gamer Camp Gamer Camp is a partnership between higher education and the games industry providing a route into employment for motivated, talented graduates by preparing them for either the games industry or starting up their own business. Following criticism from the games industry of undergraduate video games courses in the UK, Birmingham City University developed meaningful relationships with industry partners including Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), Codemasters, Freestyle Games, Blitz Games Studios and Rare. Gamer Camp pioneered a new approach to teaching artists and programmers how to be work-ready for the video games industry. This approach has been inspired and informed by Swedish approaches to learning and teaching, the practical and careerfocused approaches taken in other Birmingham City University courses and crucially input from industry partners. As a student attending Gamer Camp the whole course is a workplace simulation with students working in multidisciplinary teams to produce game product with support from experienced video games experts. One of the products the students develop is a game for SCEE, having to go through the internal Sony “green-light” process with SCEE setting the game brief and conducting regular milestone reviews with students to ensure their work is “green-light” ready. It was highlighted as a best practice example of work place simulation in the Livingstone – Hope Next Gen Report into skills for the video game and VFX industry, Feb 2011. SCEE have also provided 2 scholarships for the course and PlayStation 3 development kits. Gamer Camp represents an excellent collaboration between the game industry and education, made possible by the vision and hard work of Oliver Williams and Guy Wilday (Birmingham City University) and Maria Stukoff (SCEE).
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BIRMINGHAM CITY BUSINESS SCHOOL, Birmingham City University, collaboration in learning and teaching with Mitchells & Butlers plc
Faculty of technology, engineering and the environment, Birmingham City University, collaborative design with Morgan motor company
Birmingham-based Mitchells & Butlers is the UK’s leading restaurant and pub company, with 13 brands (i.e. All Bar One, Harvester, Browns, Toby Carvery, Miller and Carter, Crown etc.) encompassing 1,600 business units and 36,000 employees. M&B approached Birmingham City University’s Business School (BCBS) to design a bespoke programme aimed at providing its 120 Area Managers with ‘local leader’ skills required to drive performance across their portfolios. As Professor Chris Edger of BCBS put it: “At that time there had been no qualification for Area Managers operating in a multi-unit context within the retail service and hospitality sectors.” Birmingham City University developed a Postgraduate MultiUnit Leadership Diploma (leading to an MSc) specifically for M&B’s Area Managers with the aim of accelerating the development of their capabilities and performance. Launched in October 2009, the Post-Graduate Diploma had an initial cohort of 23 Area Managers. Since this time M&B has enrolled a further 31 middle managers and over 72 general managers on an entry-level Certificate qualification in Multi-Unit Leadership. Liz Phillips, M&B Retail HR Director commented, “All of our Retail Managers have seen a positive influence on overall business performance as a result of the increased confidence Area Managers have gained from the programme.” In recognition of its impact at M&B, this course was shortlisted in the Personnel Today’s ‘Best HRM Initiative’ award category in November 2010 and CIPD/ People Today ‘Best Learning and Development Initiative’ in November 2011. It was also cited in the CBI’s Skills Report in August 2011 as a best practice case-study. As a result the Academy of Multi-Unit Leadership has grown quickly at BCBS providing courses for 32 brands, 10 companies and 265 corporate students.
A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between Birmingham City University and Morgan Motor Company recruited Matthew Humphries, as their Associate, who had already worked at Morgan on a student placement, proving his credentials by designing a concept car, as an early version of what was to become the AeroMax (presented at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show). The Aeromax cost £2m in development and was built on an existing platform. This highly-effective KTP project provided Morgan with a proactive, controlled design process, facilitating the creation of innovative concept and production vehicles to stimulate the market attracting new customers to the brand. The new design process helped ensure a cost-effective and fully appropriate design for the Morgan production processes. Its efficacy was proven in taking the AeroMax from concept to low volume production, delivering a vehicle that offers a major leap forward for the company in terms of quality and design detail. All 100 cars were pre-sold, generating £9m revenues and £2million profit, representing a 24% return on investment, with over £4.2 million turnover attributed to KTP work. The Awards keep coming for this powerful collaboration the value of a decade of KTP programmes between Morgan and Birmingham City University being recognised as regional winner for ‘Best Partnership – North West’ in 2010 and prior to that Morgan had gained a Lord Stafford Award for Achievement in Innovation in 2007. The conclusion of the third KTP saw the national panel responsible for this government programme award this KTP its top ‘Outstanding’ grade’.
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Cattleya Community Interest Company, King Charles I Kidderminster Cattleya CIC, launched Thursday 28th April 2011, is the first student-run, fruit enterprise registered at Companies House. To their knowledge it was only the second student enterprise registered as a Community Interest Company in the UK. It is run from King Charles I School in Kidderminster. Cattleya is named after Colombia’s national flower (an orchid) and offers alcohol-free cocktails and smoothies based on exotic fruits sourced from Colombia by importer Fruto del Espíritu (UK) Ltd. The students were first inspired by a Cocktail Challenge for which they had to design and name a cocktail to help raise the profile of Andean fruits, and develop a corporate identity to inspire young people to get involved in a recreational culture based on fruits, not drugs. Their signature drinks are Columbian Crush, a bold, lively, fruity cocktail inspired by a sensational Colombian singer; Mora or Andean Blackberry, Pomegranate Juice, lime, strawberries and Andaluz, inspired by the bright colours of a Colombian carnation; Mango locally produced Worcestershire apple juice, pomegranate juice, hint of cinnamon. The Cattleya enterprise allows students to make tangible benefits to the next generation in Colombia by a) An ethical premium of 5% of Cattleya’s fruit purchases financing education for teenagers whose parents work in the fruit factory; b) profits donated paying five months of nutritious lunches for a child at high risk at El Comedor; c) Cattleya are developing a connection with Lidera, an enterprise of 19 young people from Andean Blackberry growing families, who have graduated in Agricultural Business Administration from Fruqueña Horticultural School.
Fruqueña has been financed by institutions and citizens in Colombia through El Cinco Foundation. The greatest satisfaction for all stakeholders is that Cattleya demonstrates how the next generation can participate in and develop solutions to global problems and make a difference at grassroots through sustainable social enterprise, at the same time they are promoting a healthy alternative to drugs and alcohol.
Small Heath Project for Utensa & TKMaxx Utensa needed a solution to a design issue regarding a new product launch. 6th Form Media Studies students provided a solution within 48 hours! The school was approached by Utensa, who needed a solution to a design issue. The Tyseley based company, which manufactures bakeware, has been producing a new product range for TKMaxx and asked the 6th Form Media Studies group if they could provide artwork for the product. Within 48 hours initially, which included weekend work, the students and Teacher, Olly Macnamee, offered a series of designs, one of which the company selected for development. This design has been accepted by the client and is now going into production. TKMaxx has also agreed that the school’s logo can be on the label.
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Stan’s Cafe Stan’s Cafe is one of the UK’s most innovative theatre companies, it brings together a group of artists from a variety of disciplines working under the artistic direction of James Yarker. The company has been based in Birmingham since 1991 and principally devises its own original theatre productions which have toured extensively to over 130 cities, nationally and internationally, as well as running a performance space in the Jewellery Quarter called @ A E Harris. The company also devises unique and groundbreaking education projects with schools and universities, from running short film making courses to making large scale theatre productions with university students, in addition to creating bespoke training days and workshops for students, teachers and other professionals. Recent collaborations have included: Space Steps - an interactive trail designed with the students of Beaumont Leys school to turn their school into a space ship. Smartie Mission - enabling children from Christ the King school to understand statistics by turning them into a banquet. Suzie Small Lifts a Car - students from Castle Vale School used their knowledge of physics, mechanical advantage, levers and pulleys, to enable a small girl to lift a car on the stage of Birmingham REP. Scalextric Grand-Prix - This is the project Stan’s Cafe have been nominated for. It involved working with students at Robin Hood Primary School who were looking for fun ways to learn more maths. For this collaboration the students were in charge of organising everything that needed to go into staging the race and organising the race day and Stan’s Cafe worked with them to bring mathematical skills into planning and delivering this exciting day.
Vax ev cardboard Vacuum Cleaner with Loughborough University Vax is championing young British design talent by producing the world’s first cardboard vacuum cleaner, designed by Loughborough University student Jake Tyler. The Vax ev vacuum cleaner has been built for optimum sustainability, using recycled and recyclable materials that reduce the burden on landfill. The corrugated cardboard panels that form the body of the Vax ev are easily replaced if damaged and cost just a tenth of the price of an equivalent plastic panel. They are multi-purpose too, beginning their life as part of the retail box the vacuum cleaner would be sold in. Components that cannot practically be made of cardboard have been produced from recyclable pure nylon plastic using RP (rapid process) manufacturing rather than injection moulding. This means the Vax ev could be manufactured locally to order, without the need for costly tooling moulds and assembly lines, while avoiding long distance distribution. Jake, an Industrial Design student, developed the Vax ev for his final year degree project at Loughborough University. He was supported by the New Product Design team at Vax’s R&D labs in the Midlands where he worked for a year under the company’s student placement scheme. Since graduating with a first class honours degree, Jake has taken a full-time position with Vax. The Vax ev has gained national and global news coverage, including pieces in The Daily Mail, The Sun and The Star newspapers, and generated hundreds of enquiries via the website at www.cardboardvax.com. Since exhibiting at the IFA international trade show in Berlin last September, Vax is exploring a limited production run of the vacuum cleaner in Europe and is investing further R&D in sustainable product technologies.
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Our Thanks We would like to thank the following friends & partners for all their assistance, support & guidance as we have grappled with this project & sought to move it forward. Without many hours of help, support in-kind & of course more obvious cash contributions, combined with some tolerance & much active input, nothing much would have been possible. AGA Rangemaster, William McGrath, Julie Erfan, Bradley Richmond, Richard Fozard, Nigel Morrison, Dawn Roads, Joseph Stanford-Turner and Charlie Whitehead & colleagues – it couldn’t have happened without your support & tireless activity. Alasdhair Willis & his team at Announcement Creative for fantastic work on the Birmingham Made Me the Original Design City creative with special thanks too to Ben Parker of Made Thought. Aspire4U and Rich from 2g Audio Visual – Daniella you’ve inspired me - what a credit to Birmingham City University! Dr Christian Mclening & Dr Gareth Thomson, Mechanical Engineering & Design, Aston University thanks so much guys for sticking with us; Prof Alison Halstead & Dr Phil Extance, Aston University for hosting the Preview Dinner. Birmingham Chamber of Commerce – Jerry Blackett, Katie Teasdale & team – thanks so much for all your support. Birmingham City Council including Brian Gambles, Nigel Edmondson, David Andrews & teams. Birmingham iApp, Kerry-Ann O’Neill, David Tittle & all working on the Birmingham Architecture App – Walking Architecture – at MADE. Birmingham Made Me curators – fantastic job one & all, sincere and overwhelmed thanks. Birmingham Made Me Design Award participants & finalists for celebrating design exellence in the Midlands.
Birmingham City University & Prof Mary Carswell, Prof Chris O’Neil & Graham Powell for believing in the vision. Deborah Johnston, Karen Adams, Anna Wiggins, Yvette Burns, Julia Burdett for unflinching support & encouragement. Research, Innovation & Enterprise’s Jo Birch, Charmaine Stint for all of your amazing contribution & hard work, with thanks also to Michele Mooney & team. Marketing support through Kathryn Jones, James Tallentire, Michael Ellender, Sarah Archer & Julian Moore as well as the wider team. Prof Mike Brown, Profs Chris Edger & Martin Reynolds at Birmingham City Business School. Caroline Norman & MA Design Management, especially 2012 students with special thanks to Rupinder Dosanjh, Laura Pollard & Jyothsna Vijaya. Thanks also to Jackie Norton, Delia Skinner, Jane Grice, Marlene Little, Jean Ensell, John Hall, Tom Tebby (star!), Spurgeon Smith (phew!), Kevin Singh, Mona Casey & Prof John Butler, Prof Jack Cunningham, Hannah Fewtrell-Bolton & all at the School of Jewellery, Mike Stevenson, Prof Richard Snell for inspiration & insights & the entire BIAD team. Sara Middleton, Alexa Torlo, Jamie Frazer & Oliver Williams at NTI. Profs Adrian Cole & Parmjit Chima in TEE. Prof Phil Thickett, Annette Naudin, Prof Tim Wall in PME. David Wright, Scott Trim, Chris Hall, Aldeen Mead, Anil Kumar, Gabrielle Hunt, Sonia Hendy-Isaac & the CELT team, Claire Dobson of Sodexo. Dr Steve Harding & the lovely Tom Cahill-Jones who have been so wonderful in sharing their office with us for over a year! Warren Chughtai & Caroline Thorley, Student Services (& the Students Union) for your commitment & enthusiasm. Finally to Cindie Johnstone in my office and her baptism of fire & all colleagues who helped in any way to create this event for our City, what a great team we have... Birmingham Made Me entrepreneurs who all mucked in with enthusiasm and a can do attitude to deliver as promised – well done guys... keep trading! Birmingham Made Me exhibitors for all your support. Thank you to all the suppliers connected with Birmingham Made Me Expo.
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Birmingham Tours & Sue Behan, thanks for your thoughts…& actions.
Laney Amplification & Lincoln Fan, another inspiring alumnus full of get up & go!
Craftspace Collective, Joey Reiner, Deirdre Buckley, Stuart Shotton & Deidre Figuerido (like old times!).
Marketing Birmingham – to Neil Rami, Wouter Schuitemaker & team, thanks guys.
Councillor Sir Albert Bore, Leader, Birmingham City Council & your office – a most sincere thank you.
Morgan Motor Company for unstinting support & help from Beverley Moore (xx), Charles Morgan, Matt Humphries, Jon Wells & colleagues – too many stars to mention.
Cogent Elliott in particular Tim Pile, Stuart Kendall & all the team (sorry Tim!!) Eddy Geerdink & colleagues at Dunlop – huge thanks! Dorota Grabkowska & the inspiring ‘What Made Me?’ art installation. EC Arts for wonderful support from Claire Farrell, Sarah Nokes & Natalie Slayman-Broom. Emma Bridgewater – always a star! Free Radio, Phil Riley, Kirsty Whitaker & team – sincere thanks.
Pashley Cycles Adrian & Chloe Williams, we love your bikes & thanks for everything! Royal Society of Arts and Keith Horsfall…most grateful for support…& much advice. Sheila Arthurs for extravagant knitting & crochet. Simon Andrews – well done, all the sweat, blood & tears (not too many I hope!) much appreciated!! Simon Topman, Acme Whistles – for all those ideas, that enthusiasm & so much support.
Glenn Howells, Davinder Bansal, Clare Swinford for unswerving support.
Solutions2 – thanks to Trevor Nock and Marija Erzen
Heavy Object & Ian Richards – couldn’t ask for more, but rearrange the hols next time please!
Squire Sanders –Andrew Clay, Nick Green & Ian Forrest – thanks for everything!
Institute of Directors West Midlands – John Rider thank you so much.
Sophia Tarr’s unstinting time, energy & drive on business & partner exhibitor coordination & management.
Interiors and Lifestyle Futures – especially Kathryn Burns & Gay Penfold, Frank Cooper, Adrian Burns, Iain Acton, Navin Sood & Christine Foss. Jaguar Cars with special thanks to Founder Chairman, Ian Callum & Anne-Marie Casey Poole – your dedication has been marvellous & we could not have managed without it. JCDecaux – sincere thanks to former MD, Pierre Jeanjean & colleagues Karen Rankin, Lee Humphreys, Stuart Ballinger & Roshanak Rafati.
The Birmingham Post, Alun Thorne & colleagues – thanks for being such great supporters from the start. The Mailbox Birmingham in particular Mel Evans, David Pardoe & all the team – a huge thank you and … Many thanks too to Brockton Capital. Triumph Motorcycles thank you to Stuart Wood for all your support.
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Our Thanks Video support from: Ronald Gunawan ronz_rgx@yahoo.com Steve Thachet steve.thachet@hotmail.com Westwood Media – Hazel thanks for the whirlwind of support you have provided Along with a cast of thousands the Design Expo has been brought together through the coordination of Simon Andrews based at the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD). Simon is a senior lecturer on the Design Studies Programme at Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, Birmingham City University and a well established design educator specialising in Product and Interior Products design. Through Simon’s freelance practice, two.three.four, he has worked on numerous projects relating to product, furniture and exhibition design. Recently he has designed for eco-furniture company, Pli ltd, and developed the exhibition space for the annual Global Color / Birmingham City University collaboration, at the Interiors Show, NEC. Simon is also the founder of blog site, designcherry.co.uk, a resource for student, graduate and freelance product designers. … And to all those who got away, we’ll be back next year!
Design: Heavy Object Please note: This guide was accurate at the time of print, but due to the nature of the Design EXPO and event listings there may have been changes subsequent to print.