The 2015 confessions of a design geek bursary winner, Alicja Patanowska has won mentoring sessions with October Communications’ Daniel Nelson, Decorum’s Justyna Sowa, Mini Moderns’ Keith Stephenson and Mark Hampshire, The Design Trust’s Patricia van den Akker, Seen PR’s David Gorrod, The Southbank Centre’s Adam Thow, and West Elm creative director Vanessa Holden, and will have Jo Ham as a mentor for the whole year.
Shortlisted designers, Mind the Cork, Above and Beyond and Jacqueline Seifert, will also be taking part in a group mentoring workshop in order to glean some pearls of wisdom from our mentors.
So I thought it was a bit time I introduced this bunch of wonderful people to you…
Jo Robinson is founder of design brand Ham and if offering Alicja monthly mentoring sessions for a year
“The confessions of a design geek bursary is an incredible platform to kick start a career. All of us
involved are passionate about giving talented new designers a bigger voice having ourselves witnessed and experienced the many challenges that start-ups face. It’s really important to support new designers, because ‘new’ brings energy and innovation. It keeps pushing the boundaries of product and surface pattern design – something we have to nurture to enable our industry to grow,” says Jo.
With the strap-line “Made in the UK by nice people, Mini Moderns was launched in 2006 by London based designers, Keith Stephenson and Mark Hampshire. Keith and Mark have supported the bursary since it was established in 2012.
Daniel Nelson runs October Communications a digital communications agency for the design industry. “I was really keen to be part of the bursary again this year, as I firmly believe in supporting upcoming designers to maximise their potential. We mainly work with smaller companies and designers because we love being so close to the companies and watching them grow, so helping young designers is exactly what we like to do,” said Daniel. “99.9{ff546b69e23b1524d799f96c6ba7a638e1f677053b0a2a1568b05315fd5f8fc7} of private sector businesses are small businesses. Small businesses play an important role in boosting growth and creating jobs – so from a simple, financial point of view, it is these businesses that we need to support as best as we can. From a personal point of view, I believe that we need to support designers so that the UK continues to retain a creative core which we were once so proud of.”
Decorum are a digital PR agency specialising in design and interiors founded by Justyna Sowa and Charlotte Duckworth. Justyna will be offering the designers advice on how to maximise their brand presence online.
The Design Trust helps people to start, run and grow design and craft businesses. Director Patricia van den Akker has been involved since the first confessions of a design geek bursary. “It was great to be able to offer the 2013 bursary winner Jessica Hogarth some extra advice and coaching to make the most of her bursary,” she said. “I also loved talking to the other shortlisted designers on the confessions of a design geek stand at Home London. I love supporting new designers – with a bit of extra advice and support they can get so much further. And Katie selects some really exciting new talent, so they are great to work with.”
Seen PR are a public relations agency specialising in design run by David and Louise Gorrod. “Having seen how far the 2013 and 2014 bursary winners have come since winning their awards, we’d be crazy not to want to be involved again. The prize offers everything a new business needs, with priceless personal advice from those in the know. It is a truly unique prize and one that could give a young designer their big-break,” said Louise. “Being a talented designer is one thing, but to be a successful designer you need to be an all round business person too. That is where this bursary prize comes into its own as it covers all those important supporting roles that those starting out in the industry need to be savvy to. Supporting new designers is essential for keeping the industry fresh and exciting. Nurture is a brilliant thing.”
West Elm are involved this year for the first time, with creative director Vanessa Holden offering mentoring to the winner and the Tottenham Court Road store playing host to the mentoring workshop for the shortlisted designers. “At West Elm we believe feeling truly at home means connecting with your community. We opened our first European store at the end of 2013 on London’s Tottenham Court Rd and launched our West Elm Local initiative in store in June, a curation products designed and made in Britain,” said Associate Marketing, Social and Community Manager Jessica Simms. “We are dedicated to helping small businesses from the ground up and it’s that that creates such great synergy between the bursary and our mission to offer this support.”
Head buyer for the Southbank Centre Shop will be offering mentoring on how to approach buyers, and Alicja’s products will also be stocked in the Southbank Centre Shop and displayed in the window in full view of the 6.25 million people who pass by every year.
With all that good advice, they’re sure to succeed. Make sure you come and see their work at Home London 11 – 13 January 2015. Register here >>>
A huge thank you to the confessions of a design geek judging panel, mentors and partners who make this incredible project possible every year: Ian and Julia at Home London, Adam at the Southbank Centre Shop, Jess at West Elm, Yeshen Venema, R&A Collaborations, Blair at Press Loft, David at Seen PR, Keith and Mark at Mini Moderns, Jo at HAM, Justyna at Decorum, Daniel at October Communications, Patricia at The Design Trust, Ferren at Good Print, Fanny Shorter, Jessica Hogarth, Nancy Straughan, Annabel Perrin and Taz Pollard.
Further reading for the especially geeky:
- coadgbursary :: open for applications
- coadgbursary :: deadline today
- coadgbursary :: the 2015 shortlist
