Alongside mentoring with the wonderful people I introduced you to last week, 2015 confessions of a design geek bursary winner, Alicja Patanowska, has also won a stand at Home London within the bursary area of the New Talent Zone, her products stocked at the Southbank Centre Shop for three months and included in the window display, the chance to participate in a one week pop-up shop at West Elm, a one-day photography shoot with Yeshen Venema, a film shoot with R&A Collaborations, a year’s free membership of The Design Trust Business Club, six months’ free membership of Press Loft, business cards and postcards from Goodprint and last year’s winner, Fanny Shorter, as a “buddy” throughout the whole process.
Shortlisted designers, Mind the Cork, Above and Beyond and Jacqueline Seifert, have won a stand at Home London, the chance to participate in a one week pop-up shop at West Elm, a group photography shoot with Yeshen Venema, a 20{ff546b69e23b1524d799f96c6ba7a638e1f677053b0a2a1568b05315fd5f8fc7} discount off a film shoot with R&A Collaborations, three months’ free membership of Press Loft, business cards and postcards from Goodprint and the confessions of a design geek alumni as “buddies.”
So, I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce some of the fabulous people making all of that happen.
Home London is a retail and trade event showcasing design-led homewares and interior accessories at London’s Olympia. It’s a well-edited show with a relaxed atmosphere and well worth an afternoon’s exploring. A huge thank you to Ian and Julia at Home London who work incredibly hard every year to make the bursary happen. Make sure you come and see the New Talent Zone and the confessions of a design geek shortlisted designers 11 – 13 January 2015. Register here >>>
The Southbank Centre Shop is a design-led gift and homeware store on Festival Terrace on the Southbank. 6.25 million people will pass the window where the Alicja’s products will be displayed every year. Another big thank you to Head Buyer Adam Thow, who has been involved in the bursary since the beginning.
West Elm are taking part for the first time this year, and will be hosting a one-week pop up shop in the New Year, showcasing work from all four shortlisted designers. Associate Marketing, Social and Community Manager Jessica Simms said, “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 Road and launched our West Elm Local initiative – a curation of British designed and made products – in June. We are dedicated to helping small businesses from the ground up, which creates a great synergy with the confessions of a design geek bursary.
Yeshen Venema has been a supporter of the bursary since day one, and will be working with all the designers to ensure they have the professional photography of their products they’ll need to make the most of exhibiting at Home. “Being involved with the confessions of a design geek bursary is a uniquely rewarding way to support new designers,” he said. “It creates a wonderful buzz in the lead up to the show and it’s always clear to see what a huge boost it gives the winner during the following year. I’m especially aware of the difference good photography can make – it’s a massive confidence booster.”
R&A Collaborations will be working with Alicja to make a short film about her work. You can see the film they made for 2014 winner Fanny Shorter here. “Having worked with Katie several times, we see that we are both similar in that we want to support and share the stories of designers and makers to a wider audience. She’s doing good things so why wouldn’t we get involved?!” said Richard and Aaron. “We are all about supporting makers and designers. We find their stories fascinating and those stories really help to sell their work. Individual makers need to have their voices heard above the bigger companies, so we try to help spread the word about these talented people.”
The Design Trust Business Club was founded to give new designers the skills, knowledge, inspiration and community they need to create a business they are proud of. Director Patricia van den Akker is another long time supporter of the bursary.
Press Loft is a press image library “connecting interiors and gifts brands with journalists and bloggers worldwide.” They are supporting the bursary for the second year in a row.
Goodprint is involved for the first time this year, providing all the designers with crucial business cards and postcards. “We’re passionate about helping businesses get the word out about what they do. It’s at the heart of our business to help other businesses. Often when people are just starting out, they have a difficult time getting the resources they need, and we’re excited at the opportunity to be a the start of the bursary winner’s journey,” said Ferren Gipson from Goodprint. “Designers have the amazing role of making the world a more beautiful, functional space. Design is such a central part of what we do, so it only makes sense for us to get involved with supporting designers as they make a start.”
And finally Alicja will have 2013 winner Fanny Shorter as a “buddy” and shortlisted designers Mind the Cork, Above and Beyond and Jacqueline Seifert, have been paired up with 2012 winner Jessica Hogarth and 2013 shortlisted designers Nancy Straughan and Taz Pollard. “I think it is hugely beneficial to be able to speak to other designers and bounce ideas off other creatives,” said Jessica “It’s not always easy to approach other exhibitors at shows or online before, and I wanted to make sure this years candidates know that I am fully prepared to talk through any thoughts and feelings they may be having in the run up to the show.”
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
