June 2011

Pupils awarded Design Museum prize
Friday, 17th June 2011

Year 10 pupils from Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College in London have won the Design Museum's Design Ventura initiative - and will see the bunting they designed sold in the Design Museum shop.

Design Ventura is a three-year education initiative run by the Design Museum for 14-to 16-year-olds. It allows pupils to fulfil a brief, problem-solve and pitch ideas professionally, and supports qualifications including GCSE design and technology, business studies and enterprise education.

The pupils won the competition with their Dove Bunting project, which uses recycled materials to create flags.

They have been awarded a £1000 bursary and a five-day programme of workshops and guidance from professional designers to develop the bunting, which will go on sale in the Design Museum shop this summer. All proceeds will go to Greenpeace, the charity chosen by the students.

More than 800 students from 32 London schools participated in Design Ventura in 2010 and registration for the 2011/12 programme will open in May.

Sebastian Conran, who awarded the pupils their prize, says, 'This "design thinking" approach starts in the classroom and equips students to understand and contribute to the world around them. It also allows them to think and work as a team to prepare them for their careers and adult life.'

Source: Design Week

Hidden Art survives funding crisis
Wednesday, 15th June 2011

Hidden Art, which promotes the work of designers and designer-makers, has developed a plan that will allow it to stay in business as it seeks a new source of long-term funding.

Hidden Art chief executive Dieneke Ferguson said last year that the organisation would have to close in January following the withdrawal of London Development Agency funding.

The group is now being supported by a temporary loan from its private arm Mazorca, and is seeking to generate more income through its membership scheme, which is being restructured, and collaborations. Over the long-term it is still seeking an alternative source of funding.

Ferguson, says, 'Overall, we are optimistic about the survival of Hidden Art. Although our long-term future is still in doubt, we will be working hard in 2011 to support ourselves and to carry on providing vital help, support and advice to designers and designer-makers throughout the UK.'

Source: Design Week