Design Trust - Getting Started: The Design Trust has got a full & varied business development day planned for you!

11am – 12noon - The Power of Design with former Dragon’s Den Doug Richard of the School for Creative Startups

12noon – 1pm - Panel intro and Q&A session for business support & funding across the UK:

• Sebastian Redford, Marketing Manager of Ideas Tap, the creative network for young creatives 
• Bishopsland Educational Trust, a post-graduate studio and development programme for silversmiths and jewellers
• Mir Jansen, Programme Professional Development Manager of Yorkshire Art Space, who run a starter studio programme in Leeds for silversmiths/jewellers and ceramicists
• Capital Enterprise who run various enterprise programmes in London for fashion, designers and freelancers
• Fiona Chautard, Specialist adviser for fashion, textiles and retail, of Cultural Enterprise Office in Scotland who provide specialist business support

1pm – 1.20pm - 7 Steps to Self-Employment

Talk by author & business adviser Alison Branagan

1.20pm – 1.40pm - Setting Up A Successful Jewellery Business

Talk by author & jeweller Angie Boothroyd

1.40pm – 2pm - Getting started with money and finance

Talk by Sarah Thelwall of My Cake, the creative online accounting system

2 pm – 2.45pm - 3 short talks about intellectual property:

• Be IP Savvy – Monetise your creative ideas and designs, safely! – Talk by Jennifer Castoldi, Development Director of ACID (Anti Copying in Design)
• Protecting and safely disclosing design and innovation concepts without the legal fees – Talk by Maxine Horn, CEO of Creative Barcode
• Creative Collaborations: who owns the copyright? - Talk by Silvia Baumgart, Programme Coordinator of Own-It

2.45pm – 3.45pm - Panel intro and Q&A session for support & marketing opportunities:

• Sophie Rees, Director of Designers Makers, and Sarah Tridgell Membership Manager, an online shop & pop up show membership organisation
• Hayley Banks, Membership Manager of Design Factory and Laura Mabbutt, Exhibition Officer at The National Centre for Craft & Design, who offer a wide range of exhibition opportunities at shows and National Centre of Craft & Design
• Karen Nairstone, Director of Design Event who offer marketing opportunities at shows, Design Event Mart and their online shop ‘British by Design’ alongside mentoring and support for designers
• Emma Walker, Director of Craft Scotland who support Scottish crafts people

3.45pm – 5pm - One Year On: What is that first year really like?

– 3 exhibitors of One Year On will share their real life stories of the ups and downs of their first year trading.They will get business advice from a panel of experienced business consultants, incl. Paul Sturrock of Slingshot Venture Development and Patricia van den Akker of The Design Trust

18:30 - 19:30

18:00-20:00

Fine Cell Work - The Role of Professional Design in Social Enterprises.

Panel discussion with Katy Emck, CEO of prison needlework enterprise Fine Cell Work, Jacqui Wood, volunteer at HMP Wandsworth and Michelle Dowdle, freelance textile designer specialising in embroidery, who has worked with Karen Nicol, Clements Ribeiro, Anthropologie and has recently designed a collection of cushions for Fine Cell Work.

The discussion will look at emerging opportunities for collaboration between social enterprises and designers and consider what this relationship can bring to both parties
 

Interactive Stitching Evening & Fine Cell Work Sale of Work in the Atrium

Craft Central - A Career in making, from New Graduate to Solo Exhibition, what Craft Central can do for you.

Over the last 18 years Emily Jo Gibbs has established an international reputation for her exquisite work. Hear about her journey from building a luxury handbag business selling to department stores, galleries and museums including the V&A, to launching a new body of work at Craft Central.

Cockpit Arts - Ethical Approaches to Running a Designer-Maker Business

Get top tips and advice on ethical approaches to setting up and running a business from Cockpit Arts designer-makers Ute Decker and Alice Holloway Smith.

Ute Decker is renowned for her jewellery in recycled silver. In 2011, she was one of the pioneering jewellers to create a collection in the world's first Fairtrade and Fairmined gold. She is regularly invited to write and speak about ethical jewellery www.utedecker.com

Alice Holloway-Smith has developed and produced an ethical materials database for Central St Martin’s and incorporates ethical sourcing into her own work, using upcycling in the production of accessories www.hollowaysmithnoir.com
 

Facing the challenges ahead with New Designers

We are aware of the many challenges and changes universities are now being faced with following government cuts. Therefore, it is even more important for universities to use New Designers to showcase the excellent standard of teaching, celebrate and support its graduates, communicate changes and ensure future growth through recruitment. 

For many universities the shift in funding New Designers may rest more on the graduates so this is an opportunity for them to learn why exhibiting at New Designers is so valuable, ask questions, share ideas, meet fellow student reps, share experiences and if applicable, ideas for how to fundraise to enable them to achieve these opportunities. 

Selvedge - Selvedge in conversation 

Selvedge founder Polly Leonard and Editor Beth Smith recall the highs and lows of launching an independent magazine. Eight years on they offer an insight into their mission to educate the world about the importance and beauty of textiles. They also point out the pitfalls for the unwary when entering the world of publishing and offer advice on how to present yourself well in press releases and in photography.

Fashion and Textile Museum

The Fashion and Textile Museum is the only museum in the UK solely dedicated to showcasing developments in contemporary fashion, as well as providing inspiration, support and training for those working in the industry. Founded by iconic British designer Zandra Rhodes, the museum is owned by Newham College London – one of Europe’s largest further education colleges – and offers a programme of changing exhibitions, courses and events.

Celia Joicey, Head of Fashion and Textile Museum, and Jenni Howard, Front of House Manager, outline how the Museum can help new designers to promote their work and expand their professional skills. 

Arts Thread - MARKETING YOURSELF ONLINE

Want to know more about how you can market your work? Katie Dominy, co-founder of ARTS THREAD, explains the best approach to online portfolios and CVS, how to write a press release to get the attention of editors, plus the best use of promotional images to get you noticed. The best approach to social media  - what's right for you? How much time should you devote to it and what platform is right for you?

12:00  - 13:00

Hothouse provides emerging makers with a programme of focussed business skills and creative development, complimented with 1:1 support. It supports committed, talented individuals who demonstrate the most potential to succeed in their practice.

It’s also a great chance to develop a peer group and professional network. We’re looking for driven makers who’ll share their experiences and be proactive in tapping expertise and additional opportunities offered by our excellent range of partner organisations - all leaders in the contemporary craft sector.

Hear more from the Maker Development Team on what you can expect from the scheme and how to apply.

Student Designers - Why designers make kick ass entrepreneurs and how to start kicking.

We spend every day helping and supporting new designers make ideas happen. In our experience, designers are the best natural entrepreneurs and yet they, and the education industry, often don’t realise it.

This talk focuses on why designers make great entrepreneurs, how design skills fit in a business environment and how to start on the path as a designer founder.

The content of this talk is based on our own experience and on the questions we are asked daily by design students and graduates.

Our mission is to help design students build their experience, exposure and entrepreneurial skills. This talk will help.

14:00 - 15:00

Arts Thread - THE IMPORTANCE OF ONLINE PORTFOLIOS & CAREERS ADVICE 

Employers in the creative industry now expect to see your portfolio online. Learn how to make your online portfolio promote and market you to the industry. What images & text  should I include? What are employers looking for? Alex Brownless, co-founder of ARTS THREAD, with 20 years experience within the creative industry, answers these questions.

15:00 - 16:00

Bishopsland - Thriving and Surviving As A Self-Employed Silversmith

How to make a go of it. Talk with slides by Pope and Oliver Makower on the Bishopsland Course and how to kick start your career. How to learn the key skills you need both at the bench and in the commercial world. Grants and how to apply. How to get into Exhibitions and Galleries. The Bishopsland Standard and what it means in reality.