tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31527965633775075282024-02-24T12:46:38.051-08:00design and innovation west midlandsA blog to uncover the wealth of design excellence and innovation in products and services produced across the West Midlands and Heart of England referencing the inspirational from around the world.
For most popular posts - either over the past month, or over the past week, scroll down to end of front page.Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-37527350858766633262011-06-26T09:28:00.000-07:002011-06-27T15:08:25.157-07:00Design Council Summit – 10 Design Lessons for Attaining Business Success<div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWk7InBHDzPElJblbQkcq0I1ajiKsEuHqjo2cnwShCT9kGOUe7NY4qNf15trMCWyQMmDHQcygNQdECpKrSyfe6xSN9nWNdWaUU0izSlBOOX7KoMbHlhKKWNqdqNYUx1sRC0Z96sXAs596-/s1600/Be+creative+or+die+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWk7InBHDzPElJblbQkcq0I1ajiKsEuHqjo2cnwShCT9kGOUe7NY4qNf15trMCWyQMmDHQcygNQdECpKrSyfe6xSN9nWNdWaUU0izSlBOOX7KoMbHlhKKWNqdqNYUx1sRC0Z96sXAs596-/s320/Be+creative+or+die+image.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Design Council Design Summit <br />
discussion of design best practice</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Last week the <a href="http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/our-work/Insight/Design-for-Growth/">Design Council’s ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Design Summit’</i></a> brought together by former Chairman, Lord Michael Bichard and Chief Executive, David Kester, outlined some of the lessons of good design cultures. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Figures such as Jonathan Ive, Senior VP Industrial Design, Apple, referred to as 'the most successful designer on the planet'; Dr Ralph Speth, CEO luxury car producer, Jaguar Land Rover; author, broadcaster and designer, Kevin McCloud; together with design gurus Ian Callum, Design Director Jaguar, and Gerry McGovern Design Director Land Rover; formed part of a line up assembling world-leading figures from architecture and design. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts MP, and Minister for Business and Enterprise, Mark Prisk MP, provided insights on government thinking around design and its contribution to competitiveness. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mark Prisk’s intention to highlight great British design during the Olympics next year through showcasing design excellence was warmly received. Especially so, when the Minister signalled his intention that other parts of the country, and not simply London, would benefit from this investment.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This is a summary of the 10 top design lessons for business success which I took from the day.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1)<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Design underpins everything in the value creation process.</b> This can be summarised as people, processes, products, services and sustainable approaches through R&D, production, training, recruitment, marketing, sales and after-care, all making up a design-led culture. Design is <i>integral,</i> not applied. It is not about ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">flower arranging’</i>, or some form of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">styling</i> at the end of the process – it is central to corporate growth and success. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">2)<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Culture and values really do make a difference</b>. It was stressed through the day that the best businesses thought deeply about their goals. For these businesses it seems their core goals are not about making money, but are rather more assertions about reaching clearly stated aims – such as ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">producing the best products they can’</i>. Clarity of focus is essential to ensure that resources are devoted to areas that really matter. Pride in what they do leads to a culture valuing this activity. Making money flows from teams doing what they believe in and doing it to the best of their ability. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">FT journalist, John Kay, has attached the label, ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.johnkay.com/2004/01/17/obliquity">Obliquity’</a>,</i> to this phenomenon. He states, “<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-style: italic;">the most profitable companies are not the most profit-oriented</span><i>...business targets are the type of goals often best achieved when pursued indirectly....Oblique approaches are most effective in difficult terrain, or where outcomes depend on interactions with other people. (It) i</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Helvetica; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>s characteristic of systems that are complex, imperfectly understood, and change their nature as we engage with them.</i></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">....</span> </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Outstanding success</span><i style="font-size: x-large;"> is the product of obliquity.</i></span><i style="font-size: x-large;">”</i></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3)<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Manufacturing really matters</b>. Even the most advanced businesses in the world continue to generate great value from the way their products are made. This is a core part of the value creation process, not something remote or commodity-based. Grappling with new processes, technologies, materials and service integration are a key part of what these businesses are doing. The way things are made is at the heart of their design processes.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">4)<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Working in creative cultures</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">is critical. </b>Creative cultures remain curious. They are keen to learn. They value innovation, but innovation doesn’t come about without some failures, so they recognise that failure is part of the process. Hand-in-hand with this they recognise the need to end projects which may be acceptable, may even have some merit, but may simply not be great. Creative cultures demand courage and commitment to developing the very best products and services they can. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">5)<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Leadership of creative companies flows from working in an integrated team.</b> Time and again during the day leaders stressed the relevance of bringing together teams with different skills and keeping them together throughout projects, whether within design disciplines or across engineering, technology and business. Multi-disciplinary skills and approaches were adding new value and required a steady stream of high quality people trained appropriately with new skills and an appreciation of how to work together with other disciplines. As <a href="http://www.economist.com/node/17509367">Paola Antonelli, Senior Curator, New York Museum of Modern Art</a>, has said, <i>“In (future) designers will be at the nexus of things. They will not be divvied up according to their reductive specialty (graphic, product, furniture...). Theoretical designers will be exquisite generalists, but ready to roll up their sleeves.”</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">6)<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Design’s contribution to leadership is not always obvious or tangible.</b> There are some important contributions that design can make to the leadership of a company, but they are not always obvious. You have to be comfortable with attributes which are not tangible. People are much more comfortable talking about attributes which they can evaluate with a number. These ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">easy conversations’ </i>can take up oxygen and simply not be that important. It is important, however, to realise that there is an aspect to design that is centred around intangibles that needs to be taken seriously. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This feature was recognised in Design Council's report, <i><a href="http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/Documents/Documents/Publications/Will_Hutton_2020.pdf">'Design in the Knowledge Economy 2020',</a></i> produced in partnership with Will Hutton of the Work Foundation. The report acknowledges the 'amazing inversion' that has taken place </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">in company investment. <i>"Economists differentiate </i></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">between investment in tangible assets – plant, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">machinery and buildings – and intangible assets. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Researching new products; building up a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">company’s reputation; investing in human skills; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">design; computer software and even investment in </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">management and leadership all count as intangibles. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Back in 1970 companies’ investment in intangibles </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">was 40% of their investment in tangibles. Today it </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">has trebled."</span></i></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">7)<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ideas can be fiercely powerful but driving development can be fragile.</b> Creative cultures recognise the disruptive and creative potential of ideas and support their development. They recognise that new ideas can be difficult to evaluate simply because there are no precedents, making business models difficult to define and create, but they are prepared to support the unseen depth in invention sitting behind successful ideas. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">8)<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Great design education is a prerequisite to industrial and commercial success.</b> The very best business people have a genuine familiarity with the design process, either through some form of formal education or learned by working with the design process over years. For educators the challenge looking ahead is about training designers who can embrace business, finance, engineering and technology with confidence and fluency. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">9)<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The world is changing rapidly and designers are having to take on board substantial paradigm shifts.</b> These include the need for sustainable solutions, healthy living and ageing populations in developed economies together with population growth more generally. In auto markets, where previously the field of players had been contracting, they are now proliferating; multiple technological solutions are opening up where formerly one had been the accepted norm; changing consumer habits, for example resulting from ‘connectivity’ are now the catchword for a whole generation.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">10)<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Design is about delivering great experience.</b> Designing emotional connection, supported by technologies, processes, innovations, ultimately delivering great experience, requires a more in-depth understanding of users around the world and their different cultures, values and ethos. David Willetts highlighted the growing importance of design-sensitive consumers coming out of higher education and their enhanced expectations from products and services. Ideas of luxury differ in different places and personal time is a luxury commodity with experiences, not possessions, increasingly enhancing quality of life. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The views expressed are those of the author alone. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Beverley Nielsen is Director Employer Engagement, Birmingham City University.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Links</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Jonathan Ive: </span><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1367481/Apples-Jonathan-Ive-How-did-British-polytechnic-graduate-design-genius.html">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1367481/Apples-Jonathan-Ive-How-did-British-polytechnic-graduate-design-genius.html</a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Ian Callum, 2011 New York Auto Show:</span> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhA7DyB86_4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhA7DyB86_4</a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Gerry McGovern and Land Rover Range Rover Evoque: </span><a href="http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/land-rover/range-rover-evoque-2011/">http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/land-rover/range-rover-evoque-2011/</a></div>Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-189679044656217692011-06-20T05:30:00.000-07:002011-06-25T06:43:21.404-07:00Birmingham - Developing our Design ID<div class="asset-body" style="clear: both; font-family: arial, Verdana, sans-serif; height: 174px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTXoPhNUshBU2UtyZRaLLlUJSvBKyoELJnlMemlGBCL6BW0qs5VcSQqOJcUvTJLAdmGQ4usyBxh3y6Nem-o8RDuQpE3_g0ojnnEq_D_2Yc4pOvAnOXtd5FofD7MEgr_IFgLMdzxKfgDeH/s1600/Three+wheeler+v1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTXoPhNUshBU2UtyZRaLLlUJSvBKyoELJnlMemlGBCL6BW0qs5VcSQqOJcUvTJLAdmGQ4usyBxh3y6Nem-o8RDuQpE3_g0ojnnEq_D_2Yc4pOvAnOXtd5FofD7MEgr_IFgLMdzxKfgDeH/s400/Three+wheeler+v1.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Morgan's new three wheeler </div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>"Just think what we might have achieved if we'd put just a fraction of the £850bn required to bail out the banks into manufacturing?" asks Mike Whitby.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Conservative Councillor and Leader of Birmingham City Council, the largest local authority in Europe, is in discussion with both Charles Morgan and myself at the <a href="http://http//www.morgan-motor.co.uk/" style="color: #125a95; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;">Morgan factory</a> in Malvern.</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<br />
The idea is unthinkable. Yet this is the official cost of the bank bailout, revealed by the National Audit Office last year. But then Mike Whitby is a Conservative politician who thinks the unthinkable. Or perhaps you'd call it thinking out of the box. </div></div><div class="asset-more" id="more" style="clear: both; font-family: arial, Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Mike listens with enthusiasm as Charles Morgan recounts their extraordinary story spanning over 100 years. "The <a href="http://www.morgan3wheeler.co.uk/home.html" style="color: #125a95; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;">three-wheeler</a> was the start-up of the business when launched by my grandfather, 'HFS' Morgan. It still holds many speed records. In 1935 Morgan produced its first 4-wheeler and the Four Four remains a classic to this day providing people with a sports car for £26,000 that does 50 miles to the gallon."</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
The new three-wheeler is the personification of Morgan's brand values and already the business has taken 450 orders from all over the world. "We're incredibly proud of being the largest car maker still in British hands," says Charles."We turn over £40m, producing around 1000 cars a year and exporting 70% of these."</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlt3-3kvJRv1DdogzvCSQTAS0YrzWB2NMTYbCVjvMnX0WR3cHCw5-2B9c0q04yZPV5KhTcT3ueIuCwOzm1dCLwmq3gYxpxs_Ty36vah_-h_kNwCRDgkQ2IH9r9ZM6n3mDbX33fbL_R02YC/s1600/three+wheeler+v2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlt3-3kvJRv1DdogzvCSQTAS0YrzWB2NMTYbCVjvMnX0WR3cHCw5-2B9c0q04yZPV5KhTcT3ueIuCwOzm1dCLwmq3gYxpxs_Ty36vah_-h_kNwCRDgkQ2IH9r9ZM6n3mDbX33fbL_R02YC/s400/three+wheeler+v2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morgan Motor Company launches its new three wheeler</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Manufacturing is a passion for Mike, as Chairman and Managing Director of Smethwick-based Skeldings, the engineering business he's owned for over 20 years.</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He's genuinely delighted by the turnaround taking place in the region's best-known luxury brand-led businesses, including <a href="http://www.jaguarlandrover.com/index.html">JLR,</a> which has just posted record profits of over £1bn.</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Mike refers to their Operations Director, Alan Volkaerts, appointed to the newly formed Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and naturally then to Andy Street, MD of <a href="http://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/">John Lewis Partnership</a>, who's become LEP Chairman and whose business is due to open a new flagship store at the re-developed New Street Station.</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"It's taken over three years of intense negotiation to bring this major achievement about," says Mike, "and it's tremendous that they'll be opening their largest store outside London there - 250,000 square feet - forming the centrepiece of this landmark transport hub."<br />
<br />
"The LEP is critical to our on-going development as the influence of Birmingham on the rest of the region is like a river delta on its alluvial flood plain," says Mike. "It's about using this influence to promote us to investors and talent - here and abroad. Promoting us, not only as 'open for business', but a city with 'a passion for <em>making</em>things'."<br />
<br />
</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLz6Qt-zx0Cv78YFv3VbKMCENxkJsaVE1r5LDpBIUl0bdNbEDUP90SAItxGFdbeNjirCBG-0rvbHTDbFpmO4McjwGwU0tVBXROXIFEPcjVGyMOAuWQKUUW4BNSOmpIi8wd7Sf3Urd7e-l/s1600/IMG_0548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLz6Qt-zx0Cv78YFv3VbKMCENxkJsaVE1r5LDpBIUl0bdNbEDUP90SAItxGFdbeNjirCBG-0rvbHTDbFpmO4McjwGwU0tVBXROXIFEPcjVGyMOAuWQKUUW4BNSOmpIi8wd7Sf3Urd7e-l/s320/IMG_0548.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morgan Motor Company new design development</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Charles asks if he's considered using the '<em>Made in Birmingham</em>' mark again. "What is particularly striking about Birmingham, when compared with many other European cities," says Charles, "is that things are made right in the heart of the city, not only in outlying areas - for example in the jewellery quarter or in our countless engineering businesses. Innovation and design go to the roots of our identity as a City"</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
Mike speaks about the revival taking place at MG, owned by SAIC Motor Corp, China's largest domestic automotive producer. He's been a frequent visitor to China and Hong Kong since 2004, developing links with this and other valuable export markets and trading partners, with a visit to Shanghai planned in a few weeks time.</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">JLR and Morgan, together with SAIC, are targeting elements of the buoyant emerging BRIC markets (Brazil, Russia, India and China) currently demonstrating a huge appetite for luxury brands.</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"JLR has realised that in trying to service demand in these new markets the traditional lowest cost-based international procurement model is out of date," says Mike. "By strengthening their local supply chains they can build in efficiencies in terms of green miles, distance travelled to assembly and rapid response rates needed to meet unexpected sales surges.</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"The question for the region is whether we have enough equity and the leverage to finance this supply chain expansion. For this reason," he says, "it was so important to have the new national equity investment fund, the Business Growth Fund chaired by Sir Nigel Rudd, headquartered in Birmingham."</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"For us at Morgan," adds Charles, "as a productive business with a strong heritage, innovation and design remain integral to our brand. At the moment we're being funded by the Technology Strategy Board to develop lightweight applications for the composite, magalloy, and we've also been developing a fuel cell electric car - quite an ambition for us as a small company in automotive terms.</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgLaNvBrTOjH-Ap7e_JkvB4YbgGr7g7RnyxDPXvQRts-TAM0Gm3O2K4W7ZEsSTUMjI99KcGA3HledzQy9mawpc3fro-qQFx97YoaJx51r6Uo0I7-UrdoH2YiQAnQkJ5r4X575zmOIMhZG/s1600/IMG_0552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgLaNvBrTOjH-Ap7e_JkvB4YbgGr7g7RnyxDPXvQRts-TAM0Gm3O2K4W7ZEsSTUMjI99KcGA3HledzQy9mawpc3fro-qQFx97YoaJx51r6Uo0I7-UrdoH2YiQAnQkJ5r4X575zmOIMhZG/s320/IMG_0552.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike Whitby, Leader Birmingham City Council with<br />
Charles Morgan in the Morgan Heritage Centre</td></tr>
</tbody></table>"Our new models, such as the AeroMax, generating £9m in sales and £2m in profits, have succeeded in combining good design with innovative manufacturing techniques. This includes super-forming aluminium, based on a technology transfer from Alcan, to produce 'big curves'. Adhesive bonding has doubled stiffness in the structural integrity of the chassis, with bonded bodywork coming to us from our Birmingham supplier, Radshape.</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"More generally, in spite of Britain producing some of the best designers in the world we still seem to have a challenge in defining our British identity. With British designers such as Tom Dixon and Jonathan Ive, Ian Callum, Design Director at Jaguar, his colleague, Julian Thomson, formerly of Lotus, heading up the Jaguar Design Studio, Gerry McGovern at Land Rover and Marek Reichman at Aston Martin, we have a wealth of internationally respected talent, much of it located here in the West Midlands."</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Both men recognise the importance of design and just what it can achieve in terms of driving sales and adding serious value. "Why is the 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO worth £20m?" asks Charles. "It's got to do with people associating it with the romance and culture of this period, also symbolised by the E-Type Jag. These products have so much enduring appeal - full of charm, character, sophistication and status."</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Both men query why so many great British brands are no longer British-run. Perhaps it takes an outsider's eyes to recognise value in what we take for granted or to prompt the next big leap of faith. Alberto Alessi, for example, works with over 90 designers from all over the world.</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Charles notes that Church's, Tod's and Brooks England, are all run by Italians, who're very consciously using the heritage associated with the brands to generate value, with Mike commenting on the Burberry revival under the American, Angela Ahrendts as a great achievement.</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Professor Roberto Verganti of Politechnico di Milano, has spoken about the need to move outside the accepted thinking and perspectives when visiting Birmingham. "The danger for strong brands is that they become conservative making too many incremental changes rather than working to create their future."<br />
<br />
</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcpQRNNHUnYmEvYa3IDPT_3GDifxJOjmyyhwZrXzbmaCp0q9uA_kM_VuJlyT3C0mjQoh2DCRQd1VaE7yEVUzELvizDTmGiVoBcKm_446luCp5A5MMQCSk9dZYq_-M1oSHa-fVGly8rCYl/s1600/IMG_0544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcpQRNNHUnYmEvYa3IDPT_3GDifxJOjmyyhwZrXzbmaCp0q9uA_kM_VuJlyT3C0mjQoh2DCRQd1VaE7yEVUzELvizDTmGiVoBcKm_446luCp5A5MMQCSk9dZYq_-M1oSHa-fVGly8rCYl/s320/IMG_0544.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charles Morgan and Councillor Whitby view<br />
the new Morgan three wheeler</td></tr>
</tbody></table>"As the birthplace of the industrial revolution," says Councillor Whitby, "we changed the quality of life for people around the world. The creation of luxury, specialist, high-end lifestyle products says something exciting about Birmingham, our character, culture and values. But we need to keep innovating and challenging ourselves.</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"I'm focussing on moving Birmingham up the Mercer Quality of Living Index where we're currently ranked 55th, occupying the second position for any English City in comparison to London, ranked 39th. I'm targeting moving us into the top 20 Cities. To achieve this we need to transform ourselves economically and environmentally by becoming a <em>'smart' </em>city. We'll need to deliver on our CO2 emissions targets where we're looking for 60% reductions by 2026, and to deliver strong economic growth."</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<br />
<br />
The Big City Plan is the driver, targeting the redevelopment of 2,000 acres of City centre land to dramatically improve the look and feel of Birmingham as part of our long range planning.</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
"Key to this," says Mike, "will be improving our physical environment to attract people and improve the city's image through well designed buildings, streets and spaces. We need to offer attractive homes, schools, public transport, health and social facilities. All this is challenging given the likely 10% population uplift.</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"The most <em>'liveable cities</em>' are desirable places. People want to live there; they attract highly qualified people and hence investment. They promote social inclusion."</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">This design challenge places the user - business and the public - at its heart.</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"I'm focussing on key developments in the city around quality of life - the £600m re-development of New Street Station and the £188m being invested in our new Library as a cultural resource and the largest to be built in Europe, together with green spaces and even new forests planned for the city centre and outlying areas."</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He regrets that so many of our traditional brands have been lost to the region, suggesting these really need to be captured in digital records before this social and intellectual capital disappears forever.</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">However, Mike adds that with so many great brands still being produced here - Jaguar, Land Rover, MG, Morgan, AGA, Rangemaster, Triumph motorcycles, Emma Bridgewater - there's a real need to communicate these achievements more effectively as saying something really distinctive about our <em>'can-do</em>' character.</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibd9tBmQhkZYPyRA60JU1LoljlbQJR5zKmRMEz7J4Vzlls7YvsVLK04G6Jn9AinTf6WN48biWyZWkpEQeiFKXgCAAmwyE9Gcz0XXV6H6u9IvgibyiLNFVw2vjs9YShtiVCto-NH1W_pWo8/s1600/IMG_0545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibd9tBmQhkZYPyRA60JU1LoljlbQJR5zKmRMEz7J4Vzlls7YvsVLK04G6Jn9AinTf6WN48biWyZWkpEQeiFKXgCAAmwyE9Gcz0XXV6H6u9IvgibyiLNFVw2vjs9YShtiVCto-NH1W_pWo8/s320/IMG_0545.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morgan three wheeler</td></tr>
</tbody></table>"Broader design thinking could play an important role in how we develop more inclusive business models and provide assistance to business start-ups and entrepreneurship," adds Mike. "I am keen to encourage local supply chains in farming with smaller farmers having the opportunity to sell their produce into more local markets," he says with emphasis.</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"How can we inspire and give hope to the many small businesses with 97% of VAT registered businesses employing 20 or under? If we're going to rebalance the economy we need to look at health & safety and other compliance costs, where possible reducing national insurance costs.</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"Social capital is very important. I want more people living here to be motivated to give something back. We need a greater sense of philanthropy, or '<em>verbindung'</em> as the Germans call it. I'm a fan of business models favouring wider ownership amongst employees and I am worried about the widening gap between high and low earners."</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">So after 7 years as the City's Leader how does the scorecard look?</div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">There have been certainly some impressive achievements. But, set against the demanding national and international backdrop, it's clear that if ever there was a time for vision, leadership and yes, thinking out of the box, it's now.</div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Beverley Nielsen is Director Employer Engagement at Birmingham City University.</div></div>Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-84743616490263657742011-03-22T06:31:00.000-07:002011-03-22T15:31:52.171-07:00Samuel Heath - tapping into creativity - since 1820<div class="asset-body"> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjED7JWM2hX7RTCSxbWAr-fUU1_Qq_ylkyYvg2ny5EcK8PYWnvYbfzWmApXNZ5ny1BX89LBr4A29JlQKCcYq-RpqoyL57vae0y4D3lBlY1ZMyzMCCdyLBlVgJ4F0TtU1B5Eueuf2KDDFgfn/s1600/LANA+SH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjED7JWM2hX7RTCSxbWAr-fUU1_Qq_ylkyYvg2ny5EcK8PYWnvYbfzWmApXNZ5ny1BX89LBr4A29JlQKCcYq-RpqoyL57vae0y4D3lBlY1ZMyzMCCdyLBlVgJ4F0TtU1B5Eueuf2KDDFgfn/s400/LANA+SH.JPG" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Lana', from Samuel Heath's <br />
latest advertising campaign</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">"From designing to machining, polishing, plating and assembly, we have complete control over the whole production process, so that we can oversee the quality of each product at every stage and remain faithful to our design principles," says Managing Director, David Pick, on a recent visit to Samuel Heath in Birmingham.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The business, founded in 1820, is working to preserve the craftsmanship innate within its manufacturing, whilst combining this with the latest design technologies. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It's clear to David Pick that vertical integration is at the heart of their competitive positioning. "None of our competitors operates with such a high degree of vertical integration," he says.</span></div><div class="asset-more" id="more"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Professor Beverland at the School of Management, Bath University has highlighted three qualities essential to authentic brands - product quality built-in, a reputation based on heritage or a historical narrative, and a sincerity, based on a love of the product.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In the case of our West Midlands authentic businesses this sincerity, or 'love of product' often appears to be synonymous with the knowledge and control gained through vertical integration in the production processes. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It's a feature of many of these lifestyle brands including - AGA and Rayburn cookers together with AGA stoves, Morgan cars, Brooks England saddles, Pashley Cycles, Brintons carpets and Emma Bridgewater and no doubt many others too. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">For David Pick the company is proud to promote its unique heritage as well as embracing innovation and new technologies to drive new product introductions.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"The company's appetite for innovation has helped us migrate from coffin furniture in the early 19th century into brass bedstead production, with the business becoming the largest manufacturer at the time," he says. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">By the 1890's Samuel Heath & Sons was floated as a public company on the Birmingham Stock Exchange, but with the majority of shares remaining in the Heath family - and remaining so up to this day, the company has been able to remain in charge of its own destiny.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">At the height of Victorian industrialisation the company moved into manufacturing locks, gas and electrical fittings and later as the automotive industry's growth gathered momentum the business started making head lamps for motor cars.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp31hHMhgxhrXsqWp1xxFA4b4vUyRPcFznmOnKJuyw7-HY95PnxO_5Hae4eYZVnlnoaLQoHRy90gPXZHhYnexCnGlN38FtFCAiptRuHOBQd5UZo40zRnDoXkuzH4y2knu4bv2dxx9HqbhK/s1600/SOPHIA+SH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp31hHMhgxhrXsqWp1xxFA4b4vUyRPcFznmOnKJuyw7-HY95PnxO_5Hae4eYZVnlnoaLQoHRy90gPXZHhYnexCnGlN38FtFCAiptRuHOBQd5UZo40zRnDoXkuzH4y2knu4bv2dxx9HqbhK/s400/SOPHIA+SH.JPG" width="282" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">'Sophia', from Samuel Heath's </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">latest advertising campaign</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"> In 1958 they acquired Perkins & Powell, producing high quality architectural hardware. In 1970 Sam Heath became their Chairman. With the acquisition of Holt Siron and W Adams they moved into the design and production of luxury bathroom accessories as taps and showers.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Having been established as a traditional brass founder, the business has refined its knowledge of plating technologies as applied to the European brass used exclusively in their products today.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Each product is hand polished and plated in up to 34 individual processes to create a flawless finish," says David. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"We have developed a layering process that is unique to us. The careful polishing and preparation of the surface and the thickness of each layer is very important in giving a lustrous finish, what we call a 'mirror finish'. It's what gives the products a true reflection, without any distortion."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This plating expertise has enabled the business to produce a vast range of finishes to their brass products including bronze, antique brass, polished nickel, polished and satin chrome, brass - lacquered and un-lacquered, and matt black. More recently new materials have been added such as wood and crystal.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"In developing new products we have in-house design engineers who work with our Product Design agency based in Cardiff. We've had a longstanding relationship with them and they're familiar with our design and manufacturing capabilities. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"We're immersed in design trends and shows and how we can interpret interior design trends in our brassware, but we're also aiming for a balanced and enduring, not faddish approach.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Recent developments in design and manufacturing technology are enabling us as manufacturers to push at the boundaries of what's possible for us. CAD software means that we can undertake much of our design process on screen building virtual products in three-dimensions - shaping and testing for weight, volume and performance before they leave the screen.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyS46clJdM1Vfg0_THAYrcBJBryNcgqarUABJpDEFexTha5jn_Q2twC4ByinUjI5Hexy7hB-1NfwdGjn5dPvJZ2cJTgRdWSuu5B6UMbDAuxL8IEGURKJHL4wdMHTNcoUeygX8pJDSzjcU/s1600/VERONICA+SH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyS46clJdM1Vfg0_THAYrcBJBryNcgqarUABJpDEFexTha5jn_Q2twC4ByinUjI5Hexy7hB-1NfwdGjn5dPvJZ2cJTgRdWSuu5B6UMbDAuxL8IEGURKJHL4wdMHTNcoUeygX8pJDSzjcU/s400/VERONICA+SH.JPG" width="281" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">'Veronica', from Samuel Heath's </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">latest advertising campaign</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"> "Rapid prototyping enables us to 'print' three dimensional models of our products using layers of powdered resin providing a means of producing quick, easy and cost-effective prototypes in-house in our tool room.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"We can see how rapid prototyping can become a future means of producing customised products - even those made from various different materials, such as stone and metal - with some machines already able to weld them into shape - although quality will always be a key concern for us.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"CNC (Computerised Numerical Controlled) machines have also enabled us to test complex design ideas that might never have made it past the drawing board in the past - for example modelling and testing the internal workings of products to test intricate design ideas.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"These processes are reducing lead times in terms of new product introductions. However for new taps and showers it can still take up to two years to bring a complete collection of new products to market. These developments have also been reducing the need for continual new product testing leading to more sustainable processes reducing material wastage.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"We believe, as a British manufacturer, that we're able to attract new customers through our focus on quality, our constant product innovation and by remaining true to our integrity and provenance."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And it is this provenance and integrity that lies at the heart of a newly launched advertising campaign that has been created and designed for the business by Midlands-based Cogent Elliott. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"We were looking for a new creative agency," says Vanessa Allan, Marketing Manager. "Having talked with a number Cogent stood out for its understanding of the needs of high end brands having worked with AGA, Jaguar and Land Rover.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Richard Payne, their Creative Director, came up with the idea of using the purity of water as an analogy for the purity of the materials we are working with. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Richard wanted to build on the Greek myth of the Three Graces to create four female forms out of water, representing the charm, beauty, creativity and desirability of Samuel Heath's key collections.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kXmxwplQG2DA-_-_QOZ6m3OEaE0kHRcPrY8kq7lz_bPneYypr3dxi-3GuWsNmrdoi93YVRSkqoev2rcdjUcPn_QUg-XX6LGI5kMGylsm-9Q6uaf0xXW_XSKgZ06AgtFUwL7mnhqUtZZw/s1600/OLIVIA+SH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kXmxwplQG2DA-_-_QOZ6m3OEaE0kHRcPrY8kq7lz_bPneYypr3dxi-3GuWsNmrdoi93YVRSkqoev2rcdjUcPn_QUg-XX6LGI5kMGylsm-9Q6uaf0xXW_XSKgZ06AgtFUwL7mnhqUtZZw/s400/OLIVIA+SH.JPG" width="282" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">'Olivia', from Samuel Heath's </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">latest advertising campaign</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"> "The idea was to begin with an element as pure as water. By focussing on its purity and how this reflects the pure and flawless brass at the heart of all our products and from which they're all are produced, Cogent began crafting images of women inspired by water patterns.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"These water images were merged with images of models representing the spirit of the Four Graces and captured using a high-speed flash, capable of photographing a speeding bullet. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The frames were then layered to merge fluidly with the models and the water-like texture of their dresses representing the timelessness of high-end design.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"The campaign has been well received by our largely independent retailers with really positive feedback from consumers too. We see it as key to driving understanding and further clarity in terms of our market positioning." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-56781782289539054512011-03-17T11:51:00.000-07:002011-06-25T04:19:25.399-07:00Professor John Heskett, Visiting Lecture 30th March, 3pm BIAD, Room 201<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5qu8BzudqMsYBomI4ZZ2N8sQh23eDPxH98oLYdRaR5Um4DciOAovX370azd1C4LVKOHj42CfXsD_08mFnKDHqCWCmgbL7K64156DeZuKkJdps3Bl6QHaZEt8xvzudQmqdPMAQh9ed8UR/s1600/John_heskett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5qu8BzudqMsYBomI4ZZ2N8sQh23eDPxH98oLYdRaR5Um4DciOAovX370azd1C4LVKOHj42CfXsD_08mFnKDHqCWCmgbL7K64156DeZuKkJdps3Bl6QHaZEt8xvzudQmqdPMAQh9ed8UR/s1600/John_heskett.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Professor John Heskett</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> * </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">Professor John Heskett, immediate past Chair Professor Design, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, <span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="color: purple;">'Using Design to Create Markets'</span></span></span></strong></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">Date: </span></strong></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple;">30th March</span><span style="color: purple;"> 2011, 3pm,</span> Room 201, BIAD, Gosta Green, Birmingham</span></strong></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"></span></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">John Heskett took up a post as Chair Professor in the School of Design, Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2004 after fifteen years in the USA as professor at the Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. </span></strong><br />
<div class="bodytext"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"></span></span></div><div class="bodytext"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">John Heskett is known as the author of Industrial Design, (1980), used as a basic textbook on design courses in many countries; German Design 1870-1918, (1987); and Philips: A Study in Corporate Design (1989). Toothpicks and Logos: Design in Everyday Life, was published by Oxford University Press in 2002 and reissued in 2005 as A Very Short Introduction to Design. It has been translated into Swedish, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Greek and Turkish. </span></div><div class="bodytext"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"></span></span></div><div class="bodytext"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">John contributes articles, essays and reviews to numerous magazines, anthologies and catalogues. His consultant experience includes work for governments, universities and design companies around the world. </span></div><div class="bodytext"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"></span></span></div><div class="bodytext"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #073763;">His current research is focussed on the theme of how design creates economic value and the role of this in Design Policy in governments and corporations. Other areas of teaching and consultancy include the relationship between design and innovation, the problems of successfully changing the nature of markets, and the problems of design in global markets</span>.</span></div><div class="bodytext"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="bodytext"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsG_G5Jrl8a4i92ozDsRzqINYwOcptzruRMxrF-Fl-XnPgXZ8QmQqBUl93Nd179MJUknPNGWIdU4yDWkiEdAGdSBbs4zZQyylm_ZSykkK1-0yRf911lss2unYijleLGbQT6tLa3dMjoUHv/s1600/John+Heskett+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="151" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsG_G5Jrl8a4i92ozDsRzqINYwOcptzruRMxrF-Fl-XnPgXZ8QmQqBUl93Nd179MJUknPNGWIdU4yDWkiEdAGdSBbs4zZQyylm_ZSykkK1-0yRf911lss2unYijleLGbQT6tLa3dMjoUHv/s320/John+Heskett+v2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more information visit </span><a href="http://www.johnheskett.net/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.johnheskett.net/</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span>Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-75246543239400532052011-03-17T11:21:00.000-07:002011-03-19T13:57:04.519-07:00Creating a New Seat of Learning - Professor Richard Snell<div class="asset-body"> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEp56E5FnhtIrwfaMItvuuyeBoZQfNF6ysoVB7o87WzFYYpageOvvz53ZL5dukfsQZ1cATprLBzDmFE9Vklp0xx5vFhCe5NW5aTAzpVMsbrC6EzJQ_e9Ha8pvCsUVSZAzOnaVFwUJzU3-/s1600/Hille+pic+2+SE6-3qrf-Green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEp56E5FnhtIrwfaMItvuuyeBoZQfNF6ysoVB7o87WzFYYpageOvvz53ZL5dukfsQZ1cATprLBzDmFE9Vklp0xx5vFhCe5NW5aTAzpVMsbrC6EzJQ_e9Ha8pvCsUVSZAzOnaVFwUJzU3-/s320/Hille+pic+2+SE6-3qrf-Green.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hille - newly launched <em>SE school chair</em><br />
Designed by Professor Richard Snell <br />
and David Rowe</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="font-size: large;">The chair, mundane in its functionality, is something most of us simply take for granted. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Yet this practical everyday object is capable, through good design, of becoming art. More than that, when form and function are well combined, it can create wealth and sustain jobs. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Throughout the 20th century the chair has been regarded as the definitive design test, encouraging artists, designers, architects and engineers to create chairs that captured their design philosophy."</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">These words, spoken by Professor Richard Snell at a recent design lecture, "The Seat of Learning", at the Birmingham Institute of Art & Design, highlighted a collaborative design project to create a new school chair, known as <em>the SE Chair,</em> with fellow designer, David Rowe and Birmingham City University - funding elements of the two year research and development programme - together with reputable seating manufacturer, </span><a href="http://www.hille.co.uk/polychair/home.html"><span style="color: #125a95; font-size: large;">Hille.</span></a></div><div class="asset-more" id="more"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Designers of the 21st century are building on this approach, extending it to include issues such as sustainability and impact on quality of life," added Professor Snell.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__9XCFdkhARe0_brLlejFyba-7UhIOT7L3LC8DtDGwSA0npWA3qwm9KQ44drp9kdQkx10L-Tq9jMsepOLC-yQcxV3yAV7hFqu3zd1Wd2eZAoE_Wv3SPHd5Vxb5djwMeEIi5PLzYASzfGc/s1600/Richard+Snell+pic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__9XCFdkhARe0_brLlejFyba-7UhIOT7L3LC8DtDGwSA0npWA3qwm9KQ44drp9kdQkx10L-Tq9jMsepOLC-yQcxV3yAV7hFqu3zd1Wd2eZAoE_Wv3SPHd5Vxb5djwMeEIi5PLzYASzfGc/s200/Richard+Snell+pic.JPG" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Professor Richard Snell, <br />
Co-designer, Hille new school seating</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="font-size: large;">Richard Snell's designs have been created largely for the contract furniture sector working mainly with architects and specifiers. Design work has focused on seating for schools and universities, restaurants and cafes, hotels and halls of residence, airports and transport hubs around the world. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He has an impressive list of clients and partners including Conran, British Airport Authority, Commonwealth Games, Trust House Forte, Littlewoods, Debenhams, Fitch & Co, </span><a href="http://www.themanufacturer.com/uk/profile/1969/Hostess_Furniture"><span style="font-size: large;">Hostess Furniture</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> and most recently, </span><a href="http://www.hille.co.uk/polychair/home.html"><span style="color: #125a95; font-size: large;">Hille</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzBtjtZcVDtpAf_2REjfw_BqRFAjmf9MoUjzNHMlGv7bC-qrGY8oX-bl3eZLoJxQ5gAlzutGmRAk3NtVtzuSgYqREJUcCKNnyxP10U0Iik5g8xXa8_CIB1Nd4RPb6KwikifsxGjcbOB1Y/s1600/David+Rowe+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzBtjtZcVDtpAf_2REjfw_BqRFAjmf9MoUjzNHMlGv7bC-qrGY8oX-bl3eZLoJxQ5gAlzutGmRAk3NtVtzuSgYqREJUcCKNnyxP10U0Iik5g8xXa8_CIB1Nd4RPb6KwikifsxGjcbOB1Y/s200/David+Rowe+pic.jpg" width="157" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David Rowe, Co-designer,<br />
Hille new school seating</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="font-size: large;">David Rowe has considerable experience working with renowned Midlands furniture brands, such as Gordon Russell, especially on products where consideration of posture has been important, meeting a real market need for this specialisation.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The <em>Opus Seating Range</em>, designed specifically for orchestral musicians, was one of Snell and Rowe's early collaborations. Initially focussing on the CBSO during the research, development and design stages of the project, they produced a niche product which subsequently sold in volume worldwide. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">They've been designing chairs for over 30 years and in recent years have noticed key changes in chair design and production.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"We've been taking another look at materials in light of the need for a more sustainable approach. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Polypropylene can be recycled easily, it's low cost, has great strength, it's suitable for injection moulding and due to its natural integrity it does not need any fillers to gain strength, making it much easier to recycle.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"In addition, theories around seating posture have developed significantly. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"When we sit down there is a natural tendency for the pelvis to rotate backwards dragging the bottom half of the spine with it. When we support the spine in the lumber region then the vertebrae tend to get pushed sideways and downwards. However if we support the pelvis and stop it rotating backwards we can prevent the conflict of vertebrae in the lower spine and maintain balance.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"In Europe a new standard in school seating was developed following research showing an increase in the dimension and variety of shapes and sizes of children, resulting in an increase in the sizemarks being used from 6 to 8.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"In starting to think about designing a new school chair we had to be aware of the new European standards, the well-being of the user - school children, both here and overseas.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"As a result the <em>SE Chair</em> exceeds the postural requirements of then new BS EN 1729 standard and is available in 6 sizes and in 3 frame colours. Skid base and swivel versions are among the variations in development.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"A lot of people had ranges of products in the market already. We needed points of differentiation, but we also needed to be competitive on price. Polypropylene is a cost effective material. We looked to produce a chair that would sell for under £21.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"However we wanted to see if we could mix polypropylene with other materials by designing a chair with separate back and base, providing the opportunity for separate material options within one chair."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Plastics have been used in chair design since the 1960's by designers such as </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_and_Ray_Eames"><span style="font-size: large;">Charles Eames</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> and </span><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/nov/17/robin-day-obituary"><span style="font-size: large;">Robin Day</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The '<em>Polychair'</em>, Robin Day's first polypropylene chair (also the world's very first polypropylene chair), was produced by Hille and became such a design icon it was subsequently commemorated on a postage stamp. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Developed in 1962 it was, in the words of Hugh Pearman, Sunday Times, "an immediate success" and is still, </span><span style="font-size: large;">"one of the most affordable design classics going." Since its launch about 14 million have been sold worldwide and the school seating versions are still being made by Hille at the rate of 500,000 a year. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/fred-scott-728831.html"><span style="font-size: large;">Fred Scott</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">, a graduate of the Royal College of Art, also worked for Hille. "In 1979 he produced '<em>the Supporto'</em> office chair system which in turn formed a source of inspiration for <em>'the Meridio'</em> created in 1990 by </span><a href="http://www.chairblog.eu/category/chair-designer/michael-dye/"><span style="font-size: large;">Michael Dye</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> - designed in the Anglepoise and rather anglophile tradition of engineered knobs and junctures, rather than the more international approach where joints are hidden away," said Professor Snell.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Tooling can be an expensive element and taking a systems approach to product design can considerably reduce both the cost of tooling up and production. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"In creating our new <em>SE Chair</em>, our intention was to minimize tooling costs, which came in at around £200k in total, by producing 3 backs and 3 seats providing flexibility for up to 8 sizes and meeting EU standards.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"We looked at gas filling properties during the injection moulding process to develop a bone-like structure around the seat back to provide additional structural integrity ensuring lightness and longevity. The tube frame was adjusted at the fixing points enabling the required flexibility in sizing.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"The tubular steel frame is made in Burnley and required tube forming and CNC investment. We were conscious of working in a distinguished design tradition in tubular furniture. </span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfo-UQksmNPq7-hTsAw6e7eNfMJisbUFWoqOwEAI_s5n_huyvt0ons2lwtjpZJR47PNESQZzN2hEoqp9QCT0pwVP_MwEAUM5GdISJFQPiQroJXdlL1WUTXMQecungyPk5So8sqBB8YUB_0/s1600/SP9+Chair.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfo-UQksmNPq7-hTsAw6e7eNfMJisbUFWoqOwEAI_s5n_huyvt0ons2lwtjpZJR47PNESQZzN2hEoqp9QCT0pwVP_MwEAUM5GdISJFQPiQroJXdlL1WUTXMQecungyPk5So8sqBB8YUB_0/s1600/SP9+Chair.bmp" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Design Classic - West Midlands <br />
PEL manufactured SP9</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">"Companies like PEL (Practical Equipment Limited), renowned for the SP9 chair, or <em>Spring Pattern 9,</em> which was manufactured in Oldbury in 1932, became a design classic that has endured to this day. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"The designer of this particular chair is not known, but it's thought to have been influenced by architect Oliver Bernard. PEL was an important design business in that it took on board influences from Europe translating these into mass production, working successfully with well-known architects such as Wells Coates and Serge Charmayeff," said Professor Snell.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Hille Managing Director, Brian Foster thanked those present for attending the lecture saying, "Separate seated chairs have not been in vogue so Richard Snell and David Rowe's design approach with the <em>SE Chair</em> has been brave and commendable in the precision of its conception, facilitated through Birmingham City University-funded research and testing. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"It's been an amazing project. There have been a few years of discussions and meetings to get to this stage. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"However, whilst we've not yet had any official launch the price is right and the design is flexible and attractive. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"We've had 20,000 orders to-date without any launch or promotion, yet we sense a buoyancy to the market. We're not looking to be a volume player but to offer sufficient flexibility and quality at the right price to appeal to the specifier and architect markets with our new design, colour and materials by offering a fresh approach in the context of poly propagation."</span></div>Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-29342897457423639202011-03-08T14:31:00.000-08:002011-03-08T14:48:54.787-08:00Brooks saddles - keep springing up as firm favourites<div class="asset-body"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwC9XB8QkhhyphenhyphenhcaCvzrSml-K1yG64iXvRsVUt-UszfjZHGV3dJpuYfMk_y6QqO6W20tqcEbvVRTqr4tOahjNfn1RrvEX3ooQlaAk1ZIKtXzheoYYS2WAjS_cf7hXJIQbQZT5ixmC1GfUg/s1600/brooks+saddles+pic+pink+bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="143" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwC9XB8QkhhyphenhyphenhcaCvzrSml-K1yG64iXvRsVUt-UszfjZHGV3dJpuYfMk_y6QqO6W20tqcEbvVRTqr4tOahjNfn1RrvEX3ooQlaAk1ZIKtXzheoYYS2WAjS_cf7hXJIQbQZT5ixmC1GfUg/s320/brooks+saddles+pic+pink+bike.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brooks England Saddles - hand finished in leather</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"All our leather bicycle saddles are hand-finished. They're being made today as they have been for the best part of 150 years," says Steve Green, Office Manager, </span><a href="http://www.brooksengland.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Brooks Saddles</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm being shown around the Brooks Saddles' factory in Smethwick as the machines, many of which are antiques in their own right, strain, crash and crunch steelwire and rolls to form up to 20 parts for saddle bases. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's not always appreciated that until the 1950s Brooks was the largest manufacturer of saddles in the world. Around this time the West Midlands was producing at least 50% of UK bicycles through two leading businesses, Phillips Bicycles and Tube Investments.</span></div><div class="asset-more" id="more"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"The company was founded by John Boultbee Brooks in 1866 after he left his home in Hinckley at the age of 16 to make his fortune in Birmingham by making leather saddles for the horse trade. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"It was only in 1878 after the horse he was using to get to and from home died and he wasn't able to afford a new one that a friend lent him a bike. The bicycle saddles at the time were made of carved wood and horribly uncomfortable, so he decided to try making them in leather. It was all about finding more comfortable alternatives for the rider and this is still very much at heart our ethos."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The leather saddle is a fusion of crafted metal bases with leather tops culminating in a final process known as <em>'springing up' </em>to form the finished product, immortalised through the words of the company's founder JB Brooks, when he wrote with some foresight in his early brochures, "It is not the name of Brooks which makes the Saddles good but the Saddle and its excellence which makes the name."</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNACp_cdDbBs4GcQC3HMzjb7vsq-d1MYA-slv9aOXqlAmQJaViymTxv-WxOvBFR9ZYSQKDgoPm4wnY25Om_AIjqBiD0xelMHGFgYLLH8F6y4ebLg4rMKJnbUZpT63g2TiRLCkXCUgQRjp/s1600/Brooks+B17+narrow+saddle.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="177" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNACp_cdDbBs4GcQC3HMzjb7vsq-d1MYA-slv9aOXqlAmQJaViymTxv-WxOvBFR9ZYSQKDgoPm4wnY25Om_AIjqBiD0xelMHGFgYLLH8F6y4ebLg4rMKJnbUZpT63g2TiRLCkXCUgQRjp/s320/Brooks+B17+narrow+saddle.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brooks famous B17 - narrow saddle</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">JB Brooks also had the foresight to patent his designs, with the first one being patented in 1882,a process he pursued with vigour, registering many subsequent designs. A good number of todays designs are rooted in this early period with the B17 being the oldest model in the current range, having been featured in the 1890's catalogue. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The main reason it's never gone out of production is simple: it's all about comfort. A total of 20 models have survived over the decades and some products are even being revived, such as the 'Challenge Toolbag', first patented in 1876. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The machines in the Brooks factory are almost sculptural in appearance. And, despite their age they're agile enough, with the operators speaking fondly of each one for its personality and temperament. There's an oily down-to-earth rawness, the strong odour of leather and metal and a friendly camaraderie as the craftsmen and women ply their skills and the machines cut, stamp, bend and shape the steel and leather.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many of the staff have been with the business for twenty, thirty or more years. "We have a very loyal team here," says Steve. "We realise that our saddles depend on craftsmanship, attention to detail and an authenticity delivered by staff, who know our machines and processes but who also know each other.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"We choose to keep running with traditional machines - partly because this is our tradition - the heritage we've inherited and are proud of - and partly because if we used new machines it would change the quality and feel of the saddles we're producing.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuw6JTSEVHGNlPi3uJiWNR6Mius-7iwgWqPyYbje_KA0nOpPavwCpX7gxekPZGlyppMVm01ktZdpONggb6YjHvrVo_eZ2kAql_2IkBu1OEPXSnMGuQQKhnf1BTw1_Qn1jOfoOO54usRjYL/s1600/Brooks+Islington+Rucksack.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuw6JTSEVHGNlPi3uJiWNR6Mius-7iwgWqPyYbje_KA0nOpPavwCpX7gxekPZGlyppMVm01ktZdpONggb6YjHvrVo_eZ2kAql_2IkBu1OEPXSnMGuQQKhnf1BTw1_Qn1jOfoOO54usRjYL/s320/Brooks+Islington+Rucksack.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brooks England Islington Rucksack</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"We re-started a range of bicycle bags and accessories around 5 years ago. Initially many of these were sourced from the Far East. Now we're trying to pull production back to the UK. But when we first started looking at UK sources they were very expensive, or not up to our exacting quality requirements.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"After sometime we found a sewing shop in Salford and now they're making all our leather bags. We'd like to move our canvas bags there over the coming months. We feel we have found people who want to grow with us.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Two years ago we had 25 staff. Today we have 34 with a further 8 or 9 working on our accessories range in Salford. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"It takes about 3 days to produce a saddle. We're running at 700 saddles per day or around 3,500 per week. We're operating at pretty near to full capacity at present unless we invest in new machinery."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Our promise to customers has always been about producing the best of everything - The best materials, the best designs and the best constructions that experience, skill and money can procure.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Retro trends have certainly helped our business and recently we have produced options with pre-aged leather and have been producing saddle frames with ageing effects.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Quality leather is very important as the saddle top provides a comfortable ride by moulding to the individual rider's shape, unlike modern saddles made from contemporary materials. It's very hard to get hold of quality hides and there are only two tanneries producing the finish we require. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"We use only British and Irish cattle which have tougher hides taking the rear back or butt of the cattle hides as they have to be at least 5ml thick. We've started looking at a Swedish tannery and Swedish cattle for a select range of organically reared leather. We are not dyeing this leather, but leaving it entirely natural.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"During the BSE crisis we had a problem because they started to slaughter animals younger and we prefer their hides when they are older and the hides are that bit harder.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"We were bought by Italians in 2002 and they have really focussed on telling our story. They have seen that value can be created through innovative approaches to marketing, promotion and re-inforcing our identity. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"They've drawn on our unique heritage, creating striking advertising campaigns and new point of sale materials emphasising our authenticity. It's been interesting to see how they have looked at the business, finding value in much that could have easily been taken for granted.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Brooks saddles, like other West Midlands businesses including - </span><a href="http://www.pashley.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pashley Cycles</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, </span><a href="http://www.aga-web.co.uk/102.htm"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">AGA</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, </span><a href="http://www.rangemaster.co.uk/home.aspx"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rangemaster</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> and </span><a href="http://www.rayburn-web.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rayburn</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> cookers, </span><a href="http://www.morgan-motor.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Morgan</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">,</span><a href="http://www.jaguar.com/gb/en/#/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Jaguar</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> and </span><a href="http://www.landrover.com/gb/en/lr/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Land Rover</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> cars, </span><a href="http://www.brintons.net/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Brintons Carpets</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, </span><a href="http://www.emmabridgewater.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Emma Bridgewater</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, </span><a href="http://www.steelite.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Steelite</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> and </span><a href="http://www.dudson.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dudson</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> potteries to name a few - displays the qualities outlined by Professor Beverland at Bath University as essential to authentic brands - they have product quality built-in, a reputation based on heritage or a historical narrative and a sincerity based on a love of the product. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Why, when we have this rich brand heritage have we not celebrated our achievements in improving people's lifestyles as a means of distinguishing ourselves from our competition?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Irish Economist, David McWilliams has said, "Far from drowing that which makes you different in a sea of bland, fake and generic consumerist product, globalisation allows difference to thrive. The difference is key: this is where the real value is and it is what people are striving for. The reaction to rampant consumerism has been a 'keeping it real' backlash..."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With such a unique productive heritage why do we not celebrate our achievements to create a collective market authority for our businesses - both older and younger emerging businesses - as we seek to create new opportunities for our graduates as they leave university?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ian Callum, Design Director Jaguar Cars, has called this a <em>'considered approach to design'</em>. "People need time to consider and use something after they have bought it to be sure of its quality," he says. "The real test is whether people like something after consideration. Depth of design and engineering can pave the way for products making them more sustainable."</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglosKjADpIj4z2IIuh3zdD6wS5D6uzg-_A0ZL0pGvyKpvtpYn2iL3tPcEF0Y0XMWgieJtotwvlsOcjLSk2wlbWSWHley1XqLE5Za-0Jz1iwypyOdntBAWEP57_3hHaalmlSJ-3lNF-Pph/s1600/Brooks+Colt+turquoise+saddle.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglosKjADpIj4z2IIuh3zdD6wS5D6uzg-_A0ZL0pGvyKpvtpYn2iL3tPcEF0Y0XMWgieJtotwvlsOcjLSk2wlbWSWHley1XqLE5Za-0Jz1iwypyOdntBAWEP57_3hHaalmlSJ-3lNF-Pph/s320/Brooks+Colt+turquoise+saddle.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brooks England Colt Saddle, Turquoise</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, almost 150 years on the Brooks' customer has given their saddles a resounding thumbs up - or as they might put it - a resounding 'bums down'!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To see more of the Brooks Saddles production process visit:</span>http://<a href="http://www.theoldbicycleshowroom.co.uk/brooks-saddles-factory-film-115-c.asp">www.theoldbicycleshowroom.co.uk/brooks-saddles-factory-film-115-c.asp</a></div>Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-79899358136712398732011-03-02T14:44:00.000-08:002011-03-10T10:32:12.565-08:00Just the Ticket – Phil Mead, MD, NEC Arenas designs excellent customer service to drive sales <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DeRHraaKcqdSic-S9ZF7lpe7d1JGavgZxnLh-WHs_Bk05GWKsU6IbexuB3EI7YynezmGg1-V6d8wXpAk3U-J3Neetg25T1R72N8eKlEfk0AAXJwFGo27uyk9aIUy2Iax4k0SEvbxqqS4/s1600/Phil+Mead+image+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DeRHraaKcqdSic-S9ZF7lpe7d1JGavgZxnLh-WHs_Bk05GWKsU6IbexuB3EI7YynezmGg1-V6d8wXpAk3U-J3Neetg25T1R72N8eKlEfk0AAXJwFGo27uyk9aIUy2Iax4k0SEvbxqqS4/s200/Phil+Mead+image+2.JPG" width="142" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phil Mead, MD, NEC Arenas</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The NEC Group is a high visibility Birmingham–based business, but how many of us are familiar with much of the detail behind this well-known business?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">More especially, I wondered, as I went to meet Phil Mead, MD, NEC Arenas, are we aware of some of its recent success stories, demonstrating that a focus on strategic investment and the customer can pay off handsomely?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The NEC Group – Vital Stats</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The NEC Group, wholly owned by Birmingham City Council and Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, delivered annual revenues of £109.8m and an operating profit of £24.1m during 2009/10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It includes 4 business units – Exhibition (The NEC Birmingham), Convention (The ICC Birmingham and Dublin Convention Centre management contract), Arenas – including The LG Arena, The NIA and The Ticket Factory and, in addition, their Catering arm including NEC Catering and contract catering business Amadeus.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">NEC Box Office to National Ticket Agency</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Three years ago, when I joined The NEC Group, our box office business was simply the box office for The Group,” says Phil Mead, MD, NEC Arenas on meeting him at The NIA Birmingham.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“It was clear to me that we had the resources to target a wider market. Big ticketing agents were seen as a ‘necessary evil’ with their inflated prices and poor service.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Having researched the market and their capabilities Phil could see that there was a market opening for them. By taking the service ethos from their venues business into ticketing they were able to launch their own business, ‘The Ticket Factory’.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We launched in November 2007,” says Phil, “when we were doing around 1m tickets a year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we’re selling upwards of 3m a year – a near trebling of ticket sales in as many years, all through good service.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Improving customer service was a key strand of our strategy for success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our call centre is now more accessible with 24 hour support and training support has been enhanced across the board for our staff.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Birmingham-based company has enjoyed robust growth <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in three years, evolving from The NEC Group’s venue box office to acquiring major national ticketing contracts, including UK box office for Haymarket Exhibitions and the Chelsea Flower Show, selling two million tickets a year.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Last year we acquired a specialist business, Bookings Direct, and now we’re the national ticketing agent for 3A Entertainment’s artists with current tours including Kylie, Eric Clapton, Boyzone, Van Morrison, Roger Waters – the Wall, Paul Weller, WWE and X Factor. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“As a result we are being recognised more and more as a national ticket agency – most recently with being one of only four national agents to have an allocation of standing and seated tickets for Take That’s Progress Live 2011 Tour.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“With over 10 million hits to The Ticket Factory’s website from 41 different countries, social media platforms including – You Tube, Facebook, Twitter and Posterous – were key in keeping our customers in touch.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Through re-tweeting positive experiences from customers and posting ‘behind the scenes’ vodcasts of our contact centre, we were able to reassure other customers that it was worth continuing to try.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We were able to offer a heightened level of customer service through these online channels by sending direct messages to customers who had queries about the orders they have placed, without them needing to go back on the phone to our contact centre.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The success of our approach is clear through the 50% increase to both our Twitter and Facebook accounts from the tour announcement to the on sale day.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Phil explains the advantages of cross selling, “with a database of around 1m registered users this gives us good marketing reach. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In general when world music sales are down we have more than doubled our sales in the past three years.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Phil’s focus on improving customer service to drive growth of the Arenas business wasn’t restricted to their ticket sales.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Improving Customer Experience at The NEC Arenas</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTV48kvIHZxrxP54uqdTqlqDmKwz8eT60q2Ji6UlTfjqTWvIJ6Oz0AtdZq9A6eb0f_zkq0oWR3j06RlGj0p9WDOF9zjZJv2cdxmwTdq4P8iiGw0eOt9KQg1Z3Qz0eMckIapHI173KcLzs/s1600/lg+arena+main+entrance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="127" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTV48kvIHZxrxP54uqdTqlqDmKwz8eT60q2Ji6UlTfjqTWvIJ6Oz0AtdZq9A6eb0f_zkq0oWR3j06RlGj0p9WDOF9zjZJv2cdxmwTdq4P8iiGw0eOt9KQg1Z3Qz0eMckIapHI173KcLzs/s200/lg+arena+main+entrance.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LG Arena Main Entrance</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Our infrastructure in Birmingham was getting a bit tired and the customer experience was suffering as a result.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we needed to re-invent The NEC Arena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The O2 development in London helped as it raised the bar for the Arena experience in the UK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“It was clear we could not go to the City and get £20-30m so we commissioned a feasibility study, led by Masons, around improving the customer experience and went out to market our title rights – leading to the now well recognised LG Arena name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We gained some gap funding from AWM, given NEC Group’s economic impact on the region, estimated by KPMG to be worth c£2bn a year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"The Group generates around 4.1m visitors through 900 events annually maintaining 29,000 people through our impact on indirect employment. We also arranged a loan through the City which we were able to repay because of the sale of the title rights and the uplift in sales which we experienced following the investment we made.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We wanted the customer experience to match the act our customers were coming to enjoy. We have taken concert hospitality to a whole new level, with our three amplify packages, providing a great sense of arrival at LG Arena, with visitors initially seeing our Living Wall and passing 13,000 shrubs that form part of this wall.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwja3pmW_NAGFU4AYgaOVGvVOrblECXbOpMmzz8eq4AtFHSuIjP-s_15I_8Acpi4DLVczhkTCJgTe8dOlU22df4WPqpSPdkyZP3Y-F5rTVO2FWmUUjmcCzZuKwdYCBIvc35Oe83vi2-ySQ/s1600/Living+Wall+at+LG+Arena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwja3pmW_NAGFU4AYgaOVGvVOrblECXbOpMmzz8eq4AtFHSuIjP-s_15I_8Acpi4DLVczhkTCJgTe8dOlU22df4WPqpSPdkyZP3Y-F5rTVO2FWmUUjmcCzZuKwdYCBIvc35Oe83vi2-ySQ/s320/Living+Wall+at+LG+Arena.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living Wall at LG Arena</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Amplify Air is the coolest area with limited capacity where guests dine over a four-course meal before enjoying the show from the spectacular show-deck overlooking the Arena bowl.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Phil and his team worked with a team of professionals, including Yorkshire architects, DLA, structural engineers, cost consultants and utilities to remodel the LG Arena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The entrance and its adjacent storage area were converted into the ‘ForumLIVE’, which can accommodate up to 6000 people as they’re moving into the arena, providing them with quality entertainment in line with the main act. “I don’t know any other arena in Europe where this interaction happens,” adds Phil.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“DLA Architects had a really good interior design arm that helped the customer experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The comfortably-padded, bigger seats are just part of a range of major improvements at the venue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is also no more hopping up and down in the queue as there are double the number of toilets, as well as improved sight lines and we created more of a horse shoe bowl in the arena itself.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We designed a permanent seating structure which created more room under the seats so there’s been a whole change in the customer experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the LG re-opened last October, 96% of our customers thought the re-development was either ‘good’ or ‘very good’.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">NEC Arenas was one of the first arenas in the UK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now there are 16 arenas across the country with over 5000 capacity and Phil Mead is Chairman of the Arenas Association.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We have 13% of the market share for arenas with more than 5k capacity in the UK,” says Phil. “We invested £29m to do all the work. The timescale was impressive – we had our last show in April with ACDC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We re-opened for the Horse of the Year Show in October 2009. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We upgraded ForumLIVE separately which speeded up the process and meant they were closed for a very brief three month period in what turned out to be a very well managed project.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now Phil has turned his attention to The NIA. “It’s effectively an ageing asset and so we’ve started down the same process – only this time we’ve taken on a new internal member of staff to conduct our feasibility study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our aim is to work up headline design and costings by end January.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re also going out to market for a naming rights partner again, together with other opportunities for additional income.”</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVybAsb_AYVqzuRa1XMIAR9YxCdEi7Or99HrjGCNwAIozYBUMbKXgq3MvkUfmLWOC1x07_vpGZn-buR5tppTENUo1OtGM225cVDu3Fh1a2JWzHs1jMz0DdrwpcCNywbGovnott7EpzltJ6/s1600/NIA+Birmingham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVybAsb_AYVqzuRa1XMIAR9YxCdEi7Or99HrjGCNwAIozYBUMbKXgq3MvkUfmLWOC1x07_vpGZn-buR5tppTENUo1OtGM225cVDu3Fh1a2JWzHs1jMz0DdrwpcCNywbGovnott7EpzltJ6/s200/NIA+Birmingham.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NIA Birmingham</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“By improving the customer experience and quality of service people are prepared to arrive earlier, enjoy a meal and other entertainment and of course this in turn increases spend per head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Whilst we’d originally been focussed on designing the visitor experience around sport – in line with our current offer which will remain important – now we’re looking at large theatre experiences including comedy, shows like Walking with Dinosaurs, as well as providing pre-show experience.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We also became very conscious that our design at present is very inward facing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we see an opportunity to open out The NIA onto its location surrounded by Canals and just a few paces away from The ICC development, Brindleyplace and Broad Street.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">International Venue Management</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Phil’s customer service ethic has not been confined to ticket agency sales and arenas management.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We’re following a third business strand,” says Phil, “international partnerships.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4JT43EoV1hWVAT3XPo4S0-LiY-MSs3Pf_xKIxmWBNO0U-1TcPOabxu_3a-50V7Are0nqsKmbmB5dJUK_LcpaxacbmEvFXJD8hptULuXwZl4LsIg8FsOiVqgDgEFXhe3HhTWmPOJpXLeT/s1600/convention-centre-dublin-at-night-view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="229" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4JT43EoV1hWVAT3XPo4S0-LiY-MSs3Pf_xKIxmWBNO0U-1TcPOabxu_3a-50V7Are0nqsKmbmB5dJUK_LcpaxacbmEvFXJD8hptULuXwZl4LsIg8FsOiVqgDgEFXhe3HhTWmPOJpXLeT/s320/convention-centre-dublin-at-night-view.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Convention Centre Dublin </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We’ve just formed a partnership with Global Spectrum in Philadelphia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have expanded from two venues to 81 across the USA, Canada and Asia (including Singapore).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"They have formed a partnership with The NEC Group to benefit from our experience and resource in venue management in Europe.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“In Dublin we have signed a major 20 year contract, a Public-Private partnership venture with Treasury Holdings to manage the inspirational new Euros 380m <a href="http://www.theccd.ie/">Dublin Convention Centre</a>, designed by architect Kevin Roche</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The largest lift takes an articulated lorry up to the auditorium and the second lift takes a transit van.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Sales have gone well there - it has been brought in on budget – a huge budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe this is one of the best of its kind, a state of the art venue for Europe which is selling Dublin as a leading destination for business and leisure hospitality.... this together with the City’s new amazing Grand Canal Square Theatre, designed by internationally celebrated architect, Daniel Libeskind.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“In spite of the economic challenges we’re optimistic that by building our strategy to focus on customer experience and excellent service we can continue to develop more opportunities like these.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-80014927923817874072011-02-25T09:01:00.000-08:002011-03-02T11:57:07.631-08:00Emma Bridgewater - Making It Here!<div class="asset-body"> <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDo1cLgM7SyhECclellp3gf5f5L8f00NBhYO48QWD_eEY5IMZcvkqDdgaMjj6XBk_NRGL0aSDOhPSVdlh-iqmjSb7UBwxDPpe5sm95cx2I61ya-r5PcHQUuzk54NDxAwZBaSR6WTJV9aK/s1600/Emma+Bridgewater+image+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDo1cLgM7SyhECclellp3gf5f5L8f00NBhYO48QWD_eEY5IMZcvkqDdgaMjj6XBk_NRGL0aSDOhPSVdlh-iqmjSb7UBwxDPpe5sm95cx2I61ya-r5PcHQUuzk54NDxAwZBaSR6WTJV9aK/s320/Emma+Bridgewater+image+1.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emma Bridgewater</td></tr>
</tbody></table><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Midlands Productive Heritage and Future</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"So many exciting things can be made here in the Midlands and Stoke is the place to make quality, but there's been a mass blindness about making things in England," says </span><a href="http://www.emmabridgewater.co.uk/"><span style="color: #125a95; font-size: large;">Emma Bridgewater</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> speaking in the hospitable surroundings of her Factory Shop in Hanley, Stoke on Trent. We're mulling over the demise of so many of our great brands born out of the West Midlands productive design heritage.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"It's not necessary, we can do it. It's sad to see so much of our manufacturing skills and heritage being lost. I like to work within a recognisable tradition. We have so much infrastructure - museums, art schools, all with the intention of making things, but somehow it doesn't seem to happen. </span></div><div class="asset-more" id="more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"What I've always found is when everyone's turning to the right, have a look to the left. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Everyone told me you shouldn't go into manufacturing, so I thought, why not? I think I will. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"And you don't want to stay making in Stoke, everyone's going abroad. Why? I think I'll stay here. I don't think we should automatically do the obvious.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"I don't understand why there aren't more Emma Bridgewaters. We employ 180 people and we're recruiting at the moment. We've had two years of flabbergasting growth; in the year that just finished we grew in excess of 30% and that's on top of 30% the previous year. In 1985 we had a turnover of £30,000; by 2010 it was £11m.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"I think it's incredible that the Stoke on Trent pottery industry is rising again and I very much plan to be part of the future. I don't think we need to make everything abroad.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"I don't think our industrial base was anything like as sick as it was thought at time of last recession in the early '90s. There was a collective hysteria about making things cheaper. Make well and make them at the right price - this is what's really needed.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-99ZZlLIuomUpqn9GqC23SkODKeHjNkH_4jad2iVAK3O7AITJ9J-0WKt8ERFS8IqKUk4xxrwOC55HHbH82eDjTMFWk8bQz2omLUP3WMDUF0CyhB1tzLkaAXVrp8FUM09Y1dHpgJSjuR5/s1600/Emma+Bridgewater+image+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-99ZZlLIuomUpqn9GqC23SkODKeHjNkH_4jad2iVAK3O7AITJ9J-0WKt8ERFS8IqKUk4xxrwOC55HHbH82eDjTMFWk8bQz2omLUP3WMDUF0CyhB1tzLkaAXVrp8FUM09Y1dHpgJSjuR5/s320/Emma+Bridgewater+image+3.JPG" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emma Bridgewater in her Eastwood Pottery</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="font-size: large;">"There hasn't been enough independent thinking in management. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Why is it that the ceramic firms in Stoke which have survived have been making for the catering or commodity markets and yet in spite of that have managed to succeed?Because they've been consistently well managed. Their strategies have focussed on producing distinctive designs to drive niche market positions. Most importantly they have been privately owned. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"CEOs of publicly owned businesses have been given impossible tasks to reach targets within the short time frames expected by the City. To achieve their bonuses they have had to do dreadful things.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Bad habits have led to the closedown of many businesses that otherwise might have survived. Why, for example, did Wedgwood and Royal Doulton destroy each other with chronic indigestion? They both gobbled up all the competition, as was the fashion at the time. They lost focus on their customers and what they were really looking for. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"We're located here in the Eastwood Pottery which used to be the home of J&G Meakin, taken over by Wedgwood in 1970 and I very much regret the demise of other renowned potteries such as Masons. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"There is a way in which groups of people infect each other and the landscape here in Stoke was flawed by the 'buy and swallow' mania of the period. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"You're not just buying turnover when you buy a load of brands. How do you run 2 brands or companies effectively? It certainly doesn't interest me. I need to grow my own business - I might look to further diversify through licensed goods, but I have to keep in touch with my market, my customers and what they really want.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Manufacturing is conservative by nature. There is no natural deviation from what has been produced in the past. But you have got to face the customers and be absolutely clear about what they want and how they want to live. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"All too often manufacturing is the tail that wags the dog. If you're not careful, and especially if you don't love the product you're making and are simply focussing on the numbers, you'll begin to lose touch with what your customer really wants. It's not enough just to have some slick marketing - this alone won't work and customers will notice. You have to be welded to the product, the customers will get that.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"At the root of it was the breakdown between buyers and makers. The makers had lost touch with the buyers and the buyers could find lovely china in much nicer surroundings than Stoke!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Too often the ideas that people have in business about building something to 'get a result', or sell it on for a profit, are very reductive. What the economy needs is longer term thinking. Germany floats on a raft of family businesses. I haven't heard anyone talking much recently about family businesses, we still seem to be cow-towing to the City.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Emma's Background</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"I read English at London University and my dad was publisher who had been building his business and took it public whilst I was at college. If I hadn't done this I had thought I might go into publishing - I wanted to be a literary agent.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"After university I worked for two girls doing knitwear, who were having a blast, with little pain who had huge success. I was in New York in the early '80's selling into high end fashion retailers. One of their designs, a red jersey, was worn by Diana Spencer on the announcement of her engagement to Prince Charles. Overnight we went from selling 40 to 100 pieces a week.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"In the summer of 1984 I came up to Stoke and set up in business a year later. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"I had the 'kerching moment' when I was looking for a present for my mum's very nice kitchen in Oxford. I stood in a china shop and there was nothing there that I wanted to buy her. The nearest was some Portmeirion, but that was more like the sort of thing my great aunt had on her mantelpiece and just a little dated! In my head I could see what I wanted but there was nothing like it for sale. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"So when I arrived up here I wanted to hook up with someone who could make my ideas a reality. I found a mentor who had a workshop and he let me experiment with 3 or 4 of my own shapes and gave me the chance to learn how things were made. Within a few years I had acquired manufacturing facilities and before long we had expanded into our current factory on the Caldon canal which I run with my husband Matt.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Opportunities for young people today</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"I think it's easy to get cast down. Of course there's a huge pressure on jobs at the moment.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"When there is no work you may want to make things that people want, to create your own job. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"You don't have to do what everyone else is doing, just find out what people want. There is no point waiting for something to come along. If you go along to a supermarket or warehouse there are nothing but opportunities to do these things more dynamically and efficiently.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"For design students leaving university I think a register of students and producers would be a very good idea - because there are people out there prepared to make things if you have ideas about what you would like to have made coupled with an understanding of market opportunities.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Too often young designers don't seem to know what to do with their portfolios, but they do need to get these in front of potential partners and employers. It would be tremendous to provide them with the opportunity to interact with our authentic and much cherished brands in an uninhibited way.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"If I'm a maker with capacity I could enter my details onto a website and these could be searched by anyone who might want to make something - perhaps to meet seasonal demand or for the longer term.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Too often people have too little interest in starting their own businesses and making things. I went to Magdalen School recently to give a talk. When I asked the students there if they had ever visited a factory, not one of them put up their hand.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Art School should give you a good network to get together with a full range of contacts that'll give you the best chance to get your business ideas moving and there should be much more networking to support new business creation and survival.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"We also need to be conscious of how we are creating the environments that encourage young people stay on in our region after their studies. This is very much about the quality of life on offer. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Usually university quarters are good places to be with nice sporting and recreational facilities, bookshops, art galleries and libraries - all the key elements of cultural life. To keep and attract the best talent we need to focus on continuing to develop places where people want to live and work."</span></div>Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-36234100485536067042011-02-21T15:55:00.000-08:002011-02-21T15:55:35.754-08:00Authentic Brands - Quality, Heritage and Sincerity deliver higher margins<div class="asset-body"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8Ws2_pLD0jqbVSBJgARTMWmlZo_DbfU6U622CjpNVbllTpN36SLYVX3RmgHgNI7-5d7Z7ymPoDMhaalZMZdYdV3tBqeNzDqsDZq5guUZexUgB4PZCTZERoHb6d-qnfYvrqHjeGlSQvJb/s1600/michael_beverland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8Ws2_pLD0jqbVSBJgARTMWmlZo_DbfU6U622CjpNVbllTpN36SLYVX3RmgHgNI7-5d7Z7ymPoDMhaalZMZdYdV3tBqeNzDqsDZq5guUZexUgB4PZCTZERoHb6d-qnfYvrqHjeGlSQvJb/s1600/michael_beverland.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Professor Mike Beverland<br />
School of Management<br />
University of Bath</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="font-size: large;">"If an employee comes to you with an idea for a new product with no obvious market; it's new to the firm, new to the world and may not be even be possible to make, what would your reaction be?" asked Professor Mike Beverland at the Birmingham Institute of Art & Design at Birmingham City University recently, speaking at the first of the 2011 series of Design Built-In Visiting Lectures.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Many, if not most businesses wouldn't touch these ideas with a barge pole. For marketers, working to the credo, 'the customer is always right', innovations tend to become incremental; radical innovation is risky and rare. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Nonetheless, risky ideas can re-shape how we see and experience the world. As the author of "<strong>Building Brand Authenticity : 7 Habits of Iconic Brands</strong><em></em>" Prof Beverland, who has recently moved to Bath University from Australia, showed how his research indicated that successful brands are 'ignited' through innovation with brand authenticity derived from it. </span></div><div class="asset-more" id="more"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Brands that continue to innovate become part of history with higher margins and are loved by users. But innovators need support by their very nature - for going against tradition and breaking the rules.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Authenticity, he argued, is central to modern marketing practice.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Brand authenticity leads to - increased consumer perceptions of uniqueness (critical differentiation); increased purchase intentions and word-of-mouth support; attraction and retention of a greater proportion of higher value customers with these brands becoming embedded in wider cultural environment.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This can happen to such a great extent that people's loyalty and identification with these brands becomes embedded into their lifestyles to form part of their identities as individuals.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Companies can build brand authenticity through three key steps - by building product quality, reputation based on heritage or a historical narrative and sincerity - or developing the brand as part of a moral crusade.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In terms of product quality key features of these businesses include a love of production; design-led Innovation and a focus on developing meaningful connections between their products and their customers. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Heritage as a feature had often been overlooked in recent years, but was about building a reputation for innovation and leadership, coupled with becoming part of an identified culture or historical narrative. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Research by Stephen Brown, University of Ulster, showed that brand revivals had become a feature within consumer markets in recent years. These demonstrated familiar themes including the ability to evoke vivid memories of a collective experience, be relevant and in particular capable of being updated and generate collective longing for 'better times'.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sincerity tends to be linked to making innovation a moral crusade. If companies made a sincere claim and didn't back it up they would quickly become compromised.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Professor Beverland highlighted James Dyson's quest to re-invigorate Britain's industrial past by making innovation a personal moral crusade. New Zealand cleaning products business, BEE - Beauty Engineered for Ever - was making cleaning 'fun' by using natural products and by doing this had become one of fastest growing companies out of New Zealand in past 5 years.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Many of these businesses have a real passion for making their products combined with a genuine service orientation which can be summed up in the phrase, "<em>Build it and they will come</em>". When Australian naturalist, Steve Irwin built his Croc Park, or the Steve Irwin National Park - he felt that if Aussies came face to face with wildlife in their country they would love it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">These were leaders who got their hands dirty. "How many CEOs know the central functions of their businesses today?" asked Professor Beverland. Or as Vivienne Westwood put it, "I have to get to the bottom of things. I have to try to understand something...the world we live in suffers terribly from a sort of trademark-ism where everybody thinks they can find these simple keys to things and then fit everything in. The truth is in the detail."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">By getting stuck into the detail and really understanding the business and their markets these businesses were able to leap ahead of customer demand, bypassing some of the short-comings of taking a marketer-led approach. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As Prof Beverland put it, quoting from Stephen Brown, "Most mainstream marketers, maintain that the customer is always right, that the sales figures speak for themselves, that the public gets what the public wants. This may be so, but it's also true to say that the customer is always right wing - conservative, reactionary, stuck-in-the-mud - that sales figures don't always speak the truth and that the public shouldn't always get what the public wants."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Or as James Dyson has put it, "Sure we do some market research, but we don't listen to it slavishly. There are times when you have to bravely step forward. A true innovator takes risks." </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">For Professor Beverland companies could learn from 'market immersion', as opposed to market research. This could be developed by adopting stances such as employing customers within your business; living with the market; trusting your gut instinct, allowing employees to dabble or take time out to innovate, experimenting with new products and seeding your fan base early to take your customers on a journey.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As Chief Executive of Click Clack, John Heng put it,"to design a product for the US you have to be part of the US which is why I'm out of the office seven months of the year. I'm a US resident. I'm into it every day, I watch CBS News, CNN, ABC, just to become part of what happens."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Closer to home in the Midlands, Morgan Motor Company employs sports car enthusiasts taking on board their views when developing new products such as the Morgan Aeromax, which has been followed by the Morgan Eva.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Playmobil's founder, Hans Beck, was credited with "inspired Instinct" in developing their range. Much of it was based on his observations of children and how they play. Beck spent over 3 years sitting and playing with children. He noticed that they drew people with exaggerated facial features and whilst they had many toys they did not have small models of people to use with their toys.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Companies that take the market immersion route can end up actually spending less of R&D than their peer competitors, for example, Apple spends 5.9% of turnover on R&D compared with a 7.6% spend for the industry average.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Marketing is, when you think about it, all too often based on a form of 'Hearsay Evidence', which would not be admitted in a Court of law- for good reason," said Prof Beverland. "Too often marketing teams outsource market research and you get something back from people who are not passionate about it. Anthropologists have lived with people for years to understand them, for good reason."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ultimately brand authenticity was built through careful selection of your teams and by taking care of them; telling their stories to affirm your brands values; encouraging creativity by supporting risk-taking ideas and leading by example, - getting involved in innovation.</span></div>Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-89315524952338672412011-01-05T13:20:00.000-08:002011-01-05T14:49:48.736-08:00Design Students on a Roll with Pashley Cycles <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYNViQ63bXjHBokV9TGizsKLvMO_DC3f6B3uy0mj9bHIq21O3cGybK5mSler6PRwOGcFbM_XzAWOoK2vKJdxQyId3aEcuFpUKBIiHu1IukmufG07DwgDxnZ2N78IhryuugzxsKVV_V2mE/s1600/Pashley+Guv%2527nor+ifestyle_46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYNViQ63bXjHBokV9TGizsKLvMO_DC3f6B3uy0mj9bHIq21O3cGybK5mSler6PRwOGcFbM_XzAWOoK2vKJdxQyId3aEcuFpUKBIiHu1IukmufG07DwgDxnZ2N78IhryuugzxsKVV_V2mE/s400/Pashley+Guv%2527nor+ifestyle_46.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pashley Guv'nor<br />
Retro 1930's pathway racing cycle</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Students on the MA Product Design course at the Birmingham Institute of Art & Design, Birmingham City University, were asked by Adrian Williams, Managing Director, Pashley Cycles<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to work on new accessories concepts for the Pashley Guv’nor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pashley Cycles is England's longest established bicycle manufacturer, having been founded in 1926 in Stratford-upon-Avon. Its dedicated team design and hand-build a unique range of specialist bicycles, tricycles and work bikes.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiGFL09gFD16EGRrPNTDWLmuUIN-SlqJAFKNItbVl6jxgQe1lZl2LZHAuvoSmkoM0qIODgCSYJ93dSF1Ry_BP_MnbHqRyZZ3MmA0GKjzpFaoOk7cve4g8qhXbgrum5buhY-SW2JKfbNWl/s1600/Pashley+Tweed+Run+London+Poster.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiGFL09gFD16EGRrPNTDWLmuUIN-SlqJAFKNItbVl6jxgQe1lZl2LZHAuvoSmkoM0qIODgCSYJ93dSF1Ry_BP_MnbHqRyZZ3MmA0GKjzpFaoOk7cve4g8qhXbgrum5buhY-SW2JKfbNWl/s400/Pashley+Tweed+Run+London+Poster.JPG" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">London's Annual 'Tweed Run'<br />
a chance to indulge in cycling and style at the same time</td></tr>
</tbody></table> </div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">One of Pashley's most notable design classics, the Guv'nor, a retro 1930's pathway racing cycle, is favoured by many as <em>'the bike of choice'</em> for the classic Tweed Run - an annual cycle through London and a chance for the lovers of bicycles and style to indulge both their passions at once!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ySTC3FAl4um742QwJtoWZzrwsW_OzZb9NdqklR2W8s2bTHad5WcejEI5YkUYUtX2JAeqUGb77ZnXd30Vd4fWMPimr_eacdlMgH3SEYNnHLcRjEYTLvGMcJwysuD5jjRkPVs_V-PmKQAT/s1600/Pashley+Tweed+run+with+Graham+Powell+and+Nicolette.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="370" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ySTC3FAl4um742QwJtoWZzrwsW_OzZb9NdqklR2W8s2bTHad5WcejEI5YkUYUtX2JAeqUGb77ZnXd30Vd4fWMPimr_eacdlMgH3SEYNnHLcRjEYTLvGMcJwysuD5jjRkPVs_V-PmKQAT/s400/Pashley+Tweed+run+with+Graham+Powell+and+Nicolette.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MA Product Design Course Director, Graham Powell<br />
pictured with Nicolette Lowe, takes part in the London Tweed Run 2010</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Course Director, Graham Powell, split the students<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">into six groups with each asked to consider specific products – either a water bottle, reflector, repair kit, mudguard, bell or a pump.</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To ensure that students fully understood their chosen category they were asked to research them from an historical perspective and analyse them through observational drawing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOXiveMz44RCUR9N18Tqxp4An6yY8tJ1JnWa2inI7vGEXqUoehLTy5x21cNw8kHDVzrtOvYstXnLmLKWbjSQjKHrNPas-HzqmBActIvu1p5SZnhuNw3dcOujMrX0rg5pRxpVW6pCjZf07/s1600/Pashley+Thermos+Drawing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOXiveMz44RCUR9N18Tqxp4An6yY8tJ1JnWa2inI7vGEXqUoehLTy5x21cNw8kHDVzrtOvYstXnLmLKWbjSQjKHrNPas-HzqmBActIvu1p5SZnhuNw3dcOujMrX0rg5pRxpVW6pCjZf07/s320/Pashley+Thermos+Drawing.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Concept Drawings for Pashley Guv'nor Thermos Flask Accessory by Alexia Delas</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzgG8zGzzHVUwPfCJSf42x0Vc7iWQu96jVy1Ho2eu-KdoAgJ2div_0cXZ23XngJ1hzIWsaekB5YA76_ySnb-Y_XhGwgiy8ty3DEbHNN_B7Nf17_u5-SUEcHtMiFNIb7P1mJYe33N9bQlc/s1600/Pashley+Guv%2527nore+with+thermos.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzgG8zGzzHVUwPfCJSf42x0Vc7iWQu96jVy1Ho2eu-KdoAgJ2div_0cXZ23XngJ1hzIWsaekB5YA76_ySnb-Y_XhGwgiy8ty3DEbHNN_B7Nf17_u5-SUEcHtMiFNIb7P1mJYe33N9bQlc/s320/Pashley+Guv%2527nore+with+thermos.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pashley Guv'nor with Retro-styled Thermos Flask concept <br />
designed by Alexia Delas</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEc7CIU5MD61A039eQtIwG-MXKEVQmKwyrV3UPeBNrLhsL_EDiWU0Lt5400ZAHNcc9L6bIXKaL8fkIehQ432IwF-xIpnfiw4g0j87A_Cx96LZ8Nk_AWGh0bjZPETS6ejhrTyJp4c1jQGK2/s1600/Pashley+Bell+drawing+Adie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEc7CIU5MD61A039eQtIwG-MXKEVQmKwyrV3UPeBNrLhsL_EDiWU0Lt5400ZAHNcc9L6bIXKaL8fkIehQ432IwF-xIpnfiw4g0j87A_Cx96LZ8Nk_AWGh0bjZPETS6ejhrTyJp4c1jQGK2/s320/Pashley+Bell+drawing+Adie.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Observational Drawings for the Pashley Guv'nor Bicycle Bell Accessory</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Each student proposed four simple and affordable adaptations of an existing product, based upon aesthetics, interactions, cost and an alternative or new technology – with the intention that the new pieces might suit the Guv’nor better.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Od8b0LYbjkzFCb8HLtWyzrhTXyHCE2tJNO1FykGUuwwl5hhLK2cGeirJpeRAkQzhY0R4i3Ze0PH1j3b32-MOOfV1ySZDcwFyTnhxiKI5KX8ZGv30ouvF3qFYLHsbJAXQfw8xmLv7a1Gg/s1600/Pashley+Product+Accessories+show+BIAD+winter+2009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Od8b0LYbjkzFCb8HLtWyzrhTXyHCE2tJNO1FykGUuwwl5hhLK2cGeirJpeRAkQzhY0R4i3Ze0PH1j3b32-MOOfV1ySZDcwFyTnhxiKI5KX8ZGv30ouvF3qFYLHsbJAXQfw8xmLv7a1Gg/s400/Pashley+Product+Accessories+show+BIAD+winter+2009.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exhibition of Pashley Guv'nor retro-styled accessories at BIAD Winter 2009<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All the concept designs were brought together into an Exhibition which took place in Winter 2009.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The project formed part of the Product Evolution module, looking at the rise of retro within product design. Adrian Williams, Managing Director, Pashley, said he was "blown away" by the quality of the 22 student concepts shown to him. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGTTCFJF9uykZZD7rc9xyUoMeHW1yMGpJtfs1HhAM-PFu6dzEYEpmQvcRyB0p3pPLAV1bMd9NTE8rUVs5hsshvMb6zFEfojST7mQLdewHyxa0tKSjAN604Rc16lPQ95csDj4DiDikyUUq/s1600/Adrian+Williams+and+colleagues+at+BIAD+Pashley+Exhibition.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGTTCFJF9uykZZD7rc9xyUoMeHW1yMGpJtfs1HhAM-PFu6dzEYEpmQvcRyB0p3pPLAV1bMd9NTE8rUVs5hsshvMb6zFEfojST7mQLdewHyxa0tKSjAN604Rc16lPQ95csDj4DiDikyUUq/s400/Adrian+Williams+and+colleagues+at+BIAD+Pashley+Exhibition.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adrian Williams, Managing Director, Pashley Cycles (right front)<br />
viewing MA Product Design Guv'nor Accessories concepts with colleagues</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Having viewed all the entries, Adrian was so impressed by the calibre, brand authenticity and attention to detail demonstrated in the students' work, and was so keen to work with one of Graham’s students he offered Jon Cumberpatch, who had completed the MA Product Design the previous year, a design contract with Pashley Cycles.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For further information about the project and/or the MA Product Design course at BIAD contact </span></span><a href="mailto:graham.powell@bcu.ac.uk"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2288bb;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">graham.powell@bcu.ac.uk</span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> and on twitter </span></span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/MAProductDesign"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2288bb;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://www.twitter.com/MAProductDesign</span></span></span></a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAmPkuAh5By717M9RpTMGIUo7TOuo-rGkuoHNltlqpZMzDVNSHuYAvRWlSb-Hk8Vt8b8V_6zPEWtK7lqFOlho5g41r3-EURoIE8s_KL-2AUd9SZtSxR9onX_OmS35Dzn9z2_6GsCYg_WK/s1600/Pashley+Cycles+with+Pump+design.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAmPkuAh5By717M9RpTMGIUo7TOuo-rGkuoHNltlqpZMzDVNSHuYAvRWlSb-Hk8Vt8b8V_6zPEWtK7lqFOlho5g41r3-EURoIE8s_KL-2AUd9SZtSxR9onX_OmS35Dzn9z2_6GsCYg_WK/s400/Pashley+Cycles+with+Pump+design.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Retro-styled bicycle pump design <br />
by MA Product Design Student, Thomas Slack<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiem4KwTNUBxrDZxWpuFOYRrIV7BSbGEF1FrMGD9dAU-Uplkepua0FxhnNHSwFeLMRucHIXMnSWMN8Zrisf7sNqpd6G7cdlU-A1BJYJpv4M_AMn7p1rVggEO48Y38QzNfy4sfzMfBJChfC3/s1600/Pashley+rear+light+by+Peter+Whitehouse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiem4KwTNUBxrDZxWpuFOYRrIV7BSbGEF1FrMGD9dAU-Uplkepua0FxhnNHSwFeLMRucHIXMnSWMN8Zrisf7sNqpd6G7cdlU-A1BJYJpv4M_AMn7p1rVggEO48Y38QzNfy4sfzMfBJChfC3/s400/Pashley+rear+light+by+Peter+Whitehouse.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pashley Guv'nor with retro-styled concept reflector designed by Peter Whitehouse<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nw9cHHQYT2rTVm6YSzbP8r4OrTKDAAPaStzdvROHTIFHzagZSNNcveZo5gasohtRjoYh1sHpnhsfiw7MOO6osiQugssRQKfw3TYSw0Yy6y_rmgH-d06DxGvtXx5ekHtWLZXw8zojmejX/s1600/Pashley+Guv%2527nor+with+David+Nicolle+v+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nw9cHHQYT2rTVm6YSzbP8r4OrTKDAAPaStzdvROHTIFHzagZSNNcveZo5gasohtRjoYh1sHpnhsfiw7MOO6osiQugssRQKfw3TYSw0Yy6y_rmgH-d06DxGvtXx5ekHtWLZXw8zojmejX/s640/Pashley+Guv%2527nor+with+David+Nicolle+v+3.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David Nicolle, MA Product Design Student with Pashley Guv'nor <br />
and student designed Retro-styled Accessories<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlNypIgKLJdDu05xQ3qfukCRKriPNm0Ers5gmX2Gh5Ps7kZV4cqrp8mAxW_8GKbt3AhtYeZgy2_MAw65CrezuELgX3BTwjsNovsHNMe92r6s-uUKxwpSZdefekJI-E_n93mWOI3k-EmZ7/s1600/Pashley+Water+Bottle+accessory.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlNypIgKLJdDu05xQ3qfukCRKriPNm0Ers5gmX2Gh5Ps7kZV4cqrp8mAxW_8GKbt3AhtYeZgy2_MAw65CrezuELgX3BTwjsNovsHNMe92r6s-uUKxwpSZdefekJI-E_n93mWOI3k-EmZ7/s400/Pashley+Water+Bottle+accessory.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pashley Guv'nor with retro-styled water bottle designed by Chien Chien Chu</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSI-MjVuYNHFPYM_LHHTb-xz68H6I-QN4z1mlcx3JowmQvzE1q3PFPc__Sj1nl499kS8b66ymh-O2ixjDEl8p3AaRuu8LqEaM5CTAaYCOUXBsprctga77eMt9M7p5MxGo902d5kGAU89Q/s1600/Pashley+Guv%2527nor+and+model.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSI-MjVuYNHFPYM_LHHTb-xz68H6I-QN4z1mlcx3JowmQvzE1q3PFPc__Sj1nl499kS8b66ymh-O2ixjDEl8p3AaRuu8LqEaM5CTAaYCOUXBsprctga77eMt9M7p5MxGo902d5kGAU89Q/s640/Pashley+Guv%2527nor+and+model.JPG" width="412" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pashley Cycles Guv'nor <br />
with Concept Mudguards in Brass, designed by David Nicolle<br />
Retro-styled Thermos Flask designed by Alexia Delas<br />
Retro-styled Bicycle Pump designed by Thomas Slack<br />
Retro-Styled Reflector designed by Peter Whitehouse<br />
<br />
Model David Nicolle<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To view video of Adrian Williams and his colleagues at Pashley discussing the design and hand-build processes employed at Pashley Cycles visit <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/16852609"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">http://vimeo.com/16852609</span></a></span></span></span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For further information about Pashley Cycles visit </span><a href="http://www.pashley.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.pashley.co.uk</span></a></span></strong></div>Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-67452890062013575912011-01-05T08:43:00.000-08:002011-01-05T14:24:20.871-08:00Students Cook Up Design Treat for AGA<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vnetbarpRidPhOC4wlHjUr6f4NkE4IFxgEi2Yw5t45Tv84zKuf9qHuJ4qvPMMqorjJps8DSzZUJZE5hqqpspqqXCUZzwyQ3YpiYdGIjVUWUfG52JJtiODLKz4W5UKazT7fPHhfDc3tRk/s1600/872ovenAgaBRGCutout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vnetbarpRidPhOC4wlHjUr6f4NkE4IFxgEi2Yw5t45Tv84zKuf9qHuJ4qvPMMqorjJps8DSzZUJZE5hqqpspqqXCUZzwyQ3YpiYdGIjVUWUfG52JJtiODLKz4W5UKazT7fPHhfDc3tRk/s200/872ovenAgaBRGCutout.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AGA cast iron cookers</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In summer 2009 AGA Rangemaster plc, parent to AGA, the cast iron cooker company, set MA Product Design students at the Birmingham Institute of Art & Design (BIAD) a challenge <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- to design a concept AGA cast iron night storage radiator in one week, fulfilling the following objectives –</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> 1.Presenting a fresh, new product message to the current target market</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> 2. Creating a new revenue through expansion into cast iron night storage radiators</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Increasing interest with customers already aware of the brand</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Increasing awareness of the brand, with a focus on stimulating interest from new customer segments.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The design specifically needed to utilise night storage electricity, have the same design aesthetic and principles as AGA cookers and be an efficient and effective source of heat.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The winning design student was promised a work placement at AGA.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For students involved in this one week design challenge a steep learning curve followed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div> <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOjovNL9_iP4Rok0ziKaH_FTUVi7k6ek-M2-Yw9PYHeY9YF8hvp18NmH9GoLLd8fOCopjA5QOOrzks_stx_GokJoja_IRUF2w7R0AdknR-YqlJ5WoK4hAyuKFMBiOt-gkROGtugWBTpwL/s1600/MAPD+Students+visit+Aga+Ketley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOjovNL9_iP4Rok0ziKaH_FTUVi7k6ek-M2-Yw9PYHeY9YF8hvp18NmH9GoLLd8fOCopjA5QOOrzks_stx_GokJoja_IRUF2w7R0AdknR-YqlJ5WoK4hAyuKFMBiOt-gkROGtugWBTpwL/s320/MAPD+Students+visit+Aga+Ketley.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2009 MA Product Design Students visit<br />
AGA factory in Ketley, Telford</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">After</span> receipt of the design brief students visited a combination of AGA retail outlets and factories – the AGA foundry in Coalbrookdale and the factory in Ketley, Telford and received a lecture on ferrous metals.</span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmYLVlw13aBbU3l7R9bF05WaJzzEfQsG6Mtzss5xqKpXP14EgQjfB5recpOaOjhk8zIlPaTpMfZh2IpDvWQ3Uh3ZIfezzhQF4oFOLTvzZToY6mFNHZqOBI48j5cN5O5l9zsg_aZ76CJu1/s1600/MAPD+students+working+up+AGA+heat+storage+concepts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmYLVlw13aBbU3l7R9bF05WaJzzEfQsG6Mtzss5xqKpXP14EgQjfB5recpOaOjhk8zIlPaTpMfZh2IpDvWQ3Uh3ZIfezzhQF4oFOLTvzZToY6mFNHZqOBI48j5cN5O5l9zsg_aZ76CJu1/s320/MAPD+students+working+up+AGA+heat+storage+concepts.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MA Product Design Students working up <br />
AGA Heat Storage radiators for competition</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The students were responsible for the production of their concept designs which were made in the BIAD workshops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On completion AGA directors attended an Exhibition of the completed concepts – five days after presenting the MA Product Design students with the competition brief.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<br />
</div> <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Vja_5wC07uVzwoooa5ereerCwDK-huwpmPYh-zGNAeBndo6Bw0BZ9tns-aqf5B8nYjOjCr1O-iVET9Mh4NwiTSyzuMdRxO79B5MPi0ItfABL_5GWs8oFaXLonKd3eXwkJ20_OCitoPuz/s1600/Aga+Yu-Chen+Heat+Storage+Heater+Prototype.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Vja_5wC07uVzwoooa5ereerCwDK-huwpmPYh-zGNAeBndo6Bw0BZ9tns-aqf5B8nYjOjCr1O-iVET9Mh4NwiTSyzuMdRxO79B5MPi0ItfABL_5GWs8oFaXLonKd3eXwkJ20_OCitoPuz/s400/Aga+Yu-Chen+Heat+Storage+Heater+Prototype.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yu-Chein, Lui, AGA Heat Storage Radiator, Winning Concept</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Design focussed on flexible use of heat storage radiator in bathrooms and elsewhere</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdJgfLCBBzukMDJ6M861KSssFhq9o7zU6bYJ1MabipWlo4DaSaYQTyEm6dCeszFW1PxoMV0N6D8TEp8BxxHixj9YOFza0IiGdev6gMFPyMiye6vxAvZMNZpYymylPQmLS2K59nO7RNqQu/s1600/Tassilo+Neumann+Aga+Heat+Storage+Prototype+v2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdJgfLCBBzukMDJ6M861KSssFhq9o7zU6bYJ1MabipWlo4DaSaYQTyEm6dCeszFW1PxoMV0N6D8TEp8BxxHixj9YOFza0IiGdev6gMFPyMiye6vxAvZMNZpYymylPQmLS2K59nO7RNqQu/s400/Tassilo+Neumann+Aga+Heat+Storage+Prototype+v2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tassilo Neumann, AGA Heat Storage Radiator, Winning Concept<br />
Design providing seating and storage for shoes and other items<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">AGA Directors were so</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> impressed by the quality of the designs they selected two winners to take up placements<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Tassilo Neumann and Yu-Chein, Lui – winning designs pictured above.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlnM7v1snFzVDCl85lWelcvruSlfU7BIWvs06ahdAbIoiPRnUuWYqs72LiYyargEKcNgPlj6OaZ7yhrMN4yz67CJfhZNCx-kqJTDKHkXxVvFiIa-mVNqJWU9qV0onQHgb_bF7pUCuLcjK/s1600/UCA5UO0HECAUT4WUFCAYWLQRUCAQS9FZKCATSNK7PCA0RAECICAWAUME5CAI2Y3MSCAMPYKFUCA33384ICAHT5Z8ICAZGC5SHCAT8U39PCAPYA913CAVLHJ95CAIDWUT0CAMOJ454CAZ0YSGPCALCT79P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlnM7v1snFzVDCl85lWelcvruSlfU7BIWvs06ahdAbIoiPRnUuWYqs72LiYyargEKcNgPlj6OaZ7yhrMN4yz67CJfhZNCx-kqJTDKHkXxVvFiIa-mVNqJWU9qV0onQHgb_bF7pUCuLcjK/s1600/UCA5UO0HECAUT4WUFCAYWLQRUCAQS9FZKCATSNK7PCA0RAECICAWAUME5CAI2Y3MSCAMPYKFUCA33384ICAHT5Z8ICAZGC5SHCAT8U39PCAPYA913CAVLHJ95CAIDWUT0CAMOJ454CAZ0YSGPCALCT79P.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">William McGrath<br />
AGA Rangemaster plc<br />
Group Chief Executive</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On viewing the work Group Chief Executive, AGA Rangemaster plc, William McGrath said,<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Our AGA design and marketing team set the MA Product Design students at Birmingham City University a brief to come up with ten new product proposals for potential AGA night storage heaters.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“The results, amazingly produced in only 3 days, really impressed us and will no doubt stimulate further debate and development in the near future. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“We are delighted to be able to offer the two ‘best’ students work placements at our company too, although we would like to congratulate all the students on the quality of their designs.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Both winners, </span><span style="font-size: large;">Tassilo Neumann and Yu-Chein, Lui, were tasked during their week-long placement at AGA to working together to p</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ropose a new cooker concept that might be produced at the Rangemaster factory from steel, whilst still retaining the AGA cooker's (cast iron) aesthetic and values. The concept produced (below) greatly impressed the AGA team.</span></span></div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnqV01JHF2E2p_OfKSRdvZnOTADt4OkHtXGaNumtEfuo3Gv7P7P418DVmsNjffXsdEtfR7PpaIz4QMFwMzz_g3yWlI724idzOaq_RNM2nvGoBY53gG7HYLipYeccGpfENw2t4rhVnlxOs/s1600/Tassilo+Neumann+Aga+Placement+Project.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnqV01JHF2E2p_OfKSRdvZnOTADt4OkHtXGaNumtEfuo3Gv7P7P418DVmsNjffXsdEtfR7PpaIz4QMFwMzz_g3yWlI724idzOaq_RNM2nvGoBY53gG7HYLipYeccGpfENw2t4rhVnlxOs/s400/Tassilo+Neumann+Aga+Placement+Project.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tassilo Neumann Placement Project Concept AGA Cooker</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">MA Product Design Student submissions for the AGA Heat Storage Radiator Concept Design Competition -</span></span></div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAEQwXZp1MO5t9A5MRYEn45Y-zK1DraiUO-9MN3qdUZtrhIXqUXr7ZVkzerLNsP9A9YL_GMoFUVPzKuev2hVudj0H2kF36Wam6XtNii_0EfCNIK2diHE4TP2szQ8kHZ6FJuQz6Hmzonec/s1600/Judith+Genster+AGA+Heat+Storage+Prototype.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAEQwXZp1MO5t9A5MRYEn45Y-zK1DraiUO-9MN3qdUZtrhIXqUXr7ZVkzerLNsP9A9YL_GMoFUVPzKuev2hVudj0H2kF36Wam6XtNii_0EfCNIK2diHE4TP2szQ8kHZ6FJuQz6Hmzonec/s400/Judith+Genster+AGA+Heat+Storage+Prototype.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Judith Genster AGA Heat Storage Radiator Concept<br />
Design providing drying for herbs, spices, foods and accessories</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixE5-791ZuCUH6XFTgMTVy_77Ps3ToJxG61JnD9kZWqRyGDT39yJyB5n8j55txpPcb0aOYSGMYGRE1i4zykQuUnnO-hG-1hXeOgSiAW58NgIziXwAv8wbCl4dRlRrP6awWVqWc2mYr0bR_/s1600/Brian+Peers+AGA+Heat+Storage+Prototype.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixE5-791ZuCUH6XFTgMTVy_77Ps3ToJxG61JnD9kZWqRyGDT39yJyB5n8j55txpPcb0aOYSGMYGRE1i4zykQuUnnO-hG-1hXeOgSiAW58NgIziXwAv8wbCl4dRlRrP6awWVqWc2mYr0bR_/s400/Brian+Peers+AGA+Heat+Storage+Prototype.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian Peers AGA Heat Storage Radiator Concept<br />
heater with drying rail<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJp_2_QIoR7gvZUcH0iEDEgq_P4hCov9ye1LQ5pzKw61ARe0Q6YTJnYD5oZcqISxRCSh-QKWHk7u5QGqLiCLseJU6evvPd_DBAE5ndSmo72kO48RTQqte-NtowLT_Z1jqsni5LqoD9N84/s1600/Szu-Jung+Yu+Aga+Heat+Storage+Prototype.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJp_2_QIoR7gvZUcH0iEDEgq_P4hCov9ye1LQ5pzKw61ARe0Q6YTJnYD5oZcqISxRCSh-QKWHk7u5QGqLiCLseJU6evvPd_DBAE5ndSmo72kO48RTQqte-NtowLT_Z1jqsni5LqoD9N84/s400/Szu-Jung+Yu+Aga+Heat+Storage+Prototype.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Szu-Jung Yu AGA Heat Storage Radiator Concept<br />
Design providing convenient internal drying space </td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqEDeH9b9epq_JspWideol4xPe94umxXhG9qRCZZE5AZfcewR-eGaqvcIBkgY28v1A_kSAnZgVHnau4d18cgKXP_G4oV_rVARYblKwWnX6TUKySlMV3FCu3JmogLxn6GMppwGKMnUypcJ/s1600/Jon+Cumberbach+Aga+Heat+Storage+Prototype.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqEDeH9b9epq_JspWideol4xPe94umxXhG9qRCZZE5AZfcewR-eGaqvcIBkgY28v1A_kSAnZgVHnau4d18cgKXP_G4oV_rVARYblKwWnX6TUKySlMV3FCu3JmogLxn6GMppwGKMnUypcJ/s400/Jon+Cumberbach+Aga+Heat+Storage+Prototype.JPG" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jon Cumberpatch AGA Heat Storage Radiator Concept<br />
Providing heat storage 'drawers' which can be withdrawn and moved around the home</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdqBvj1lwJQqYgCcXgEyZfNNaN4JlLI-bMvYvRkehr49cJGlzvw4oay4dbmkhLrilpTP2407X81xV5GCp9W2LXTqbBUwMj19E3hwyGmnvbw_6U1hIh-vAF20COxLl4o0UIdNzXvHLR8Kj/s1600/Amy+Blackwell+AGA+Heat+Storage+Prototype.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdqBvj1lwJQqYgCcXgEyZfNNaN4JlLI-bMvYvRkehr49cJGlzvw4oay4dbmkhLrilpTP2407X81xV5GCp9W2LXTqbBUwMj19E3hwyGmnvbw_6U1hIh-vAF20COxLl4o0UIdNzXvHLR8Kj/s400/Amy+Blackwell+AGA+Heat+Storage+Prototype.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amy Blackwell AGA Heat Storage Radiator Concept<br />
heat storage cavities together with heated trays</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AaiHl0pRPlVvZkxelptv_Jkb0srxQQ-39SaTD4tkcloAunHtqe7QjV6gPj92762Z0EZr-smOrXtZbq9PsCFQ3S9FpVR594l7UO8EEKJa67CXv2qy-f0G5A0HmT97c9BPnuRR4NVFMhvY/s1600/Aga+Fran+Shoating+Heat+Storage+Prototype.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AaiHl0pRPlVvZkxelptv_Jkb0srxQQ-39SaTD4tkcloAunHtqe7QjV6gPj92762Z0EZr-smOrXtZbq9PsCFQ3S9FpVR594l7UO8EEKJa67CXv2qy-f0G5A0HmT97c9BPnuRR4NVFMhvY/s400/Aga+Fran+Shoating+Heat+Storage+Prototype.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fan Shoating AGA Heat Storage Radiator Concept<br />
the 'AGA Pet' - ready to move with its owners from room to room</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXHpxxo6q7q-8zo4MjEpS3QfOhTySqV_fuRYG83cFfSCj8rPWA8W44nt0ocUdlE6RF5VIPTjbJ3v0MYaTqedCqD4fT9dEp1_ihlJ5E-88Xi19kGnftjxkcNjtdzwfxrzc0h8gRoi-gel_/s1600/Aga+Chi-Kai+Huang+Heat+Storage+Prototype.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXHpxxo6q7q-8zo4MjEpS3QfOhTySqV_fuRYG83cFfSCj8rPWA8W44nt0ocUdlE6RF5VIPTjbJ3v0MYaTqedCqD4fT9dEp1_ihlJ5E-88Xi19kGnftjxkcNjtdzwfxrzc0h8gRoi-gel_/s400/Aga+Chi-Kai+Huang+Heat+Storage+Prototype.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chih-Kai Huang AGA Heat Storage Radiator concept<br />
Heated seat with drying or heating space for shoes and other items</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2-G-L5boSILQ4zRCXU7QPc2pPKZ7QuszoMKnwjNjI1siDuIs0B6nrZayQJWfbzyt8zRNa7V6LgUCyea0hYW3N7XKLQgx6PbC8I6zO1Tr1AeSDMQS8CIx6d6iWtpEID6qjGysQiTV1i3q/s1600/Chan+Solanki+AGA+Heat+Storage+ProtoType.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2-G-L5boSILQ4zRCXU7QPc2pPKZ7QuszoMKnwjNjI1siDuIs0B6nrZayQJWfbzyt8zRNa7V6LgUCyea0hYW3N7XKLQgx6PbC8I6zO1Tr1AeSDMQS8CIx6d6iWtpEID6qjGysQiTV1i3q/s400/Chan+Solanki+AGA+Heat+Storage+ProtoType.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chan Solanki, AGA Heat Storage Radiator concept</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">For further information about the project and/or the MA Product Design course at BIAD contact </span><a href="mailto:graham.powell@bcu.ac.uk"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2288bb;">graham.powell@bcu.ac.uk</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> and on twitter </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/MAProductDesign"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2288bb;">http://www.twitter.com/MAProductDesign</span></span></a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For Further information about AGA Rangemaster plc visit </span><a href="http://www.agarangemaster.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://www.agarangemaster.com/</span></a><br />
<br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span>Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-73143397027330365542010-12-21T05:46:00.000-08:002011-03-17T11:50:13.348-07:002011 Visiting Lecture Series, Design Built-In<span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Details are given below for our 2011 Visiting Lecture Series , <em><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Design Built-In, </span></em>being jointly held by the <strong>Birmingham Institute of Art & Design, Birmingham City University,</strong> and <strong>Aston University, School of Engineering and Applied Science,</strong> with the support of <strong>The Birmingham Post.</strong></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last year our Visiting Lecture Series was a great success - having welcomed diverse speakers including Professor Roberto Verganti of Politecnico di Milano and Copenhagen Business School; Professor David Bailey, Coventry Business School; Francine Houben, Director, Mecanoo architecten, designer and architect for the new Library of Birmingham; Waheed Nazir, Director Planning and Regeneration, Birmingham City Council and Neil Rami, Chief Executive, Marketing Birmingham</span>.</span></span></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">These lectures follow a very successful lecture series, <em><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Aspects of Design</span></em> held earlier in the year and including Visiting lectures from Professor Andrew Sentance of Warwick Business School and the Monetary Policy Committee, Satish Kumar, author, philosopher and Visiting Fellow of Schumacher College, Charles Morgan of Morgan Motor Company and renowned engineer and designer, Dr Alex Moulton of Moulton Cycles.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><strong>2011 Design Built-In - Visiting Lecture Programme</strong></span></span></u></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5qu8BzudqMsYBomI4ZZ2N8sQh23eDPxH98oLYdRaR5Um4DciOAovX370azd1C4LVKOHj42CfXsD_08mFnKDHqCWCmgbL7K64156DeZuKkJdps3Bl6QHaZEt8xvzudQmqdPMAQh9ed8UR/s1600/John_heskett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5qu8BzudqMsYBomI4ZZ2N8sQh23eDPxH98oLYdRaR5Um4DciOAovX370azd1C4LVKOHj42CfXsD_08mFnKDHqCWCmgbL7K64156DeZuKkJdps3Bl6QHaZEt8xvzudQmqdPMAQh9ed8UR/s1600/John_heskett.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Professor John Heskett</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> * <strong><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">Professor John Heskett, immediate past Chair Professor Design, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, <span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="color: purple;">'Using Design to Create Markets'</span>,</span> </span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">Date: </span></strong></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: yellow; color: purple;">30th March</span><span style="color: purple;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"> 2011, 3pm</span>,</span> Room 201, BIAD, Gosta Green, Birmingham</span></strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"></span></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">John Heskett took up a post as Chair Professor in the School of Design, Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2004 after fifteen years in the USA as professor at the Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. </span></strong><br />
<div class="bodytext"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"></span></span></div><div class="bodytext"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">John Heskett is known as the author of Industrial Design, (1980), used as a basic textbook on design courses in many countries; German Design 1870-1918, (1987); and Philips: A Study in Corporate Design (1989). Toothpicks and Logos: Design in Everyday Life, was published by Oxford University Press in 2002 and reissued in 2005 as A Very Short Introduction to Design. It has been translated into Swedish, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Greek and Turkish. </span></div><div class="bodytext"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"></span></span></div><div class="bodytext"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">John contributes articles, essays and reviews to numerous magazines, anthologies and catalogues. His consultant experience includes work for governments, universities and design companies around the world. </span></div><div class="bodytext"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"></span></span></div><div class="bodytext"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #073763;">His current research is focussed on the theme of how design creates economic value and the role of this in Design Policy in governments and corporations. Other areas of teaching and consultancy include the relationship between design and innovation, the problems of successfully changing the nature of markets, and the problems of design in global markets</span>.</span></div><div class="bodytext"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="bodytext"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsG_G5Jrl8a4i92ozDsRzqINYwOcptzruRMxrF-Fl-XnPgXZ8QmQqBUl93Nd179MJUknPNGWIdU4yDWkiEdAGdSBbs4zZQyylm_ZSykkK1-0yRf911lss2unYijleLGbQT6tLa3dMjoUHv/s1600/John+Heskett+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="151" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsG_G5Jrl8a4i92ozDsRzqINYwOcptzruRMxrF-Fl-XnPgXZ8QmQqBUl93Nd179MJUknPNGWIdU4yDWkiEdAGdSBbs4zZQyylm_ZSykkK1-0yRf911lss2unYijleLGbQT6tLa3dMjoUHv/s320/John+Heskett+v2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more information visit </span><a href="http://www.johnheskett.net/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.johnheskett.net/</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9l_RViG6FVOu6UKvW1HN14i0lJK6TJfFR2uj32l3hI4fMmUpIAjERCL-ApZXOKhNstrjj3O5g3KXmbndkn5S51sr0R99zhoUSUj0TZzWqy8FkQecMIbYzIzs2uy2eIzpBORu5KIz5lF_M/s1600/Ruth+Reed+President+RIBA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9l_RViG6FVOu6UKvW1HN14i0lJK6TJfFR2uj32l3hI4fMmUpIAjERCL-ApZXOKhNstrjj3O5g3KXmbndkn5S51sr0R99zhoUSUj0TZzWqy8FkQecMIbYzIzs2uy2eIzpBORu5KIz5lF_M/s1600/Ruth+Reed+President+RIBA.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ruth Reed, Architect and President RIBA</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">* Ruth Reed, President, RIBA, <span style="color: purple;">"Compete to Innovate"</span> - a talk on the u</span><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">se of competition to stimulate innovation in architecture</span></span>.</span></span></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<strong><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">Date: <span style="color: purple;">1st March 2011, 4pm, G 8, Aston University (NOTE POSTPONED)</span></span></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Ruth Reed is President </strong><strong><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">of</span> the RIBA <span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">2009 – 2011 </span>and is currently Course Director of the Postgraduate Diploma in Architectural Practice at the Birmingham School of Architecture</strong>. </span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ruth has practiced as an architect in a variety of practices, <span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">running</span> her own practice Reed Architects <span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">from</span> 1992 <span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">to 2005 </span>which specialised in sustainable rural design particularly for self-builders. Between 2002 and 2004 she also acted as a fee-paid planning inspector determining built environment appeals.<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ruth is now partner in Green Planning Solutions an architectural and planning consultancy specialising in unusual rural casework.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Her involvement at the RIBA stretches over fifteen years in a variety of roles, including between 2003 and 2005 as President of the Royal Society of Architects in Wales. As RIBA President Ruth lectures and speaks internationally on design and architecture and is due to speak at the <span style="color: #073763;">Massachusetts Institute of Technology in early 2011. </span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Professor Michael Beverland, Professor of Marketing, University of Bath, School of Management, <span style="color: purple;">'Design Orientation and Authentic</span> <span style="color: purple;">Brands'</span></span></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<strong><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #073763;">Date: </span>3rd February 2011, 3pm</span> </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Venue: <span style="color: purple;">Birmingham Institute of Art & Design (BIAD) <span style="background-color: yellow;">Room 201</span> </span></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple;">Visual Communications, Red Floor</span></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #073763;">For directions visit</span> <a href="http://www.biad.bcu.ac.uk/about/gosta.htm">http://www.biad.bcu.ac.uk/about/gosta.htm</a></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RO79fu0XCp5aO1TvuEoq4v5AxYOEeYXga9L5tStgyigPae59HIfVfLJKGZyOdqVRpYFrEJhk1zCBCPqdddzwbfZno9d6OI5QEukRYNN7HGNVpFHBtUYNzPra-19mUIWyXMgzJyPZB2pD/s1600/michael_beverland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RO79fu0XCp5aO1TvuEoq4v5AxYOEeYXga9L5tStgyigPae59HIfVfLJKGZyOdqVRpYFrEJhk1zCBCPqdddzwbfZno9d6OI5QEukRYNN7HGNVpFHBtUYNzPra-19mUIWyXMgzJyPZB2pD/s1600/michael_beverland.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prof Michael Beverland</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">University of Bath</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong>Michael Beverland is a Professor of Marketing at the University of Bath, School of Management. </strong></span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong>His research over the past decade has focussed on developing design-led businesses and the management of brands, including his well known book, “Brand Authenticity: The Seven Habits of Iconic Brands”. </strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">He has also focussed on how customers find meaning through design and consumption activities, co-authoring two notable books, “Memorable Customer Experiences” and “Why Women Shop – Secrets Revealed”. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">He has a strong focus on developing practical models for managers to build brand value and excite customers using qualitative research methods.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">* Dr Constantin Gurdgiev, Head of MacroEconomics, IBM Institute for Business Value Global Centre for Economic Development </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">Finance Lecturer, Trinity College Dublin </span></span></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: yellow; color: #073763;">Date: To be confirmed</span></span></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPseETZYyF5tXLPbEi2kQTxRPC_1shxfG2_XX6yVC_6THThH1Xj5yZvqRKY3cTyzdwgCBF8IyHMjn3MD1lVylO2FE3HvT25bX8wvoKdf0c-YXI3nfT3c8yaSbAsIgf2d9Wiyc1CMwsxBK/s1600/Constantin+Gurdgiev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPseETZYyF5tXLPbEi2kQTxRPC_1shxfG2_XX6yVC_6THThH1Xj5yZvqRKY3cTyzdwgCBF8IyHMjn3MD1lVylO2FE3HvT25bX8wvoKdf0c-YXI3nfT3c8yaSbAsIgf2d9Wiyc1CMwsxBK/s320/Constantin+Gurdgiev.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dr Constantin Gurdgiev</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Head of Macroeconomics</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> IBM Institute for Business Value</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">In his role as Head of Macroeconomics at the IBM Institute for Business Value Global Centre for Economic Development, Dr Gurdgiev is responsible for conducting thought leadership research into macroeconomic aspects of urban development, as well as analysis and modelling of macroeconomic environments at city, state and regional levels for a variety of international, public and private sectors organizations</span>.</span><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></strong></div><span style="color: #073763;"><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dr. Gurdgiev has a background in macroeconomics and finance and more than 15 years’ experience in international consultancy work in the areas of strategy, economic analysis and financial markets. He holds a Ph.D. in macroeconomics and finance from Trinity College, Dublin, an M.A. in macroeconomics from Johns</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Hopkins University and an M.A. in mathematics from University of California, Los Angeles. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He is a Lecturer in Finance with Trinity College, Dublin and is research active in the areas of theoretical finance and applied finance applications to property markets, taxation regimes and high performance computing.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Relevant articles: </span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www-03.ibm.com/press/attachments/IBV_Smarter_Cities_-_Final.pdf">http://www-03.ibm.com/press/attachments/IBV_Smarter_Cities_-_Final.pdf</a></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www-05.ibm.com/ie/emerging_business_centre/pdf/EmergenceofEcoEfficiencyEconomy.pdf">http://www-05.ibm.com/ie/emerging_business_centre/pdf/EmergenceofEcoEfficiencyEconomy.pdf</a></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://trueeconomics.blogspot.com/2010/07/economics-572010-future-of-our-cities.html">http://trueeconomics.blogspot.com/2010/07/economics-572010-future-of-our-cities.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://trueeconomics.blogspot.com/2010/07/economics-19710-urban-growth-education.html">http://trueeconomics.blogspot.com/2010/07/economics-19710-urban-growth-education.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://trueeconomics.blogspot.com/2010/06/economics-13062010-mapping-dublins.html">http://trueeconomics.blogspot.com/2010/06/economics-13062010-mapping-dublins.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://trueeconomics.blogspot.com/2010/03/economics-05032010-can-immigration-help.html">http://trueeconomics.blogspot.com/2010/03/economics-05032010-can-immigration-help.html</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span></strong></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;"><strong><span style="color: #073763;">* Dr</span><span style="color: #073763;"> James Moultrie, Institute for Manufacturing, Cambridge University</span></strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;"><strong><span style="color: #073763;"></span></strong></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;"><strong>Date: <span style="color: purple;">23<sup>rd</sup> February, 2011, 3pm</span>, <span style="color: purple;">ROOM 138, Visual Communications, Birmingham Institute of Art & Design - NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE</span></strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tVYnFrgNMO7ZjwKv-Vi-P9cbfhGKey5tXivXdHLCgrzWy5IbgtHeQv-MEvn2h_p4-o-f99iFP2TqoUENjlNeLLarVR9NlkKu9sPTjXAzkI4elodJklu1aN_kNxCLWo2392b5ryPSpYH5/s1600/james+moultrie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tVYnFrgNMO7ZjwKv-Vi-P9cbfhGKey5tXivXdHLCgrzWy5IbgtHeQv-MEvn2h_p4-o-f99iFP2TqoUENjlNeLLarVR9NlkKu9sPTjXAzkI4elodJklu1aN_kNxCLWo2392b5ryPSpYH5/s320/james+moultrie.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dr James Moultrie </span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Institute for Manufacturing</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">University of Cambridge</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>James Moultrie</strong></span></span></div></div><div style="margin: auto 0cm;"><a href="http://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/people/jm329/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/people/jm329/</span></a></div><div style="margin: auto 0cm;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><h2 style="margin: auto 0cm;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;">Background</span></h2><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong>James Moultrie is a University Lecturer in Innovation and Design Management. His research interests seek to improve the utilisation of design skills and increase design/innovation capability at project, firm and national levels. Specific interests include design management, design strategy and the role of the physical environment on enhancing innovation. His PhD focused on assessing and improving design capabilities in small firms.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong>James is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer (IMechE) and has over ten years of industrial experience as a project manager, senior engineer and marketing product manager in the precision instruments sector. He has a 'Scientific and Technical Academy Award' and an Emmy for work on a range of lenses for professional 35mm cinematography.</strong></span><br />
<span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>James is responsible for research activities relating to </strong></span><a href="http://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/ctm/idm/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Innovation and Design Management</strong></span></a><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span></span><br />
<h2 style="margin: auto 0cm;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;">Research Interests</span></h2><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Measurement of design capability at a firm and national level</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Strategic management of design</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">New approaches to managing new product development</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Product aesthetics</span></li>
</ul><h2 style="margin: auto 0cm;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;">Selected Publications</span></h2><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moultrie J, Clarkson P J, Probert D R, (2007), Development of a design audit tool, Journal of Product Innovation Management, Vol. 24 No. 4</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moultrie J, Clarkson P J, Probert D R, (2006), Development of a product audit, Journal of Engineering Manufacture, Proceedings of the I.Mech.E Part B, Vol. 220 No. 7, pp 1157-1174</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lewis M, Moultrie J, (2005), The organisational innovation laboratory, Journal of Creativity & Innovation Management, Vol. 14 No. 1, pp 73-83</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crilly N, Moultrie J, Clarkson P J, (2004), Seeing things: response to the visual domain in product design, Design Studies, Vol. 25 No. 6. pp547-577</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For a full list of James Moultrie's publications </span><a href="http://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/people/jm329/publications.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">follow this link</span></a><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></span><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"></span> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">* Ian Callum, Design Director, Jaguar Cars</span> </span><span style="color: purple;">(Date to be confirmed)</span></strong></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></strong><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsjaf5duW2bRAbLwVOOfe1XTPy_PyGLzxr4NOY3Y9ZXqXj8IH4KvjLNDXhcna6XZa_1BOpJ5LEL-hK5IqCgjwR4mZDdvc3QEG7HpFzJxFnSgOxjn11tCzLdzKW-QbeiuRtwMe9F2uwbGE/s1600/Ian+Callum+thoughtful.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsjaf5duW2bRAbLwVOOfe1XTPy_PyGLzxr4NOY3Y9ZXqXj8IH4KvjLNDXhcna6XZa_1BOpJ5LEL-hK5IqCgjwR4mZDdvc3QEG7HpFzJxFnSgOxjn11tCzLdzKW-QbeiuRtwMe9F2uwbGE/s320/Ian+Callum+thoughtful.JPG" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Design Built-In, Visiting Lecture at Birmingham Institute of Art & Design</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with Ian Callum, Design Director, Jaguar Cars 2011</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In 1991, Ian Callum was appointed Chief Designer and General Manager of </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/en/Tom_Walkinshaw_Racing" title="Tom Walkinshaw Racing"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">TWR</span></a><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Design. During this period he was responsible for designing the </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/en/Aston_Martin" title="Aston Martin"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Aston Martin</span></a><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/en/Aston_Martin_DB7" title="Aston Martin DB7"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">DB7</span></a><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, now established as the most successful Aston Martin of all time. Callum also designed the V12-powered DB7 Vantage and Aston Martin's Project Vantage concept car. At TWR, Callum was also responsible for a wide range of design programmes for other TWR clients, including </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/en/Volvo" title="Volvo"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Volvo</span></a><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> and </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/en/Mazda" title="Mazda"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mazda</span></a><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He was awarded the </span><a class="new" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/en/index.php?title=Jim_Clark&action=edit" title="Jim Clark"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jim Clark</span></a><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Memorial Award in 1995 in recognition of his styling work on the DB7. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In 1999, Callum was appointed to head design at Jaguar, which had become a </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/en/Ford_Motor_Company" title="Ford Motor Company"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ford Motor Company</span></a><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> subsidiary. He had started his design career at Ford and had worked in Ford design studios in Britain, the United States, Germany, Japan and Australia. He was then appointed Design Manager responsible for the </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/en/Carrozzeria_Ghia" title="Carrozzeria Ghia"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ghia</span></a><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Design Studio in Turin and initiated the Ghia Zig and Zag show car concepts. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Born in Dumfries, Scotland, in 1955, Callum studied at Lanchester Polytechnic's (now Coventry University) School of Transportation Design in Coventry, Aberdeen Art College and the Glasgow School of Art, where he graduated with a degree in Industrial Design. This was followed by a two year, post-graduate course in Vehicle Design at the Royal College of Art, where he graduated with a Masters Degree in Industrial Design. His younger brother </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/en/Moray_Callum" title="Moray Callum"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Moray Callum</span></a><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> is also an automotive designer. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ian Callum is responsible for the designs of the Aston Martin </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/en/Aston_Martin_DB7" title="Aston Martin DB7"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">DB7</span></a><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, DB7 Vantage, </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/en/Aston_Martin_V12_Vanquish" title="Aston Martin V12 Vanquish"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Vanquish</span></a><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/en/Jaguar_XK" title="Jaguar XK"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jaguar XK</span></a><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, XKR, and the up coming </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/en/Jaguar_XF" title="Jaguar XF"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jaguar XF</span></a><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> (set to replace the </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/en/Jaguar_S-Type" title="Jaguar S-Type"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jaguar S-Type</span></a><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">). He is also responsible for the tail gate design on the </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/en/Jaguar_X-Type" title="Jaguar X-Type"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jaguar X-Type</span></a><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Estate. </span><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">(Biographical details taken from Wikicars)</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;">Visit Jaguar Cars</span>: <a href="http://www.jaguar.com/gb/en/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://www.jaguar.com/gb/en/</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Design Article visit </span><a href="http://designandinnovationwm.blogspot.com/2010/09/designtalk2-ian-callum-design-director.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://designandinnovationwm.blogspot.com/2010/09/designtalk2-ian-callum-design-director.html</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">Ar</span>ticle covering some of Ian's design drivers: </span></span></span><a href="http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=52&i=10823"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=52&i=10823</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>* Professor Stephen Evans, </strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Professor of Life Cycle Engineering, Manufacturing Department, </strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Cranfield University</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;">Date: <span style="color: purple;">3rd May 3pm</span><span style="color: purple;">,</span> Venue to be confirmed</span></strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbj88L76wWEcpeXfFv_mJZJxY5SFjTtBFJgLdpgUQPpi6LKwPC1QR_tbJcGdplXnlmuuzSMCTVA0SJ5CJo34CKTV6Qal9xIQVrjwmVQfILQqh4JpPNDeCGqAl8v0DuzAdwdE32ola0OSjh/s1600/Prof+Steve+Evans%252C+Cranfield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbj88L76wWEcpeXfFv_mJZJxY5SFjTtBFJgLdpgUQPpi6LKwPC1QR_tbJcGdplXnlmuuzSMCTVA0SJ5CJo34CKTV6Qal9xIQVrjwmVQfILQqh4JpPNDeCGqAl8v0DuzAdwdE32ola0OSjh/s1600/Prof+Steve+Evans%252C+Cranfield.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prof Steve Evans, <br />
Cranfield University<br />
Manufacturing Dept.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><h3><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Background</span></h3><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Professor Stephen Evans spent 12 years in industry, rising to become Engineering Systems Manager at Martin-Baker Engineering, the world leading manufacturer of ejection seats. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">His industrial experience led to an emphasis on improving engineering performance and provided an excellent grounding for tackling complex, real-life problems.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Professor Evans has over 20 years of academic experience which includes working collaboratively with leading industrial and academic institutions from around the globe and supervising over 120 PhD. and MSc. students at Cranfield. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">His research seeks a deep understanding of how industry brings environmental and social sustainability concerns into its design and manufacturing practices.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He works with organisations developing solutions that move us towards a sustainable future. He researches and conducts projects with organisations to improve their performance in various dimensions:</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1. Designing more sustainable products and producing them in more sustainable ways.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2. Increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of design, manufacture and servicing of both products and services.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">His recent work includes: </span><br />
<ul><li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sustainable factories</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Food systems for people with reduced access to food</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sustainable city re-generation design</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sustainable design and operations for mainstream car manufacturers</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cars with water for exhaust that do 300mpg (equivalent). </span></li>
</ul><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He has observed that each sector (and each company in it) is only unique in the particular details which hold it back from better performance. The common issues (including lack of innovation, limited collaboration, poor performance management) can benefit from structured responses. Professor Evans has helped organisations create and implement such structured responses to resolve a variety of problems.</span><br />
<br />
<h3><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Current activities</span></h3><ul><li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Principal investigator on TSB </span><a href="http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/sas/manufacturingsystems/research/therm.html" title=""><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">THERM</span></a><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> energy & manufacturing waste re-use modeling project</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lead Author on the </span><a href="http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/sas/manufacturingsystems/research/sis.html" title=""><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">SIS</span></a><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> sustainable industrial system programme</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Principal Investigator on EPSRC sustainable engineering projects</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Principal Investigator on leading Product-Service Systems project</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Specialist Adviser to the House of Lords inquiry into Waste Reduction</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Member of the Board of the Centre for Sustainable Engineering</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Advisor to the Carbon Connect inquiry into environmental technology</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Partner in RiverSimple: open-source Hydrogen fuel cell powered future transport</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Member of Conservative Party Waste Commission</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">‘Sustainability Champion’ for Minister for Skills</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Member of Technology Strategy Board Resource Efficiency Steering Group</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Supervisor of 6 current PhDs/EngDs.</span></li>
</ul><h3><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Clients</span></h3><ul><li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Technology Strategy Board (TSB)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Airbus UK</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jaguar/Land Rover</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Brompton Cycles</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Morgan Motor Company</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The City of Porto</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nissan Technology Centre – Europe</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Electrolux</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Vitsoe</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Toyota UK.</span></li>
</ul><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">For more about Professor Stephen Evans' work visit </span><br />
<a href="http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/sas/aboutus/staff/evanss.html">http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/sas/aboutus/staff/evanss.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-39517424046829743062010-12-17T11:31:00.000-08:002011-03-03T05:18:10.614-08:00Genuine Triumph - Stunning Lifestyle Accessories Collection Delivered by MA Product Design Students <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EutGWlATnls7EMaJOg-Na9rQTuUdn2VLVlpKC4eYQAqCs89Q_RovZd3tfKR4QxfEFkJoDwsMWvu1t3RJ7L6-M2uFw55jXAvTmMlA7C_xmUWuAS7nKqCXhKwUOOTUJ254t52M4FPPCjqW/s1600/Triumph+Aedas+BIAD+exhibition+gv.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EutGWlATnls7EMaJOg-Na9rQTuUdn2VLVlpKC4eYQAqCs89Q_RovZd3tfKR4QxfEFkJoDwsMWvu1t3RJ7L6-M2uFw55jXAvTmMlA7C_xmUWuAS7nKqCXhKwUOOTUJ254t52M4FPPCjqW/s400/Triumph+Aedas+BIAD+exhibition+gv.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Triumph Lifestyle Accessories <br />
Displayed at Aedas, Colmore Plaza<br />
Birmingham</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At a dazzling evening cocktail party, Birmingham Institute of Art & Design (BIAD) MA Product Design Course Director, Graham Powell, launched a superb collection of prototype Triumph Lifestyle Accessories, hosted by Aedas at their Colmore Plaza premises in Birmingham yesterday (Thursday 16<sup>th</sup> December 2010).</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHC-Ng9KsoGPgTABxJoQOpPd8hIqYsMld-npWx2xeoR8SUlviLQ6xGD5adsAuQ35cmyPLY7azOEn1uqnAxgfZni-wJ60Y_jU7iBLLDYRwM4K9jpJf9Or_zNV6B4OMC1nCsIo4GPd2YeyN_/s1600/Triumph+Accessories+Show+gv2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHC-Ng9KsoGPgTABxJoQOpPd8hIqYsMld-npWx2xeoR8SUlviLQ6xGD5adsAuQ35cmyPLY7azOEn1uqnAxgfZni-wJ60Y_jU7iBLLDYRwM4K9jpJf9Or_zNV6B4OMC1nCsIo4GPd2YeyN_/s400/Triumph+Accessories+Show+gv2.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Triumph Prototype Lifestyle Accessories featuring at front -</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Triumph 'Bench Seat' by David Franklin incorporating two seat units</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">and Triumph 'Scales' by John Doherty incorpating an instrumentation unit</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Exhibition represented the culmination of an exciting collaborative project between MA Product Design, BIAD, and Triumph motorcycles. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDUKEJo9eARiQ0LUQiDhoV0EKDA18UIMgvlZ1L7cX6nErSf57SjrpPPh9HXKC_bBc7kYzbhhqpJ9tv_oe8_qcls_LHEL9mzH78beBWkYpaa5nkNO7wnsZgWF9gJQasMmXAUcblY4rrBDd/s1600/Triumph+Bonneville+T100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><img border="0" height="246" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDUKEJo9eARiQ0LUQiDhoV0EKDA18UIMgvlZ1L7cX6nErSf57SjrpPPh9HXKC_bBc7kYzbhhqpJ9tv_oe8_qcls_LHEL9mzH78beBWkYpaa5nkNO7wnsZgWF9gJQasMmXAUcblY4rrBDd/s400/Triumph+Bonneville+T100.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Triumph Bonneville T100</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Designed by 18 MA Product Design students, it was inspired by the Triumph brand, the company’s heritage and the Triumph Bonneville <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">T100</span> </span>providing design references through its classic 60's stying, contemporary engineering, twin peashooter exhausts, chrome engine covers, two-tone paint and spoked wheels with fork gaiters.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A team from Triumph, including Chief Executive, Nick Bloor, and Stuart Wood, Principal Engineer, Triumph Designs, judged the 18 Triumph 'Accessories' exhibited. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Speaking at the event Nick Bloor, CEO, Triumph said, <span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“This has been a great opportunity for a company like Triumph to help foster relationships with universities like Birmingham City University and also to bring new talent and creativity into industry."</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span> </span></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPvSidvmpED9eZiDzstugTydhqT5lWJVYmZ5Qm5dtAjmJ6_L9xn_Cu5IB4Y0GPR9u-eTHOERErcni03mBhwFV211BY8ctSYX-4i7xv6FG4Z8eJbFRSJGXb4rjvOI5tGR5h8bltzfDO_FS/s1600/Triumph+Cork+Screw.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><img border="0" height="265" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPvSidvmpED9eZiDzstugTydhqT5lWJVYmZ5Qm5dtAjmJ6_L9xn_Cu5IB4Y0GPR9u-eTHOERErcni03mBhwFV211BY8ctSYX-4i7xv6FG4Z8eJbFRSJGXb4rjvOI5tGR5h8bltzfDO_FS/s400/Triumph+Cork+Screw.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Corkscrew</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">by </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Nick Orme</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">From England</span></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Incorporating Triumph Bonneville T100 brake lever assembly</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Following their deliberations the judges chose British student, Nick Orme’s, ‘Corkscrew’, incorporating a brake lever assembly, as the winning prototype design awarding him a placement at Triumph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">24 year old Nick Orme from Moseley said: “The corkscrew idea came about after considering all the information Triumph had given us. I wanted to create something simple that they would be able to produce without too many problems or extra costs. It also seemed like a visually strong idea that motorcycle enthusiasts and particularly Bonneville riders would appreciate.” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nick's prize includes an industrial design placement with Triumph's Clothing and Accessories department in the New Year. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nick added: “I'm hoping to do the work experience around Easter and very much looking forward to a new challenge. Triumph is a fantastic British company and I think really has an opportunity to push the boundaries of the accessories that most motorcycle companies currently produce."</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nick Bloor praised everyone participating, “Thank you very much for all the hard work that’s been pulled together over the last three or four weeks. It has been really excellent," he said. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0cm; mso-para-margin-right: 0cm; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"As for the judging, it has been very tough to try and find one or two products that shone out over the rest, so it was a really, really close call and we would like to congratulate everybody.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stuart Wood, Chief Engineer at Triumph and one of the three Triumph judges, said: “We were impressed with all of the entries but Nick’s design, which used a Bonneville brake lever, master cylinder and handlebar grip, really stood out. His corkscrew was an innovative use of motorcycle parts that created a lifestyle product we could really see customers buying.”</span><br />
<br />
<br />
</div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5lqn2YdkmhYcWPAFzTZqsFzQEP3caof-7kDMJJMUsiEWzwNCPAxUKpBCQm5ENCpv6u6uO2c5QwPyU0A2A0-LA4ubecjapiRAIgAvqFj1hqKteUL6k_pnG8nGNkd1MpUZtd-Le0rlrrJU/s1600/Triumph+Fruit+Bowl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="265" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5lqn2YdkmhYcWPAFzTZqsFzQEP3caof-7kDMJJMUsiEWzwNCPAxUKpBCQm5ENCpv6u6uO2c5QwPyU0A2A0-LA4ubecjapiRAIgAvqFj1hqKteUL6k_pnG8nGNkd1MpUZtd-Le0rlrrJU/s400/Triumph+Fruit+Bowl.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bowls</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">by <span style="font-size: 10pt;">Wa Ya-Lin (Yalin)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">from Taiwan</span></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Incorporating Triumph Bonneville T100 wheel spokes</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Second prize, a voucher for £100, was awarded to Wa Ya-Lin of Taiwan for her two Bowls, incorporating Triumph wheel spokes. </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWeeLI7pZYCJ4kSNJSB5MDzfDiCMGmv9WjIZYYZI2RGIf1yG9aDdaNrOtPTYMUiaOxK1wGIFCR-O5_f7slplHleFMZegzOL2H0wJVlQJkf_1ufPJkUHIviWIaKD1dCvTVcsouJ8HNBHnW/s1600/Triumph+Elena+Matayas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWeeLI7pZYCJ4kSNJSB5MDzfDiCMGmv9WjIZYYZI2RGIf1yG9aDdaNrOtPTYMUiaOxK1wGIFCR-O5_f7slplHleFMZegzOL2H0wJVlQJkf_1ufPJkUHIviWIaKD1dCvTVcsouJ8HNBHnW/s640/Triumph+Elena+Matayas.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hat Stand</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">by </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Elena Matyas</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">from Romania</span></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Incorporating Triumph Bonneville T100 front wheel hub and mirror units</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A stunning Hat Stand designed by Elena Matyas of Romania, incorporating front wheel hub and mirrors was awarded third prize - a voucher for £50.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuaf3qcCqsFDV_7_W5MfgE4AwGRixUa7mFDPE69QpA9RIX55RH-EhKKEptzvu4vi1EN27y4frr8jF_pcGY_sSWbYpRVyipsG5r393ez-Z_4yx6pru2gd8KCj_uzZJVFneXO-_PQ7sGUFlZ/s1600/Triumph+-+Savvas+Panagiotou.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuaf3qcCqsFDV_7_W5MfgE4AwGRixUa7mFDPE69QpA9RIX55RH-EhKKEptzvu4vi1EN27y4frr8jF_pcGY_sSWbYpRVyipsG5r393ez-Z_4yx6pru2gd8KCj_uzZJVFneXO-_PQ7sGUFlZ/s400/Triumph+-+Savvas+Panagiotou.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Desk Light</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">by </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Savvas Panagiotou</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">from Cyprus</span></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Incorporating Triumph Bonneville T100 front mudguard unit</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Around 100 guests from business, universities – including Birmingham City University and Aston University – and the press were present marvelling at the designs which fused ingenuity and creativity with a strong practical focus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, many guests enquired about where they might be able to purchase the highly desirable items on display!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For further information about the project and/or the MA Product Design course at BIAD contact </span><a href="mailto:graham.powell@bcu.ac.uk"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">graham.powell@bcu.ac.uk</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> and on twitter </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/MAProductDesign"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://www.twitter.com/MAProductDesign</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7uX-jVuOvGDBdK3Kvw_XXvk7xcPpVXCOyLucmTq8gFFyWwHDzutpVOnX2uJ-mMEswN7EaKPuX9kT7A1Q08qqbPyyCHQOTGTWR5OqXFIJ1F0azif43mO3PU9u3yPrTCSFYV_bCMpo-54L/s1600/Triumph+Accessories+Richard+Underhill.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7uX-jVuOvGDBdK3Kvw_XXvk7xcPpVXCOyLucmTq8gFFyWwHDzutpVOnX2uJ-mMEswN7EaKPuX9kT7A1Q08qqbPyyCHQOTGTWR5OqXFIJ1F0azif43mO3PU9u3yPrTCSFYV_bCMpo-54L/s400/Triumph+Accessories+Richard+Underhill.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Turntable</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">by </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Richard Underhill</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">f rom England</span></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Incorporating Triumph Bonneville T100 cylinder-head and disc brake</span><br />
<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cXu-Aum37F7x9BR1ksV0e_Ar5uk-Pvz-e2o5ob_zDVhUs1ykMPwzXnC4MJzxObKKiyw3glq6PH4YnP_y73SfcFM5QW_hzbNhI44DU7StEoN1VjifZcoXzUaIb6etoW6_MGDSLPZbzIP1/s1600/Triumph+Moritz+Amelung.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cXu-Aum37F7x9BR1ksV0e_Ar5uk-Pvz-e2o5ob_zDVhUs1ykMPwzXnC4MJzxObKKiyw3glq6PH4YnP_y73SfcFM5QW_hzbNhI44DU7StEoN1VjifZcoXzUaIb6etoW6_MGDSLPZbzIP1/s640/Triumph+Moritz+Amelung.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Desk Lamp</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">by </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Moritz Amelung</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">from Germany</span></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Incorporating Triumph Bonneville T100 headlamp unit, mirror unit and battery cover</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdL6mvSjkkyXDYEMXH0n9qno144gU8kGQ58obkT19MdKR8pzp743WuYM-lYZii3bOs7ibEEpXp_5VVOiQTi4x8x2ZHQq3uvUXnaoC_wB7Bzmi7NJsVXc_O-DVr57x1UNEtRsa2hThCltW/s1600/Triumph+Accessories+Estalle+Rigoudy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdL6mvSjkkyXDYEMXH0n9qno144gU8kGQ58obkT19MdKR8pzp743WuYM-lYZii3bOs7ibEEpXp_5VVOiQTi4x8x2ZHQq3uvUXnaoC_wB7Bzmi7NJsVXc_O-DVr57x1UNEtRsa2hThCltW/s400/Triumph+Accessories+Estalle+Rigoudy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Pet Accessories</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">by </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Estelle Rigoudy</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">from France</span></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Incorporating Triumph Bonneville T100 fork gaiter, tag, seat fabric and handlebar grip</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikI6Hgc4Kgkqc9fJCguc9X4bT8MCOUs5dHLujco1ov9xYYWHawkenbKFeW326bpLmuxMnJpoQ1vQoQJMqxA2dMDMOlTMQPX5uFfkpm2rNZeG0wZv8AoMEuHf39NbtASCRr01X1cUtdR5sJ/s1600/Triumph+-+Jia-qi+Zhou.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikI6Hgc4Kgkqc9fJCguc9X4bT8MCOUs5dHLujco1ov9xYYWHawkenbKFeW326bpLmuxMnJpoQ1vQoQJMqxA2dMDMOlTMQPX5uFfkpm2rNZeG0wZv8AoMEuHf39NbtASCRr01X1cUtdR5sJ/s640/Triumph+-+Jia-qi+Zhou.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Mini Fan</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">by </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Jia-qi Zhou (Kay)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">from China</span></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Incorporating Triumph Bonneville T100 indicator housing</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1esTDe-R6M27IURqdQLhYDwoBru8SUV1GoDdUffW-8OHKKjb2REBmEx7Jx6-GTkcmJV2WEWFwuX2ZN9Bn8YukncfaiGVUyNy9K4G6yv33M4GOXp6pYW_1d1NaznzCz2A1UcmYSHl-s4gU/s1600/Triumph+Chang+Sung.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1esTDe-R6M27IURqdQLhYDwoBru8SUV1GoDdUffW-8OHKKjb2REBmEx7Jx6-GTkcmJV2WEWFwuX2ZN9Bn8YukncfaiGVUyNy9K4G6yv33M4GOXp6pYW_1d1NaznzCz2A1UcmYSHl-s4gU/s400/Triumph+Chang+Sung.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">iPod/iPhone Speaker Dock</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">by </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Chang Sung-Ching (Kelvin)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">from Taiwan</span></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Incorporating Triumph Bonneville T100 indicator units and lever caps</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJymb2ooT7UleYYV2rfqC-E0C6Un0idOneYIWvXSYP5pHqz51CNRJZUwDEuzuzisyF08YOv4_CAkYEbftyXXQ1suOqLTVI8Bbm9X9q8Ql2xKYwsuHfsE248FMjSGsX4GWejTYLj_5UQ77t/s1600/Triumph+Zhan+Cheng.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJymb2ooT7UleYYV2rfqC-E0C6Un0idOneYIWvXSYP5pHqz51CNRJZUwDEuzuzisyF08YOv4_CAkYEbftyXXQ1suOqLTVI8Bbm9X9q8Ql2xKYwsuHfsE248FMjSGsX4GWejTYLj_5UQ77t/s640/Triumph+Zhan+Cheng.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Coffee Table </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">by </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Zhan Cheng (Carrie)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">from China</span></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Incorporating Triumph Bonneville T100 front wheel and tyre</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aXXij7k_kybq_ZfNrqqBLS1BvpcVQNDZZj2tIr1UHR1i4EkPX2XNKKz3Pm2qUE-KZBuBjVMWUHKNwCMcLIgE1nEubV4dDE88NbyzljuDp6Q_q2OKatYWTJtSb4Pnn_2Xz7lCQ6f0Vfkq/s1600/Triumph+David+Franklin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aXXij7k_kybq_ZfNrqqBLS1BvpcVQNDZZj2tIr1UHR1i4EkPX2XNKKz3Pm2qUE-KZBuBjVMWUHKNwCMcLIgE1nEubV4dDE88NbyzljuDp6Q_q2OKatYWTJtSb4Pnn_2Xz7lCQ6f0Vfkq/s400/Triumph+David+Franklin.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bench Seat</span></span></b> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">by </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">David Franklin</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">from England</span></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Incorporating Triumph Bonneville T100 seat units</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivVr_CaaHQmw5ONxHxaX56DBl4GodiDkHxYX2LaPaGEVgPInPIsVp1SXJPqmmjOWKpahZmofdA57leLkheYikT6zcpSdRFrZKqg8HzlLsIWldLXUF1hUF9pGUp-Lk0qkxl3wabXeertnpo/s1600/Triumph+Hsin+Ying+Lu.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivVr_CaaHQmw5ONxHxaX56DBl4GodiDkHxYX2LaPaGEVgPInPIsVp1SXJPqmmjOWKpahZmofdA57leLkheYikT6zcpSdRFrZKqg8HzlLsIWldLXUF1hUF9pGUp-Lk0qkxl3wabXeertnpo/s640/Triumph+Hsin+Ying+Lu.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Ambient lamp</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">by </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Hsin-Ying Lu (Kate)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">from Taiwan</span></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Incorporating Triumph Bonneville T100 exhaust silencer unit</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmNWZ2Qzor1zmv23yFsry0_n4iuDzT5aLmUc1_bqgSI5OXRLZnpnZ1JP7WHQvnNjkeiMdmYE_kZoFDN63DhakzEc6BRHRFJMSfW5RYOcl3ji4Q_RJpLjKWL4H0Bk5yKTcr93-GNfY776F/s1600/Triumph+I+Chen+Yang.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmNWZ2Qzor1zmv23yFsry0_n4iuDzT5aLmUc1_bqgSI5OXRLZnpnZ1JP7WHQvnNjkeiMdmYE_kZoFDN63DhakzEc6BRHRFJMSfW5RYOcl3ji4Q_RJpLjKWL4H0Bk5yKTcr93-GNfY776F/s400/Triumph+I+Chen+Yang.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Cutlery</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">by </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">I-Chen Yang (Ellen)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">from Taiwan</span></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Incorporating Triumph Bonneville T100 brake and clutch levers</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEici8-vV2uZLQzhk0291jAosNBsujehihrjjUbetMmI3ChuAmU1ll0Y4qDi2Ay5EY-FMHtBrJxTGn-j5vNR5Z9cWOZwy21RHNMdN5o_kpEyk2N9fmPvoiHv3cJcY4q8E-xROUUH3XokyldY/s1600/Triumph+Yueh-Han+Huang.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEici8-vV2uZLQzhk0291jAosNBsujehihrjjUbetMmI3ChuAmU1ll0Y4qDi2Ay5EY-FMHtBrJxTGn-j5vNR5Z9cWOZwy21RHNMdN5o_kpEyk2N9fmPvoiHv3cJcY4q8E-xROUUH3XokyldY/s640/Triumph+Yueh-Han+Huang.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Side Table</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">by </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Yueh-Han Huang (John)</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">from Taiwan</span></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Incorporating Triumph Bonneville T100 fuel tank</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wvkjAiymYrtRoK4I7aNVvbm_Mfqf4RUzOh7h-VY89O6d8aX5xinmr0CBI05cYhdB0stWLrtJ7_3b-kooK3qgf3jkPm3mTop1j3Xpxt59zT0ps7kc8IL9HxXGP0EU2S7JoQ_UHsxmc0xp/s1600/Triumph+John+Doherty.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="337" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wvkjAiymYrtRoK4I7aNVvbm_Mfqf4RUzOh7h-VY89O6d8aX5xinmr0CBI05cYhdB0stWLrtJ7_3b-kooK3qgf3jkPm3mTop1j3Xpxt59zT0ps7kc8IL9HxXGP0EU2S7JoQ_UHsxmc0xp/s400/Triumph+John+Doherty.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Scales</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">by </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">John Doherty</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">from England</span></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Incorporating Triumph Bonneville T100 instrumentation unit</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQcrHNie9D-z4wNqoDO5umkrVlNINnV_TG4P-PVw1MT8vS-R63u8mUix3jppoRSIWT4uqX21DYQnFKi5hUeGuAgCB5Bkfj32mkIoRYFAtOGCzVar0-2oX2q0AWUpyrj22n8pcSdZYLWeg/s1600/Triumph+Yi+Chen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQcrHNie9D-z4wNqoDO5umkrVlNINnV_TG4P-PVw1MT8vS-R63u8mUix3jppoRSIWT4uqX21DYQnFKi5hUeGuAgCB5Bkfj32mkIoRYFAtOGCzVar0-2oX2q0AWUpyrj22n8pcSdZYLWeg/s640/Triumph+Yi+Chen.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Tool Store</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">by </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Yi Chen (Chris)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">from Taiwan</span></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Incorporating Triumph Bonneville T100 fuel tank</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzj4gRKbKQq0dnVMqx4yKmYCjvO6I8FM7bbMy232d3avERDXYpdEeRfdDbXIsU9NxoC2wsIHYBHSmravRqPiH7DPaSJlb-PmVQkO7UH-PjGu04WD7rbDuvxF7HcJlJVUQZcGHif1ce_LfG/s1600/Triumph+Torches+v2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzj4gRKbKQq0dnVMqx4yKmYCjvO6I8FM7bbMy232d3avERDXYpdEeRfdDbXIsU9NxoC2wsIHYBHSmravRqPiH7DPaSJlb-PmVQkO7UH-PjGu04WD7rbDuvxF7HcJlJVUQZcGHif1ce_LfG/s320/Triumph+Torches+v2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Torches</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">by </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Kasra Keshmiri</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">from Persia</span></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Incorporating Triumph Bonneville T100 fork gaiters and fuel caps</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmgvsiqS8joQWLTUZY9iA7Gy7kCNjXElg59qgc-wc5JlYNP_OAw26QLmqVVHT_P7yo80Gwmp2F0Xw-inMMyn03RX2vgRQqd-yD0vTMog8TzvD1KU6JO2g5OR1DC-xfEYdJuU2c1L_TB0p/s1600/Triumph+Torch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmgvsiqS8joQWLTUZY9iA7Gy7kCNjXElg59qgc-wc5JlYNP_OAw26QLmqVVHT_P7yo80Gwmp2F0Xw-inMMyn03RX2vgRQqd-yD0vTMog8TzvD1KU6JO2g5OR1DC-xfEYdJuU2c1L_TB0p/s400/Triumph+Torch.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Torch</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">by </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Kasra Keshmiri</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">from Persia</span></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Incorporating Triumph Bonneville T100 fork gaiters and fuel caps</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbipLO8VnsouYBtugdFmSfkworrX8kZ4TSwT2im3YkgsZ05VS_gxA4BZCkfSp30CGh9bPqljvG_KGWYqN6cWKyYijZ2Zia8M9Zx6iECQDbhxnDVuHMqlVqZQutPW5Kej3X-7YLuULkPxj/s1600/Triumph+-+Ian+Hadley.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbipLO8VnsouYBtugdFmSfkworrX8kZ4TSwT2im3YkgsZ05VS_gxA4BZCkfSp30CGh9bPqljvG_KGWYqN6cWKyYijZ2Zia8M9Zx6iECQDbhxnDVuHMqlVqZQutPW5Kej3X-7YLuULkPxj/s640/Triumph+-+Ian+Hadley.JPG" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Heated Gear Store</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">by </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Ian Hadley</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">from England</span></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Incorporating Triumph Bonneville T100 radiator and fuel tank logo</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
Further links to this story visit <a href="http://www.adventurebikerider.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/482-em-j.html">http://www.adventurebikerider.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/482-em-j.html</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-49780007934837736462010-12-05T14:59:00.000-08:002010-12-07T13:38:54.007-08:00Case Study: Carla Imbimbo, Post-Graduate Student Project, MA Interior Design, Birmingham Institute of Art & Design 2009 <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_49TJMaAKHF7BB3ZSj5Od1jHm6x3FK0FaLW9w9GgoVOpoqvH1HdmJozKPXJLTGxho5sjk235Fe51NslrT7VwnfnIfjgmUULHILi8UoJr7MKzpl0njBQdB0z_3f3HW44_gqIHGbDERXYWC/s1600/Picture1CI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_49TJMaAKHF7BB3ZSj5Od1jHm6x3FK0FaLW9w9GgoVOpoqvH1HdmJozKPXJLTGxho5sjk235Fe51NslrT7VwnfnIfjgmUULHILi8UoJr7MKzpl0njBQdB0z_3f3HW44_gqIHGbDERXYWC/s400/Picture1CI.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carla Imbimbo's ExHIBIT <br />
created for MA Interior Design, Post Graduate Student Project</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Carla Imbimbo completed her MA Interior Design last year from the Birmingham Institute of Art & Design having also taken her BA Interior Design there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Together with fellow post graduates from the MA Interior and Product Design course - Rita Semedo and Thomas Slack, they have recently formed a new business, </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.cubed3studio.co.uk/">Cubed</a></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">³</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> based at the Custard Factory. </span></span> They moved into their new Studio within the past week where they are fortunate to already be involved in some exciting projects. </span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Carla’s post graduate student project, entitled, ‘ExHIBIT’ was a graphic and print installation – an idea taken, says Carla, “ from her thesis on ‘negative spaces’ – the idea of exploring the spaces between buildings and turning empty spaces into creative solutions.”</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWybCGIejy2BBktOooKSdgKquGgics_J-iU-ZcH6T2sfdEtVLrJiN6_fLYqhFqNAhMzKj3cDKv711b4eK3q_BlWzGh54B1noBJuU0CX56Fefh-dIa_652ahJ7v7F5s7d_QsEugNdUOb2ma/s1600/Picture2CI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWybCGIejy2BBktOooKSdgKquGgics_J-iU-ZcH6T2sfdEtVLrJiN6_fLYqhFqNAhMzKj3cDKv711b4eK3q_BlWzGh54B1noBJuU0CX56Fefh-dIa_652ahJ7v7F5s7d_QsEugNdUOb2ma/s400/Picture2CI.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Paradise Circus floor plan, Proposed Location for ExHIBIT</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In developing this idea Carla looked at the empty space in Paradise Forum in Birmingham with the aim of turning it into a positive space for Arts and the Creative Leisure sector.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This was an empty transitional space through the Central Library of Birmingham, linking Chamberlain and Centenary Squares.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">However this transitional space was nonetheless attracting 12m footfall annually with close proximity to the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, ICC, Town Hall, Brindley Place, Mailbox, New Street and Snow Hill Stations.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Leisure sector is substantial within Birmingham, representing the arts, culture and creative sectors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>8000 people are employed in Birmingham’s Art sector and 70% of these people are based locally; within this, designers account for £67m turnover annually.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Carla’s idea was to create ‘ExHIBIT’ as an exhibition space erected within the currently empty transitional space to exhibit graphic, print and design inspirations for commission and order either for personal or business purposes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Carla looked at other businesses with similar models or approaches, such as ‘<strong>Created in Birmingham’</strong> showcasing 329 local artists and selling £40k worth during its brief 3 month lifespan.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Carla also examined other artists internationally - such as Swedish artist Hanna Werner; the Green Void installation by LAVA Architects in Australia, installed in the Customs House Atrium in Sydney, as well as Electroland a project of luminous LED tiles, installed by designers Damon Seeley and Cameron McNall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1yGGuWy9nOuMp6tdVohoONe7mXJil3XwMsenk3gRSt7WtXOyDz96p6eVUsDzNfu_n0Cchyk7v4xdDyqi1h_Lro-uqbgUcbrbcayuPZmjcODfI0ecNokbXW3E9aHjXsjVY4ti9-cIBDWv/s1600/Picture5CI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1yGGuWy9nOuMp6tdVohoONe7mXJil3XwMsenk3gRSt7WtXOyDz96p6eVUsDzNfu_n0Cchyk7v4xdDyqi1h_Lro-uqbgUcbrbcayuPZmjcODfI0ecNokbXW3E9aHjXsjVY4ti9-cIBDWv/s400/Picture5CI.jpg" width="311" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Detail EXHIBIT installation - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">retail space and display</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Through these Carla was able to learn lessons from their experiences as well as profiling the likely target market for her ExHIBIT graphic and print retail space. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Young designers, artists and design students were seen as the target market aged 23-32 years old taking inspiration from other designers and purchasing individual one-off items that could not be found anywhere else.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Her ExHIBIT retail space was to be erected within the structure housing the current Library of Birmingham, designed by John Madin Design Group in the Brutalist style using concrete, glass and steel with the last Culture Minister having ruled out a listing and with demolition due to commence in 2013.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Carla wanted to create the ExHIBIT retail space to last until the proposed demolition enabling graphic artists and designers to display digital images on the floor of new and existing graphic designers and talent as an interactive walk through, with the option to buy work on the top floor of the designed ExHIBIT area.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlY0-R3-RJspc5mBaqtrGw_ktddjXJa6OWxYenEWp0t158R2-uiR3EGpVUXkqXZGeW7D5_ki8iJka8hCAffVZl-m9RpRvJ1oQITgRiX020k6qUR0sdFfSpiXeFttHD-qb8zELPWj2N0Vk7/s1600/Picture3CI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="368" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlY0-R3-RJspc5mBaqtrGw_ktddjXJa6OWxYenEWp0t158R2-uiR3EGpVUXkqXZGeW7D5_ki8iJka8hCAffVZl-m9RpRvJ1oQITgRiX020k6qUR0sdFfSpiXeFttHD-qb8zELPWj2N0Vk7/s640/Picture3CI.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Inspiration for ExHIBIT came from the walk patterns </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">of visitors walking through Paradise Forum</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“In creating ‘ExHIBIT’ I wanted to get away from a traditional approach to gallery space – white walls with work on display.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The inspiration for the exhibition space came from the site itself and the walk patterns of the existing users. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“By simplifying, connecting and overlapping these patterns and I was able to use these to create the steel coated structures that formed the walls of the elevated display and retail area above the digital display area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnGGGlVi6mKRvOu4O7PniB4RJcll4-hO0Pn4ArgwjLsrP5Ft_HHhQGcdpjtDvWkOcV44zTIonD6qOsAd9tPXMmbjfYYOIdHsfyu-W9q1cauuNJ3gC40ey1Qc6NrhpDUP-SFlaB1KZFeuA/s1600/Picture7CI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="420" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnGGGlVi6mKRvOu4O7PniB4RJcll4-hO0Pn4ArgwjLsrP5Ft_HHhQGcdpjtDvWkOcV44zTIonD6qOsAd9tPXMmbjfYYOIdHsfyu-W9q1cauuNJ3gC40ey1Qc6NrhpDUP-SFlaB1KZFeuA/s640/Picture7CI.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To understand the conceptual element of any design you need to appreciate the balance between the idea for the design and the need to make it functional.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Models of these ideas have been built – full size mock ups – 1800 x 11mm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The project covers the final zoning and how people would interact with the displays and the products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Technical details include floor structure, ExHIBIT pins to explain ground floor displays and any interior furnishings required.”</span></div> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIeG0kN-WoKt7DurpIkJOjqwYf-H2X6ZvXMKbIhfOUNzAcwlHcXS_HCgTVWBKkV4yybb6yQzp5N2H1UD270Rf_yY5DDG9hwY59ywH-HMJ4Igg6gwAWo_4tYYJxd4wC-GSBPLbthrWoBib/s1600/Picture6CI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="409" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIeG0kN-WoKt7DurpIkJOjqwYf-H2X6ZvXMKbIhfOUNzAcwlHcXS_HCgTVWBKkV4yybb6yQzp5N2H1UD270Rf_yY5DDG9hwY59ywH-HMJ4Igg6gwAWo_4tYYJxd4wC-GSBPLbthrWoBib/s640/Picture6CI.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">EXHIBIT installation showing <br />
ground floor digital interactive display area<br />
upper retail displays</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5YR1FmDDxxCXGqsfwiGFYlJedDMmfHwU36o5eQMHVAcCYOjZPDy8sUG6eFSgw4ZU2LoAHrB7kztrRD7H049wD5sXNc_5CE1IIbMlL_S9YSe3_kEL13vsSdvYaPLsiRRK-OKC1igJoE1f/s1600/Picture4CI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="416" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5YR1FmDDxxCXGqsfwiGFYlJedDMmfHwU36o5eQMHVAcCYOjZPDy8sUG6eFSgw4ZU2LoAHrB7kztrRD7H049wD5sXNc_5CE1IIbMlL_S9YSe3_kEL13vsSdvYaPLsiRRK-OKC1igJoE1f/s640/Picture4CI.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">EXHIBIT installation - retail space display<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cubed3studio.co.uk/">http://www.cubed3studio.co.uk/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-57473264486493967842010-12-05T12:32:00.000-08:002010-12-17T11:33:58.081-08:00Design Students produce 'Accessories' range for Triumph Motorcycles<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Triumph Motorcycles 'Accessories' Preview Show </span></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Designed by MA Product Design Students</span></b></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Exhibited at Aedas, Colmore Plaza, Birmingham</span></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Thursday 16 December 2010, 6pm</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></span></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span> <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukMS4xL9144BdHxMTRh3K60jIe_UUGBRT9O3omyifu8CYtPzET0E8b7jxovtIru87ATkP9wbbf7h8OI2LN2Np4OVnRDplFsAGtK3fRJifmgibJw1jgTW0f0meZaMItbr836akbMGn7cK9/s1600/Triumph+Accessories.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukMS4xL9144BdHxMTRh3K60jIe_UUGBRT9O3omyifu8CYtPzET0E8b7jxovtIru87ATkP9wbbf7h8OI2LN2Np4OVnRDplFsAGtK3fRJifmgibJw1jgTW0f0meZaMItbr836akbMGn7cK9/s640/Triumph+Accessories.JPG" width="593" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A selection of work by MA Product Design Students, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Birmingham Institute of Art & Design </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">for Triumph Motorcycles</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">MA Product Design Students at the Birmingham Institute of Art & Design have produced a stunning collection of prototype accessories as part of a collaborative student project working with Triumph Motorcycles. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Students have drawn design inspiration from the Triumph brand and design heritage based on components from the Triumph Bonneville T100.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The project has been co-ordinated by Course Director, Graham Powell who has also developed collaborative student projects with other leading branded </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">companies including M&S, Cadbury, Aga, Pashley Cycles, Denby and Richard Burbidge<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The special collection of eighteen alternative lifestyle 'Accessories' for Triumph will be exhibited by Aedas at Colmore Plaza Birmingham with a </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Preview Show taking place on Thursday 16th December.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Research for the project involved a tour of Triumph's factory in Hinckley, Leicestershire in October accompanied by presentations from senior design and engineering staff. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Students gained a firsthand appreciation of how this highly successful company operates its design, engineering, clothing and merchandise departments, along with its efficient and flexible production facility. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The students were tasked with researching the commercial context and markets that Triumph operates within, along with their successful strategic design policies. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Alongside the iconic motorcycle itself, 18 creative proposals for alternative lifestyle accessories, supporting posters and documentary style reportage, make up this exciting collaborative exhibition. On show will be furniture, cookware, household appliances, audio equipment and even pet toys.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Key senior management from all three organisations are expected to attend the preview Show. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A work placement opportunity will be awarded to one prize winner based at Triumph and chosen by a selection panel from the company.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
</div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGAwYZMRLfZI9i142ANz6Lb156kjYtmArpr0oclHd9V4MWVdq-dayul8QM_x3WQqZdJvPr9l7tk_kNM7vF_emr76-dOqUZbsINkRjxOt8Pb5mzDKCBAU5f7UqLUcPMciSsbEnrmsnQuul/s1600/Triumph-T100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGAwYZMRLfZI9i142ANz6Lb156kjYtmArpr0oclHd9V4MWVdq-dayul8QM_x3WQqZdJvPr9l7tk_kNM7vF_emr76-dOqUZbsINkRjxOt8Pb5mzDKCBAU5f7UqLUcPMciSsbEnrmsnQuul/s320/Triumph-T100.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Triumph T-100</td></tr>
</tbody></table><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">About Triumph </span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">First established in 1902 and now based in Hinckley, Leicestershire, Triumph Motorcycles is currently the fastest growing motorcycle brand in the world. For over a decade Triumph has<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>produced<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>iconic<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>bikes<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>which<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>perfectly<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>blend<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>design,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>character,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>charisma<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>performance. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Producing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>around<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>50,000<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>bikes<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>per<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>year,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Triumph<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>largest<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>British<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>automotive manufacturer in the country. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At the heart of Triumph’s philosophy is a commitment to developing truly unique motorcycles that offer a blend of distinctive design, intuitive handling and performance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The innovation and engineering passion that gave birth to the iconic Bonneville of the 60’s has today created a broad range of bikes suited to all motorcycle riders, including the striking 2.3 litre Rocket III, the unmistakable Speed Triple and the powerful Daytona 675. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In recent years it is the Daytona 675 that has enabled Triumph to truly stamp its mark on the modern motorcycle landscape, a proven class leader in the field. After winning the Supertest ‘King<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Supersport’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>crown<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>four<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>successive<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>years<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daytona’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>status<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>has<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>been further<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>enhanced<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>MAP<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Embassy<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Triumph<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>team’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>victory<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2008<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>British Supersport Championship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With an impressive 2010 product portfolio in place, including significant updates to existing best-selling bikes and striking new models like the Tiger 800 and Tiger 800XC, Triumph is set to continue to enhance its status in the marketplace. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Triumph currently employs around twelve hundred personnel worldwide and has offices in the UK,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>America,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>France,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Germany,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Italy,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Japan,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sweden<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Benelux,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>plus<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>network<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of independent distributors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Triumph has manufacturing facilities in Hinckley, Leicestershire and Thailand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Visit </span><a href="http://www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8rYLlgRMHhsxQffRiZnW6V8t1wud8xhsuGvR_8jRusu5d7g3pNeqgUZlnaYPVd7a2yN6Gz6hzUGxQLawhVmh3USDKfeXZVqAaAXELq0IBFlk3ZSloEhN4-aOMUoy5KSPMAzbg98zv1zc/s1600/Graham+Powell+BIAD.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8rYLlgRMHhsxQffRiZnW6V8t1wud8xhsuGvR_8jRusu5d7g3pNeqgUZlnaYPVd7a2yN6Gz6hzUGxQLawhVmh3USDKfeXZVqAaAXELq0IBFlk3ZSloEhN4-aOMUoy5KSPMAzbg98zv1zc/s320/Graham+Powell+BIAD.JPG" width="288" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Graham Powell, Course Director, MA Product Design</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Birmingham Institute of Art & Design</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Birmingham City University</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Graham Powell, Course Director, MA Product Design, Birmingham Institute of Art & Design, Birmingham City University</span></strong></span> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Course Director of MA Product Design programme at the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (part of Birmingham City University), one of the UK's top post graduate Product Design courses attracting students from all around the world with a focus on 'Conceptual Realism' as its USP.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">For more information contact Graham on </span><a href="mailto:graham.powell@bcu.ac.uk"><span style="font-size: large;">graham.powell@bcu.ac.uk</span></a></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Graham Powell also taught at:<br />
The Royal College of Art (2002-2005)</span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Central Saint Martins (2002-2004)<br />
Aston University (2001-2003)<br />
<br />
Founder of Guinea Pig Design (Ltd) - 2001 to present.<br />
Conceptual product design concepts (electronica) that challenge existing expectations. Exhibited and published internationally.<br />
More information at </span><a href="http://www.guineapigdesign.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://www.guineapigdesign.com</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Graham completed a Technician (Electrical/Electronic) Apprenticeship at GEC Measurements (Stafford) - 1982-1986<br />
Graduated from Wolverhampton Polytechnic - 3D Design - 1990<br />
Graduated from the Royal College of Art - Industrial Design Engineering - 1995<br />
Design Engineer at Dyson (vacuum cleaners) - 1995-1996<br />
Design Manager at Babysphere (pushchairs) 1996-1999<br />
Head of Product Design & Development at Mathmos (ambient lighting)1999-2001</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span>Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-87501413736269687322010-12-02T09:33:00.000-08:002010-12-20T10:45:42.981-08:00Glenn Howells - Landmark Cities: Birmingham has huge opportunity to get it right<div class="asset-header"></div><div class="asset-header"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5BbNJ4VuGPznpp7bwrNtTLNnKLeaaQCf2LOKLcZAELJCazw9atKJxq6msjpUFyQuevgljseD9v_0l9BHkersm2xtJRol6CvRaPUv5uyTXyfpwbxNI-bm8TdqI524a966pOdMUmi-Bz7n/s1600/Glenn+Howells.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5BbNJ4VuGPznpp7bwrNtTLNnKLeaaQCf2LOKLcZAELJCazw9atKJxq6msjpUFyQuevgljseD9v_0l9BHkersm2xtJRol6CvRaPUv5uyTXyfpwbxNI-bm8TdqI524a966pOdMUmi-Bz7n/s320/Glenn+Howells.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glenn Howells, Glenn Howells Architects</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="asset-header"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Freeform, organic and creative" is how Glenn Howells describes their approach to architecture. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Culturally we're very different - we work very well when we stumble upon the looser connections."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-header"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="asset-content"><div class="asset-body"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's clearly an approach that's been working - </span><a href="http://www.glennhowells.co.uk/content/home/"><span style="color: #125a95; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Glenn Howells Architects</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> is 20 years old employing over 100 people across two offices in Birmingham and London.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Our approach is to think of design as being positively bi-polar - simultaneously thinking of the micro and the macro to reach structures that are very rich. By considering the components of any design very early we're able to come up with organic designs where small elements can inform the larger form. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"We don't pursue the idea of having a masterstroke for the shape of a building that informs the inside. We start thinking smaller and allow a larger shape to come out of this. 'Form out of process' is the key.</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"We're also very interested in what makes up the component materials - whether these are wood, plastic, concrete or anything else. Understanding our materials is very important to us. Otherwise we are in danger of losing the authentic elements of strong language going through the buildings.</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"We've never really done landmark signature buildings....few of these buildings are part of the bigger picture and we don't work in isolation. A dimension that is often not mentioned in an architectural design brief is '<em>time</em>' - perhaps we can be building for 200-300 years hence and most buildings should be multi-valent, that is making connections so they can be used in different ways. For example our own building here, it's not that beautiful from the exterior but it has huge flexibility of use.</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"If we keep doing what we have been doing here in Birmingham: building and then de-constructing to build again then we will end up with something very ragged, with nothing left that is 'stuck together'. </span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"However I am encouraged that we are slowly turning towards a longer term, evolutionary process rather than the former revolutionary one. The <strong><a href="http://bigcityplan.birmingham.gov.uk/"><span style="color: #125a95;">Birmingham Big City Plan</span></a></strong> is a very different document to what we had before, because if we strip it back to the essentials it is underpinned by </span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1) Accretions of buildings over many years<br />
2) How we move around this city in the future as pedestrians and cyclists - and not as a motorcar</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"This is a huge change in direction for the officers and elected members not to feel the pressure to do everything in 5 years and that it is not all about big buildings.</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg04cJ4KcuyUgsMENF3Bcts5M-XyqmJAA4XkB2_NDMWZjp0jBS6reUZ6TJJZ5sMS9BJXizISPD8Oz2PZrGDTEtfeLLgD36sK1HM9ATWj9mJ3-o7W6cZ1RZsyQeY48pB9kdmntzYExwEzId/s1600/11BP1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg04cJ4KcuyUgsMENF3Bcts5M-XyqmJAA4XkB2_NDMWZjp0jBS6reUZ6TJJZ5sMS9BJXizISPD8Oz2PZrGDTEtfeLLgD36sK1HM9ATWj9mJ3-o7W6cZ1RZsyQeY48pB9kdmntzYExwEzId/s320/11BP1.JPG" width="236" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Eleven Brindley Place, Glenn Howells Architects</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"For me the key issue for cities is how to get 1+1 = 3; it is not about <strong><em>landmark buildings</em>,</strong> but about <strong><em>landmark cities</em>.</strong></span></span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Looking forward two generations wouldn't it be great if Birmingham had been 'glued together' and we had managed to leave behind some things which actually joined up and made sense. </span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"We have the largest local authority in Europe and so we have the capacity to do this, perhaps unlike London where people forget there are 32 boroughs operating. </span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Birmingham has a huge opportunity to get it right. We need patience and ambition to see that it does come together. However there is, here and now, the chance to be able to contribute to something greater by working with a longer time horizon.</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Glenn Howells is a Visiting Professor at Nottingham Trent University and an External Examiner at Sheffield Hallam and in giving lectures he has realised his interest in trying to provide a context for architecture students today. "I have been trying to say to them, you are <u>not</u> here to do something which is a remarkable building and 'all about me'. I believe that if we went back to 1962, for example, architecture might have been about 'how do we make life better?'</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"We have lost the skill to do excellent ordinary buildings and yet most of any city is about this, as is most of life."</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of course over 20 years the Glenn Howells practice has accumulated some prestigious projects to its credit from the early competition wins such as the </span><a href="http://www.glennhowells.co.uk/content/public/125"><span style="color: #125a95; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Custard Factory in Birmingham</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, </span><a href="http://www.glennhowells.co.uk/content/public/123"><span style="color: #125a95; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Courtyard Arts Centre in Hereford </span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">to </span><a href="http://www.glennhowells.co.uk/content/public/264"><span style="color: #125a95; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">the Dream Factory in Warwick</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, </span><a href="http://http//www.glennhowells.co.uk/content/public/116"><span style="color: #125a95; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Market Place, Armagh</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, </span><a href="http://www.glennhowells.co.uk/content/community/84"><span style="color: #125a95; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">the Rotunda refurb </span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and </span><a href="http://www.glennhowells.co.uk/content/commercial/38"><span style="color: #125a95; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Eleven Brindleyplace </span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">in Birmingham as well as </span><a href="http://www.glennhowells.co.uk/content/public/112"><span style="color: #125a95; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lime Street Gateway Liverpool</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, </span><a href="http://www.glennhowells.co.uk/content/community/87"><span style="color: #125a95; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Timber Wharf Manchester</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, </span><a href="http://www.glennhowells.co.uk/content/public/110"><span style="color: #125a95; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">the Savill Building, Windsor Great Park</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> and </span><a href="http://http//www.glennhowells.co.uk/content/leisure/295"><span style="color: #125a95; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">55 Degrees Time, Dubai</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">. </span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtZR6kpe621PnybcstX-aC_JWevAGKNFoNWcvKnXHzY8F4iJTF6HFXUrOMNX4XWQ2_iYaCQzHQRD_w26d19I-1L6q8XlmoYLXgzSa79l6S_y0AszGjbpP5CYYS6XtroqFTTSIboB7l1nh/s1600/Stroud+Gateway+Services.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="312" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtZR6kpe621PnybcstX-aC_JWevAGKNFoNWcvKnXHzY8F4iJTF6HFXUrOMNX4XWQ2_iYaCQzHQRD_w26d19I-1L6q8XlmoYLXgzSa79l6S_y0AszGjbpP5CYYS6XtroqFTTSIboB7l1nh/s640/Stroud+Gateway+Services.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gloucestershire Gateway Services Area, Glenn Howells Architects</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of the company's smaller but striking projects is the </span><a href="http://http//www.glennhowells.co.uk/content/commercial/293"><span style="color: #125a95; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stroud Motorway Service Area </span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">which has been designed and managed by a father and daughter team (Westmorland) with two such projects already under their belt. Their concerns are for the whole integrated approach, combining craft skills and the most contemporary sustainable technologies, echoes a theme running through the core of Glenn Howells Architects. Their aim being to fuse the best from the old with the best of the new, for example by working with designers such as Gordon Crowley, a roof manufacturer inventing timber connection systems, crafting his timber with inordinate care and skill in Lincoln.</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"> </span></span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9GBqOqrap8vjge7xnCgcwnTKh4AXOFefZxwDG-fKWKGPfq7x9uwra8GSRWtfRLo0pj-JAubff6kH9hYB0JzciXHQu9MXpCCSZ7f8yQzPqhdNVzSgon_mT1fi7o6FDDQtX-8ZrFz77WjL/s1600/Savill1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="213" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9GBqOqrap8vjge7xnCgcwnTKh4AXOFefZxwDG-fKWKGPfq7x9uwra8GSRWtfRLo0pj-JAubff6kH9hYB0JzciXHQu9MXpCCSZ7f8yQzPqhdNVzSgon_mT1fi7o6FDDQtX-8ZrFz77WjL/s320/Savill1.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Savill Building Windsor Great Park</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Most of our projects are all to do with collaboration. We don't have a 'guru' approach... but a common set of principles which anyone can plug into. Within the practice there is no hierarchy in terms of who can have ideas. </span><br />
<div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="asset-more"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpdVfXnlBNqOm-9xcCuu_W83q7aNtOGh-bXp_lLVegZRWPVGjnbgVNejr5lMmrdpSVy7hleiMS86LwgHsEnkiCnoz5XD_Lf4AGzLHeLNtmGvl-lqDd56uQBPg9mIOy7K-1VBMddP0szF8/s1600/gg_mg_18541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="138" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpdVfXnlBNqOm-9xcCuu_W83q7aNtOGh-bXp_lLVegZRWPVGjnbgVNejr5lMmrdpSVy7hleiMS86LwgHsEnkiCnoz5XD_Lf4AGzLHeLNtmGvl-lqDd56uQBPg9mIOy7K-1VBMddP0szF8/s320/gg_mg_18541.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Savill Building, Glenn Howell Architects</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To illustrate this Glenn points out that the </span></span><a href="http://www.glennhowells.co.uk/content/public/110"><span style="color: #125a95; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Savill Building </span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">was "borrowed from 3 other designers...we took our client to see them and made no secret of this. </span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Uniqueness is perhaps overrated in architecture. By understanding older buildings we can learn from them all the time. The longer I am in this business the more time I spend looking at and studying older buildings.</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"We try to encourage young people <u>not </u>to distinguish between creative elements and the various aspects of production. We encourage a gentler approach to design, involving a blurring of production and design. We try to give people an understanding that design is a slower evolutionary process that we are all part of, all the time.</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Working with Kevin McCloud</span></strong></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="asset-more"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxi95zwusnfuoq4DOs0BtFgX0iIQSnMQI3mSCftyxUKXwEcoxm0kHavOCYcnNbMPY2LFFBvFJlbhaVxpd1qjg0SH51CS-sDeVEyB0is4tcELCWi4JIdfu_m-h0V2vaJTk4qd6WYqMxCRag/s1600/The+Triangle+Swindon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxi95zwusnfuoq4DOs0BtFgX0iIQSnMQI3mSCftyxUKXwEcoxm0kHavOCYcnNbMPY2LFFBvFJlbhaVxpd1qjg0SH51CS-sDeVEyB0is4tcELCWi4JIdfu_m-h0V2vaJTk4qd6WYqMxCRag/s640/The+Triangle+Swindon.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Triangle, Swindon, Kevin McCloud and Glenn Howells Architects</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Glenn met </span><a href="http://http//www.channel4.com/4homes/on-tv/grand-designs/grand-designs-extras/about-kevin-mccloud-08-06-20_p_1.html"><span style="color: #125a95; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kevin McCloud </span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">a few years ago when Kevin was first thinking about </span><a href="http://www.glennhowells.co.uk/content/community/83"><span style="color: #125a95; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">the Triangle project </span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">in Swindon. They started discussing his ideas for a housing project and wanting to do something ordinary but very different, with sustainable values whilst remaining desirable, comfortable, somewhere you'd want to live. </span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Houses are like a very good pair of shoes and shouldn't be like a loud cravat. I can't think of anything worse than living in an <em>'eco-home'</em>. The word home has some special meaning and says something about you, not about some designer.</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Over the years we have done terraced housing well in UK. It's both a simple and a sophisticated thing. A surprisingly high proportion of our housing stock is terraced. The Victorians and Georgians did terraces '<em>par excellence'</em>. </span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"We wanted to re-visit terraced housing.... To re-explore one o f the most successful housing types. In this project Kevin is using hemp and lime, not cavity walls, as a low carbon responsible alternative building material. Hemp is actually cannabis mixed with lime. We've also spent quite a bit of time thinking about how it looks in focus inside - the walls will be thick like an old cob wall. </span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Kevin McCloud has seen so many buildings that he has a huge internal reference library which is great when you're trying to do something different. The amazing thing is that this is being built for the same cost as social housing - at £100 per square foot. Good design doesn't cost anymore at all, just takes a lot more work."</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Glenn Howells is also building part of the athletes village for the 2012 Olympics and a ground breaking new housing development in East London. "The 7000 new homes in London are an antidote to the Torremolinos approach. We are trying to re-create the tissue of what are successful urban developments through grain characteristics and building types. Our studies into this have evolved over many months and we have now reached an even finer grain study. </span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"We have come up with housing plans which focus on the user and what it feels like to live in these houses which include a ground floor with a dining room and kitchen, a first floor with sitting room and two further floors with two bedrooms on each. We are trying to get away from a mass produced approach back to the irregularities of older parts of London." </span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">My Favourite Library</b> – “</span><a href="http://www.bl.uk/"><span style="font-size: large;">The British Library</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> in Euston Road, designed by Colin St John Wilson. It has been slated because the outside is not so good, but </span><a href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/BritishLibraryInterior02.jpg&imgrefurl=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BritishLibraryInterior02.jpg&usg=__L2RjSYUDLlh4dY3NaGLkVM-2tGc=&h=822&w=1353&sz=376&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=LvZRapb801k7OM:&tbnh=110&tbnw=181&prev=/images%3Fq%3DThe%2BBritish%2BLibrary%2BSt%2BJohn%2BWilson%2Bdesign%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1676%26bih%3D826%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=1345&vpy=193&dur=235&hovh=175&hovw=288&tx=198&ty=93&ei=KNf3TMaDHcHKhAeA3q3FDw&oei=KNf3TMaDHcHKhAeA3q3FDw&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=33&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0"><span style="font-size: large;">inside it is amazing</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> for the quality of approach and the layout, however the outside disarms you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will be around in 200 years, as it is made of stone and brick.”</span></span></div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Favourite building</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.radford.edu/~rbarris/art216sumfall/foundlinghosp72.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.radford.edu/~rbarris/art216sumfall/renaissancearchitecture1.html&usg=__C-2tv5Mnl7HIFlZvKw0fdwBM5_E=&h=264&w=360&sz=66&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=t_VZkQ1uWqS4rM:&tbnh=159&tbnw=209&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dthe%2Bfoundling%2Bhospital%2Bbrunelleschi%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1676%26bih%3D826%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=359&ei=YNf3TIGJAsbLhAf_jbnzAw&oei=YNf3TIGJAsbLhAf_jbnzAw&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0&tx=152&ty=92"><span style="font-size: large;">Foundling Hospital in Florence</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> by Brunelleschi</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“When you go into his work the proportionality and weight of everything is perfect - ideas revered in Renaissance times as expressed in Leonardo’s famous ‘Vetruvian man’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brunelleschi had a perfect understanding weight and mass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He dematerialises it in some places and in other places this mass ‘crushes your chest’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even then he has used coding throughout the building in a very modern way...For example in his approach to what’s infill and what’s structure. We didn’t invent integrity and structural expressionism in recent times! Walking through Brunelleschi reinforces the view that we are part of a continuum. The more we are able to use elements in buildings with the environment not to redefine it but to use it gently the more we will get the most out of our planet.”</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKO9XdQoTCv_uwnWexyisQypAb1y9gQwwFcCXyC0HdFWZY01ImsjP_S373bLP4KIivV9RRSv7d_mZ8l-FE3Df6lf_M5YlHbdbOMxMhNgUaK-1y6qLzkot7Zoy4wCWx761rHwv1djKtnNHp/s1600/55+Degrees+Time%252C+Dubai.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKO9XdQoTCv_uwnWexyisQypAb1y9gQwwFcCXyC0HdFWZY01ImsjP_S373bLP4KIivV9RRSv7d_mZ8l-FE3Df6lf_M5YlHbdbOMxMhNgUaK-1y6qLzkot7Zoy4wCWx761rHwv1djKtnNHp/s400/55+Degrees+Time%252C+Dubai.JPG" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">55 Degrees Time, Time Residential Development,<br />
Dubai, Glenn Howells Architects</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://www.radford.edu/rbarris/art216sumfall/renaissancearchitecture.html"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://www.radford.edu/rbarris/art216sumfall/renaissancearchitecture.html</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_St_John_Wilson"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_St_John_Wilson</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://www.answers.com/topic/colin-st-john-wilson"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://www.answers.com/topic/colin-st-john-wilson</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://www.studio-international.co.uk/books/wilson.asp"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://www.studio-international.co.uk/books/wilson.asp</span></a></div><div class="asset-more"><br />
</div><div class="asset-more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Design Event 9th December, '<strong>Birmingham Big City Plan - Quality Developments for a Competitive Future' </strong>3pm Birmingham Institute of Art & Design. To attend email beverley.nielsen@<br />
bcu.ac.uk</span></div><div class="asset-more"><br />
For Birmingham Post Business Blog visit <a href="http://blogs.birminghampost.net/business/2010/12/glenn-howells---landmark-citie.html">http://blogs.birminghampost.net/business/2010/12/glenn-howells---landmark-citie.html</a></div></div>Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-8780820400393361112010-11-30T12:27:00.000-08:002011-03-05T02:28:21.296-08:00P&G and Aga Rayburn Case Studies - driving Green Sales through Smart Eco-Design<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">P&G - Changing consumer behaviour through Eco-Design</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">At the CBI Climate Change Summit in November Irwin Lee, Vice President, Proctor and Gamble (P&G), illustrated how good design was driving behavioural change amongst consumers in fast moving consumer goods in his business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Mr Lee outlined the scale and scope of P&G operations as the largest consumer group in the world selling 50 leading brands including Ariel, Fairy, Pampers, Flash, IAMS pet food, Duracell, Lenor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had 130 manufacturing facilities worldwide making $23bn turnover and selling their brands in 180 countries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">P&G decided to prioritise energy consumption and water use focussing on Ariel in the first instance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They found the vast majority of consumers were more demanding and more savvy, although a sizeable segment also wanted to behave sustainably by lowering their carbon footprint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They realised innovation was needed to develop sustainable products meeting consumer needs with no compromise on quality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lifecycle Assessments showed the energy used to heat water during the wash cycle created the biggest CO2 impact. Their challenge was to convince customers to wash at lower temperatures by providing them with a ‘<i>no compromise solution’</i></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.</span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The first breakthrough was with Ariel ‘<i>Excel Gel’</i> working at 15 degrees centigrade. Consumers were saving money through energy savings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Cold is the new hot,” said Irwin Lee. “Excel Gel now has 15% of the laundry market.” </span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This came after earlier progress following the Ariel ‘<i>Turn to 30’</i> campaign launched in 2006 when only 2% of consumers washed at this temperature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After just four years 25% of households were washing at 30 degrees</span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">,</span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> with Irwin Lee claiming that the power saved as a result was equivalent to the energy needs of a country the size of Ireland. P&G aimed to have 70% of the population doing cold water washing by 2020</span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">,</span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> having formed a global partnership with WWF and Energy Savings Trust.</span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With their Pampers brand P&G aimed at reducing bulk, pulp use and packaging as priorities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Design innovation had resulted in the creation of the “driest and thinnest nappy to-date,” said Irwin Lee “through the development of ‘<i>Dry Max’</i> providing slimmer nappy cores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Innovation is the foundation but education remains key.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we can inform consumers we can bring them with us.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Future Friendly</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> represented an approach helping to improve communication with consumers as a partnership between, “P&G brands and leading sustainability experts, where</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> each P&G brand in the partnership is being designed to use at least 15% less energy, water or packaging – whether it's in the way they're manufactured or used.”</span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Pampers had also partnered with UNICEF over the past five years through its ‘<i>1 Pack = 1 Life-Saving Vaccine</i>’ campaign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This had resulted in Pampers donating 200 million tetanus vaccines protecting women and their babies around the world from Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Lee announced that P&G was intending to reach the remaining 170m women and babies at risk by 2012.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Working in partnership with organisations like the Red Cross and Save the Children, P&G delivered PUR water packets providing clean water for relief in disaster areas - like Haiti, Chile and Pakistan.<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> “Thanks to the work of one of our brilliant scientists in household research in Newcastle, w</span>e’ve provided more than 2 billion litres of clean drinking water,” said Mr Lee. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last month at the Clinton Global Initiative P&G had declared their intent to “save a life an hour by 2020” which meant increasing their distribution to an extra 2 billion litres per year<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To realize this "save a life every hour" target by 2020, the company had committed to build a new manufacturing facility for its PUR water packets. Apparently, one small PUR packet quickly turns 10 litres of dirty, potentially deadly water into clean, drinkable water. </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As a result of P&G’s Smart Eco-Design plan and other initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable behaviour across their brands P&G’s results from 2002 – 2010 were:</span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">CO2 reductions <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-53%</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Energy reductions<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-50%</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Waste reductions<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-55%</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Disposed waste <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>-55%</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Their new 10 year goals for 2020 were to have 100% renewable energy plants and 100% renewable materials for packaging their products together with 0% consumer or manufacturing waste.</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aga Rayburn - Smart Design through the Eco-Connect System</span></span></b></div><div class="Default" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Closer to home Aga Rayburn has recently developed a unique sustainable solution targeting their customers’ needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I visited the Aga shop in Kidderminster a couple of weeks back to see their new Home Energy Management Centre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Centre has a full size display showing customers how various components, such as a boiler stove, Central heating range cooker and solar panel, can be configured together to maximise the use of renewable energy.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To help them do this the Aga Rayburn research team in Telford have created the Eco-Connect system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This clever</span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">,</span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> neatly-sized device acts as<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a heat exchanger enabling the water cylinder in any home to be connected to a different energy sources, such as a wood burning stove, a wood burning, solid fuel or oil fired Rayburn cooker (and central heating system) and other sustainable energy sources, such as solar thermal (hot water) panels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aga wood burning stoves have energy efficiency ratings of over 81% and the Rayburn 680 KCD, for example, is an oil fired boiler and central heating system with 92% efficiency for its A-rated condensing technology. </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The innovative Eco-Connect Panel has the ability to interconnect different appliances ensuring that energy is intelligently drawn from the greenest source at all times. </span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Eco-Connect panel senses the temperature of the water in the system and whether it needs ‘topping up’ always opting for the most sustainable source whether that might be the stove, Rayburn or other source.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Aga Rangemaster’s Nigel Morrison told me, “No other manufacturer is doing this. We are the first to market with this sort of product and within the first few months we have seen signs of early enthusiasm for this technology and it is selling well across the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has already won an Award in the Innovative Renewables Category at the Ricoh Arena Oil & Renewables Exhibition earlier this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has just been voted ‘Innovative Product of the Year’ at the OFTEC Awards for Excellence 2010 on 29<sup>th</sup> October with the Rayburn 680 KCD a runner up in the same category.</span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDS6KtI8joxn2aQWdJ1cwZDb2kLda6zWb7XPsurTVdppo8SqdJsWCqIUzwDbZcjugltis_kc8nQFAa7xKp3uEWYR4I8gpFcwUpEdFNuj83yaNE1o7po2vuPJhbNvn6nmWGlePRqWqbSJv/s1600/Aga+Rayburn+Eco-Connect-200+system.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDS6KtI8joxn2aQWdJ1cwZDb2kLda6zWb7XPsurTVdppo8SqdJsWCqIUzwDbZcjugltis_kc8nQFAa7xKp3uEWYR4I8gpFcwUpEdFNuj83yaNE1o7po2vuPJhbNvn6nmWGlePRqWqbSJv/s1600/Aga+Rayburn+Eco-Connect-200+system.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Smart eco-design innovation</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Aga Rayburn - Eco-Connect Panel </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“With systems of this sort vitally dependent on technical details one of the key technological challenges has been in enabling connections to be made between Stoves as vented systems and cookers, such as the Rayburn, as sealed systems, something that had not been possible prior to this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Whilst we have produced all the technology in-house for the Eco-Connect system, we have partnered with Kingspan in sourcing solar panels and with The Mark Group for their installation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will be launching the solar offer in the next few months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are anticipating £15-16k will buy, for example, a 680KCD Rayburn, a stove(Minsterley), the Eco-Connect system, Water cylinder, and a solar thermal panels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kidderminster will be our first Aga shop to make this offer." </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.agarangemaster.com/2165.htm"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">http://www.agarangemaster.com/2165.htm</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.agarangemaster.com/SiteImages/Site_301/Pdf/homeenergymanagement.pdf"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">http://www.agarangemaster.com/SiteImages/Site_301/Pdf/homeenergymanagement.pdf</span></a></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.futurefriendly.co.uk/index.aspx"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">http://www.futurefriendly.co.uk/index.aspx</span></a></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/30634-P-G-Children-s-Safe-Drinking-Water-Program-Commits-to-Save-a-Life-Every-Hour-at-2010-Clinto-Global-Initiaitive-"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">http://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/30634-P-G-Children-s-Safe-Drinking-Water-Program-Commits-to-Save-a-Life-Every-Hour-at-2010-Clinto-Global-Initiaitive-</span></a></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.unicef.org/corporate_partners/index_25098.html"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">http://www.unicef.org/corporate_partners/index_25098.html</span></a></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.bitc.org.uk/resources/case_studies/pg_rm.html"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">http://www.bitc.org.uk/resources/case_studies/pg_rm.html</span></a></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.pg.com/en_US/sustainability/environmental_sustainability/operations_suppliers/eco_design.shtml"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">http://www.pg.com/en_US/sustainability/environmental_sustainability/operations_suppliers/eco_design.shtml</span></a></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5245/is_7838_231/ai_n29413666/"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5245/is_7838_231/ai_n29413666/</span></a></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5245/is_7838_231/ai_n29413666/"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5245/is_7838_231/ai_n29413666/</span></a></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.mad.co.uk/Main/Home/Articles/b09280ebbce74030964ab2a9c8b4567d/Procter-vs-Unilever.html"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">http://www.mad.co.uk/Main/Home/Articles/b09280ebbce74030964ab2a9c8b4567d/Procter-vs-Unilever.html</span></a></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div></div>Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-36131249765675854442010-11-30T03:00:00.000-08:002010-12-18T10:36:35.302-08:00Smart Eco-Design can change consumer behaviour driving Green Growth<div class="asset-header"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdiUUMEV-Dl_R-17K1IEEHGnoXXrv5MY6sg7qrrCrx4fi4GqFV-M60VgJDKhjHdXbfHI1BQwcJ-VMZTKs_A4aZ1UgMKEGMvkNIKH2tQuaQcJs9RcuINLXOXbNu5Z-j82RxjpUT6M8w5ec/s1600/Richard+Lambert+CBI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdiUUMEV-Dl_R-17K1IEEHGnoXXrv5MY6sg7qrrCrx4fi4GqFV-M60VgJDKhjHdXbfHI1BQwcJ-VMZTKs_A4aZ1UgMKEGMvkNIKH2tQuaQcJs9RcuINLXOXbNu5Z-j82RxjpUT6M8w5ec/s320/Richard+Lambert+CBI.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard Lambert, Director General, CBI</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At the CBI Climate Change Summit in November Richard Lambert explained that there was still a big opportunity for more businesses to use design to change people's behaviours and buying habits. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He stated, "the process of capturing the public's imagination has hardly started. There is no sense of excitement.... Not enough breakthroughs to excite consumers for them to drive the market. </span></div><div class="asset-header"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="asset-content"><div class="asset-body"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Businesses need to demonstrate that switching will benefit families and improve quality of life by making it real for them." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He added, "Martin Luther King didn't get to where he got by saying '<em>I have a nightmare'</em>. There was a sense amongst consumers that they simply were not going to buy more expensive products just because they would have a better carbon footprint. Whilst white goods companies were doing things differently and cars were improving, consumers remained sceptical."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="asset-more" id="more"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is not so much time left for business to rise to this eco-design challenge. In climate change terms the next ten years are critical for Britain and the rest of the planet.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yet, in spite of this, the media have recently been full of warnings by many, including our Chief Scientist, Sir John Beddington, that we are unlikely to reach any comprehensive agreement during the latest climate talks in Cancun, Mexico. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This follows the failure to reach agreement in Copenhagen last year. Sir John's uncertainty also extends to any positive outcome for next year's talks in South Africa. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Despite failure at Copenhagen to reach a comprehensively binding agreement, 140 countries had made pledges in the 'Copenhagen Accord', with developed countries aiming for cuts in CO2 emissions and developing countries aiming for lower increases. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sir John thinks it would be '<em>unwise</em>' to work on the basis that the UN will achieve its target of limiting global temperature rises to a maximum of 2 degrees Celsius (C). He suggests we need to prepare for '<em>rapidly warming temperatures over the rest of this century'.</em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">His views are echoed by experts I meet in universities across the region with some now seeing a 4 degree C temperature increase as a quite possible outcome. A new paper published today in <em>Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society </em>, timed to coincide with talks in Cancun, argues that even with current promises to cut emissions, a rise of 4 degrees C is possible, happening as quickly as 2060 in a worst case scenario. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This could lead to droughts, desertification, extreme water shortages, especially in drier places such as southern Europe and northern Africa, leading to possible large scale loss of rainforests in South and Central America and parts of Africa. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"There is now little to no chance of maintaining the rise in global surface temperature at below 2C, despite repeated high level statements to the contrary," Kevin Anderson, University of Manchester was reported as saying in yesterday's Guardian (29/11/10). "Moreover, the impacts associated with 2C have been revised upwards so that 2C now represents the threshold [of] extremely dangerous climate change."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"2010 represents a political tipping point," Anderson said, "this paper is not intended as a message of futility, but rather a bare and perhaps brutal assessment of where our 'rose-tinted' and well-intentioned approach to climate change has brought us. Real hope and opportunity, if it is to arise at all, will do so from a raw and dispassionate assessment of the scale of the challenge faced by the global community."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dr Peter Rayson, Associate Dean Faculty of Technology, Engineering and the Environment, Birmingham City University says, "The UK's Natural Environment Research Council's (NERC) programme, Quantifying and Understanding the Earth System (QUEST), has been working to throw some light on these issues, making its final report in early November. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"The QUEST programme has been operating since 2004. It involves 300 scientists investigating land use, bio-energy, forestry and mitigation; fish stocks, crops and food security; bio-geochemical feedbacks; carbon cycle feedbacks, rules of fire and large and rapid climate change. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"The key learning from establishing this Earth System Model is the interdependency of these issues and the fundamental impact that human economic activity and population growth has on our future Sustainability. From the final QUEST report it was apparent that the view was we are heading for 4 degree C plus outcome, probably 6 degrees C by the end of the century. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you have access to Google Earth 5 you can load the QUEST scenario's for a 4 deg temperature rise </span><a href="http://%20www.fco.gov.uk/google-earth-4degrees.kml"><span style="color: #125a95; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://www.fco.gov.uk/google-earth-4degrees.kml</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Richard Lambert suggested that in spite of these warnings for rapid temperature increases, "the needle on the dial for consumer behaviour has scarcely shifted." Apparently climate change was ranked 21st out of a list of 21 consumer concerns in recent US research by the Pew Research Centre. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"The CBI is working alongside Ipsos MORI and others to get a grip on what is required here," said Richard. "Already it's clear that by increasing the knowledge about the energy efficiency of a product or service, and explaining this in a coherent fashion, consumers will behave accordingly."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The CBI Director General cited the economic turmoil as a reason for this, adding that the public's trust in climate change had been damaged by manipulations of data resulting in a feeling of 'greenwash', especially following the email leaks from the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia and the mistakes admitted by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in asserting that Himalayan glaciers could disappear by 2035. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Vested interests in the USA (using around ¼ of world oil supply) made radical breakthroughs unlikely even though business was keen to invest and saw the potential for this area to drive recovery. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"What was once a niche topic for members had become central to the CBI," said Richard. "There is a need to become 'green to grow' with increasing evidence that recalibrating businesses to 'green' can provide benefits to business," quoting the M&S Plan A, P&G, Ford, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Siemens, GE, Clipper Windpower and Tesco, saving £0.5bn a year from energy efficiency strategies, as leaders of this approach.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">However Richard Lambert told the Climate Change Summit that the CBI Climate Change Tracker was still showing more red than green. It had been set up by the CBI following the introduction of the Climate Change Act in 2008 to chart the government's progress in developing the policy framework and conditions to encourage the delivery of a sustainable economy focussing on the key areas of power generation, buildings, transport and industry.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Companies don't have to wait for political leadership when they set about designing new products, or launching new services for the low carbon world," said the CBI Director General. But they did need some policy clarity - and consistency....For example on feed-in tariffs, green taxes, carbon pricing, the Green Investment Bank. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On Green Deal loans to homes to pay for energy efficiency measures he added that it was, "a nice idea in theory, but fraught with uncertainty about the appropriate scale of the scheme, about who is going to pay for it, and about how much demand there will be from homeowners in the first place."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">However, despite the lack of clarity, lack of customer engagement to-date, and insufficient use of design to ignite consumer desire, the EU outlook, as articulated by Danish Politician and former EU Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard, was for strong growth in sustainable jobs from 1.6m in 2005 to 3.5m in 2020, with global market values either doubling or tripling during that period.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gavin Patterson, Chief Executive of BT Retail echoed Richard Lambert's concerns about the need to drive the market stating that the consumer space was still to be seized and solving consumer pull was critical to driving forward sustainable solutions.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne, stated that the "shifting landscape of public opinion" was itself a challenge, "Threatening to undermine the collective will for action". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Apparently 7 out of 10 people already thought it was too late to do anything on Climate Change and 1 in 4 that Britain couldn't act alone. His fear was that fatalism could take hold and that uncertainty was not an excuse for inaction. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"We have the 3rd largest insurance sector in the world in the UK, managing assets valued around ¼ of the UK's net worth," said the Minister. Companies in this sector were being exposed to the cost of UK floods which soared to over £3bn in 2007 hitting premium costs. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"According to the ABI, if global temperatures were to rise by 2 degrees, average annual insured losses from inland flooding would rise by 6%. And the losses from an extreme weather event would rise by 18%," said Chris Huhne adding that it was estimated the sustainable home insurance markets would reach £4Tr in value by 2015. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the CRC (Carbon Reduction Commitment) Energy Efficiency Scheme the government outlined its objective to make things simpler and easier for business, having published consultations on delaying the start of the CRC scheme by a year, in an effort to reduce the administrative burden on business. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">They were intending to exempt more than 12,000 information declarers from the scheme. However the Minister was under no illusion regarding businesses' disappointment at the withdrawal of the commitment for revenues raised from the scheme being recycled to participants. Government were anticipating raising £1bn from the sale of CRC allowances by 2014/15. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Green Deal was seen as the answer to bringing ageing housing stock up to today's standards through a nationwide refit. It was also being designed to apply to business allowing businesses to pay for energy efficiency improvements through a charge on their energy bill with the level of expected energy saving being higher than the cost of repayment. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was anticipated the insulation industry could quadruple in size. "Britain accounts for just £112 billion of the global trade in low-carbon and environmental goods and services. We can do so much more," concluded the Minister.</span></div></div>Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-57233660074484699872010-11-26T11:24:00.000-08:002010-11-26T11:24:23.237-08:00European Innovation and Enterprise Academy to be launched by Birmingham City University, Faculty of Technology, Environment and Engineering<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hI4ItXleGT-Kyoom1lEkAOhi9DMIy2PYd0NkWv-Bu9wXmg6MBMtgYn_ZvcuMG7zJBqNt8N4GqvJDqkHwIetazn1WwZtqiAl0vndNynCx3i55pEVTqYMDsPRE-hzDmMTvA4EWPAEKwE6A/s1600/Enterprise+Academy+image.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="355" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hI4ItXleGT-Kyoom1lEkAOhi9DMIy2PYd0NkWv-Bu9wXmg6MBMtgYn_ZvcuMG7zJBqNt8N4GqvJDqkHwIetazn1WwZtqiAl0vndNynCx3i55pEVTqYMDsPRE-hzDmMTvA4EWPAEKwE6A/s400/Enterprise+Academy+image.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From left: John Rainford - Strawberry Fields</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Barbara Rainford - Strawberry Fields</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pilar Haro - AJE Zaragoza </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Marc Banaszak - SAXEED</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Professor Adrian Cole - BCU </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tom Mcdermott - BCU </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Timo Nevalainen - TAMK </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Beverley Nielsen - BCU</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">An innovative partnership between leading European providers of higher education focussed on developing enterprise and innovation within businesses has been launched by Professor Adrian Cole at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Birmingham City University (BCU)</b> that will result in a new <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">European Innovation and Enterprise Academy.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">In launching this pioneering initiative Professor Cole has brought together leading exponents in Enterprise and Innovation learning who have a track record of supporting enterprise activity within their regions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The partners include Tampere University of Applied Sciences in Finland, AJE Zaragoza from Spain, SAXEED Centre for Entrepreneurship based in Chemnitz Germany and Birmingham City University.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Professor Cole, speaking at the launch said, “I am very excited by this innovative development in bringing together leaders in entrepreneurial and innovation teaching from across Europe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a big challenge in Europe and in the UK to stimulate our economies again and get young people into exciting work that can provide future opportunity for them and others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are setting ambitious goals for ourselves and over the course of the next year we will be developing the details plans for the Academy.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">“Our goal is to have the Academy operational in a number of European locations with each location serving the enterprise development needs of its local region but also being able to take advantage of expertise and resources from across the EU”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Academy partnership <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>brings a diverse and rich set of experience in developing entrepreneurial and innovation learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Birmingham City University</b> has established expertise in enterprise and innovation development at national and international levels. Support for 4000 plus smaller businesses has seen its technologies and skills transfer programmes result in significant product developments. Projects have included the EU Asia programme (with partners in India, China, Spain, Poland and Germany).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Industrial partnerships have included Microsoft and Cisco resulting in international computer and IT-networking academies. Further initiatives have resulted in links with Apple, Rolls Royce, NEC, SAP and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tampere<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(TAMK) University</b> has over 10,000 student and 800 members of staff focussing on technology, business, tourism and culture with a partnership involving the School of Art and the School of Vocational Teacher Education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TAMK cooperates successfully on R&D with institutions across Finland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its entrepreneurship unit, the respected and internationally-renowned, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">‘ProAcademy’</b> is working to renew the education system by promoting early student entrepreneurship. Students establish new businesses on entry and engage in team learning involving the unit’s trainers, entrepreneurs and students. Their approach focuses on ‘values’ based learning encouraging a can-do attitude and the courage to do business through coaches rather than lecturers and where lecture theatres are replaced by offices where students engage in team enterprises with responsibility for their own learning and success. 2008 revenues generated by student businesses amounted to Euros 400,000 with 20% of graduates continuing as entrepreneurs following graduation that year and 40% of 2009 graduates continuing in entrepreneurial roles.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">AJE Zaragoza</b> in Spain supports the growth of entrepreneurship through direct incubator support for start-ups including a training support programme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has a partnership with the University of Zaragoza enabling it to provide expertise on financing and development of entrepreneurial culture and mindset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During 2003 it hosted the first World Virtual Congress of Young Entrepreneurs and SMEs with more than 130 countries, 600 organisations and 3,500 individuals participating.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SAXEED Centre for Entrepreneurship</b> in Chemnitz Germany offers entrepreneurship education and advice for start-up companies at 4 universities in South-western Saxony – Chemnitz University of Technology, TU Bergakamdemie Freiberg and the two universities of Applied Sciences in Mittweida and Zwickau. As a direct result of the Centre’s activities in the last 5 years more than 120 start-up companies have emerged out of 300 business ideas, creating more than 420 jobs most of which have been in the technology sector.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">For further enquiries please contact Prof Adrian Cole at +44 (0)121 331 5400 or via email at <a href="mailto:Adrian.cole@bcu.ac.uk">Adrian.cole@bcu.ac.uk</a></span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></span>Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-71084845049701793032010-11-21T09:54:00.000-08:002010-12-19T06:08:28.999-08:00John Heskett, Professor of Design, urges business to Use Design to Create Market Demand<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZb0ZK-n_GJt21ZRKrdTWsfFHzlarO_jucMm7-I_IkXGwtnrt3BXMVOMXxVnwPvt-CRrwJsMmPUbyQP3J5GIErx3Qq5moRNKqvuLXrlHijRi7bD5RwDEOy-Yyjt0-qOVDf1UCsCCEvsLzL/s1600/John_heskett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZb0ZK-n_GJt21ZRKrdTWsfFHzlarO_jucMm7-I_IkXGwtnrt3BXMVOMXxVnwPvt-CRrwJsMmPUbyQP3J5GIErx3Qq5moRNKqvuLXrlHijRi7bD5RwDEOy-Yyjt0-qOVDf1UCsCCEvsLzL/s1600/John_heskett.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Professor John Heskett<br />
Design can create markets <br />
and drive economic growth</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Markets are <i>created</i>, they do not just exist,” said Professor John Heskett to me last weekend when I visited him at his new home in Brighton. “The best way to achieve this is by embedding design into all aspects of managing corporate activities.” </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">He added, “Understanding by a company’s senior management of the full complexity of design, how it can best be matched to company needs and most effectively integrated into development processes at all levels is imperative.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">John Heskett has just returned to the UK from most of the past decade in Hong Kong. There he was Chair Professor of Design at the School of Design, Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Before that he spent fifteen years in the USA as Professor at the Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Entering his beautiful home is a bit like entering a design museum. He and his wife Pamela have filled it with objects providing ‘balm for the soul’...from Han Dynasty artefacts in the hallway to lighting designed by Louis Poulsen, furniture by Gilbert Rohde, Børge Mogensen, Arne Jacobsen, Niels Diffrient and others too numerous to list. Of particular interest to me were the Marcel Breuer chairs designed for renowned former West Midlands’ manufacturer, PEL.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In recent years Professor Heskett’s research has focused on how design creates - and not just adds - economic value and the role of this in design policy in government and business. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">His design credentials stretch back, I hope he won’t mind me saying, for some time. His first book ‘<i>Industrial Design’ </i>(Thames & Hudson) was published in 1980.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As a young lecturer, then at Coventry University, he felt his students did not have a text helping them to gain a structured understanding of how design can impact on our quality of life. Whilst they learnt about the history of art, they did not learn about the history of design. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“It became very obvious to me that you couldn’t neglect design history as this was an important part of the whole. It would be a bit like expecting individuals to exist without knowing who their family was. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Students were being expected to re-invent the wheel. However, in other disciplines there is a body of knowledge to learn from and refer to, so you can ‘stand on the shoulders of giants’ rather than examining your own navel.”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Since then John has made his reputation internationally for the quality of his writing and thinking into how design can enhance our lives – and our businesses. As he points out, “almost nothing in our environment is completely natural. The wider social and economic world we inhabit is pretty much all designed, all man made - our homes, workplaces, schools, churches, malls, transport systems and places of entertainment.”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">His last book, “<i>A Very Short Introduction to Design</i>”, published 2002, (Oxford University Press) ends with the chapter, “<i>Future</i>” posing the question, “Will the future pattern of what is produced and why, continue to be primarily determined by commercial companies, with designers identifying with their values; or by users, with designers and corporations serving their needs?”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">How does John define that much-misunderstood term, ‘design’?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Design,” he says, “is a basic human capability. Like language and music it defines us as human beings, derived from but also different from the rest of nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This capability enables us to shape our physical environment, giving it <i>meaning</i>, with its outcomes clustered into objects, communications, spaces, services and the combination of some or all of these into systems.”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To this end it is vital that design teaching is oriented not only to the generation of ideas but to solutions to meet user needs enhancing quality of life.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Generating creative ideas is relatively easy. The ideas in principle can be generated in large numbers at low cost. The biggest problem is bringing those ideas into reality within the productive processes and to the market in question. How to ensure ideas are appropriate to technologies, marketing, producer capacity and meeting the needs of users for the right price is crucial.”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">His concerns are rooted in some of the current thinking behind design teaching. As he puts it, “Much of the confusion stems from perceptions of design as a branch of fine art, which limits understanding of design to the subjective manipulation by individuals of physical elements, such as forms, colours, materials, textures and so on, with ‘creativity’ being viewed as the polar opposite to processes of analysis, thought and methodology.”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Prof Heskett quotes Herbert Simon, 1978 Nobel Prize Laureate in Economics, who emphasised design as a process of decision-making directed towards change that could encompass both objective and subjective approaches and is a fundamental component of any professional activity.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As Simon put it, “Everyone designs who devises courses of action aimed at changing existing situations into preferred ones. ...Design so construed is the core of all professional training; it is the principal mark that distinguishes the professions from the sciences.”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">A consequence of Simon’s definition is that a designer’s work is concerned with application and implementation, not just observation or reflection. Which means it cannot be justified solely in terms of self-definition, as in fine art where the integrity of any work stems from it being the essence of an individual’s vision. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“We are going nowhere in future if we have design students who do not understand technologies, manufacturing processes, distribution, social and cultural elements of how design structures our work and life and how design is woven into a social, cultural, ethical and political context. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“If we could get this right for our students this would be a very powerful learning experience for life and would get the very best students into design – competing with the other professions such as medicine, economics, management and law and laying the foundations for a career that could move right up through companies to the boardroom. How many British FTSE companies today have a designer on the board, or running the business?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Whilst for designers individuality and creativity are crucial characteristics, designers also frequently work in teams and have to satisfy specific criteria on multiple levels such as - the requirements of employers or clients; compatibility with available technology, marketing and distribution systems, legal and environmental standards, economic criteria. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“This implies,” says John, “that design must ultimately be judged by its contribution to business success, in terms of profitability.”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">If there are two key themes to Professor Heskett’s thinking about the power and relevance of design to our lives in future it is in thinking about systemic design and interactive design approaches.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As companies become more complex in response to the growing sophistication of users and their requirements, business needs to increasingly create new markets through innovative products and services. “It will do this using communications, environments and services combined into systems intended to demonstrate that the whole exceeds the sum of its parts.”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Examples include Samsung and 3M. 3M has invested substantial resources not just in encouraging experiment but in providing an environment in which the search for innovation is continuous, describing it as a ‘<i>way of life’</i>. “The company was founded in 1902,” says John Heskett “and since then they say they’ve introduced over 50,000 innovative products.”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Samsung similarly encourages innovative design at all levels. When Samsung arranges meetings to negotiate loans for future development, the Chairman doesn’t only take along his financial advisors, but also a team of designers to talk about scenarios of the future. The company is now one of the best managed in the world in terms of its integration of design.”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Explaining the need for a greater emphasis on interactivity John says, “above all, designers must satisfy users or customers in a wide range of cultural conditions and contexts who determine whether any project is successful. The integrity of design here springs from the degree to which it satisfies actual and latent human needs.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Only if what is designed is affordable, useful, accessible and pleasurable will it sell and give continuing satisfaction. In other words, I’m suggesting that users ultimately determine what constitutes value and innovation, and a focus on their needs and an emphasis on providing greater and deeper satisfaction to them is the key to sustainable profitability.”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Professor Heskett emphasizes: “Size is not a necessary factor in these approaches. ERCO, a German company specializing in architectural lighting, focuses on producing lighting fittings known for overall quality as well as quality of light produced. They employ about 600 people. Their former MD decided they were not going to produce any products made by other architectural lighting businesses—and it was this strategy and the systems needed to achieve this that ensured they’ve become Number 1 in the world in their sector.”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> John Heskett concludes: “Where high levels of economic performance exist around the world, you will also find high levels of design performance integrated into organizations. Competition, moreover, is going to get fiercer. Brazil is strengthening its design education and practice. China is moving from the approach of Made in China using outside designs, to Designed in China and developing its own brands. We are facing a fundamental transformation and we cannot expect in the UK to achieve different results by doing the same kinds of things as in the past. If we want to be competitive in new technologies, it requires a rethinking of the roles design can play and how these can be managed, as a matter of urgency.”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 2.85pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Dynasty"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Dynasty</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.louispoulsen.com/sv"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://www.louispoulsen.com/sv</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_Rohde"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_Rohde</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borge_Mogensen"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borge_Mogensen</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arne_Jacobsen"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arne_Jacobsen</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.sony.co.uk/section/home"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://www.sony.co.uk/section/home</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.erco.com/homepage/homepage/start/de/de_start.php"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://www.erco.com/homepage/homepage/start/de/de_start.php</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.3m.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://www.3m.com/</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm -45.7pt 0pt 1cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-73534259451481277812010-11-15T09:31:00.000-08:002010-12-08T13:44:49.680-08:00Francine Houben – Interpreting Birmingham’s Future through its Past<span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Libraries are the Cathedrals of this decennia”, said Francine Houben speaking about her design for the new <span id="goog_551469547"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Library of Birmingham<span id="goog_551469548"></span></a>. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This was the third in the series of ‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Design Built-In’</b> lectures, held jointly by the Birmingham Institute of Art & Design and Aston University’s School of Applied Science and Engineering Design attended<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by over 140 students and business people.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some months back Prof Verganti of Politecnico di Milano said in the same lecture series that you innovate the meaning of things by “working through ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">interpreters</i>’ – people with capacity to combine the ‘big picture’ with profound insights at company level.” </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Francine Houben, architect and director Mecanoo, and designer of the new Library of Birmingham is just such an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">interpreter</i>. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I have been coming to Birmingham for two years, but this is the first time I have spoken about it,” she said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I am struck by the colour, diversity and energy of the City and its people... For me, Birmingham is a city of incidents and ideas with a proud industrial heritage.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Francine’s global experience combined with her unique vision of Birmingham and our place will, I believe, help us to recreate ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59rEQpb9sn-oQ5goiZ_MrqvCOe6cHwG1vwEutk2mpiwybt2ct7pEVu9xfvE5Oz1HSw0G8m_3bjYLMOMYnitx9qJh7ipCMef8UNZJT6I3B4XZQ8nLtHf4JfIMWSO7U3XDhJA8WJojSBdOP/s1600/Lob+Exterior+View+best.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="193" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59rEQpb9sn-oQ5goiZ_MrqvCOe6cHwG1vwEutk2mpiwybt2ct7pEVu9xfvE5Oz1HSw0G8m_3bjYLMOMYnitx9qJh7ipCMef8UNZJT6I3B4XZQ8nLtHf4JfIMWSO7U3XDhJA8WJojSBdOP/s400/Lob+Exterior+View+best.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Francine Houben's design for the new Library of Birmingham</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By looking anew at what we have achieved (and more often than not taken for granted) she will help us recognise afresh the wealth of creativity combined in our past and present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps, I hope, giving us renewed confidence about ourselves and our culture as we shape a dynamic and vibrant future.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Francine Houben is a remarkable woman by anyone’s standards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Appointed the first Professor of Architecture in Holland and a Visiting Professor, Harvard during 2007, she has received many honorary Awards in recognition of her talents including - Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year 2008, Honorary Fellow, RIBA UK, as well as H</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">onorary Fellow, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and the American Institute of Architects</span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">She describes her work as, “warm, human, playful, using beauty and light, colour and strong materials... </span>For me architecture is not a purely intellectual or conceptual game. In the end the result should touch all the senses.”<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Her practice employs 90 people providing services covering architecture, urbanism, interior design, restoration and landscaping. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She does not believe she has a style as such – a perspective associated with many of our most famous architects of the past century - but rather a set of principles, amounting to a philosophy or form of expression, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>guiding her approach to design including, “a love of nature, handwriting and language, </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_551469568"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">composition of empty space</span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">,</span></span><a href="http://www.mecanoo.nl/vision/10statements/1landasanexpensivecommodity/tabid/125/language/en-US/Default.aspx"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> analysis and intuition</span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, arrangement of form and emotion</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, with a focus on durability – making things that will last.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://www.mecanoo.nl/vision/10statements/1landasanexpensivecommodity/tabid/125/language/en-US/Default.aspx"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://www.mecanoo.nl/vision/10statements/1landasanexpensivecommodity/tabid/125/language/en-US/Default.aspx</span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Francine first visited Birmingham she bought a guide book to the UK which had two pages on Birmingham – not much, she felt, to reflect the UK’s greatest industrial city, poised to take advantage of the emerging knowledge economy with three respected universities hosting over 60,000 students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She bought a map of the city and started trying to walk the streets before realizing the map was intended soley for cars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To get a feel for the city she started walking ‘the red line’ from the Rotunda where she always stays in Birmingham, up through Paradise Circus, Centenary Square (the site of the new Library) and onto the Canal District of the city and Broad Street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I noticed people were walking through the city but not stopping to enjoy the open spaces very much, not using them to socialize or relax.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I wanted to bring a coherence to the City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Local historian and commentator, Carl Chinn, took me around the buildings and I observed the styles and materials being used, taking in something of the spirit of the city. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I did not want to create a new glass box but a building growing out of and representing something of the essence of the city.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For example, Francine has reflected the industrial craftsmanship of the new Library’s location on the site of the Cambridge Street Winfield Brass Works by incorporating a distinctive external steel filigree work that builds connections between past and present.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A further inspiration was St Philip’s Cathedral, Birmingham “<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58058331@N00/506338491">Inside light streaming through the windows created circular shadows building a dialogue between exterior and interior reflected in delicate tones of light and grey</a>. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“It was clear to me that we should create a BREAM excellent building – quite a challenge…for example by installing mixed mode ventilation – natural and mechanical.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Francine spent a lot of time reflecting on the arrangement of the Library’s functions with escalators taking people through the buildings’ layers to new sources of knowledge and discovery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuSxASzwbI0hMz9Adp7NIKlYf9Eq1fYCLqSn8B1WRU2-1UkScz_cLj5iBVA4MhIhfvY96F56bxY18btUsUfHXxXBK0UvAbTrbhhKDto_YGcMeoXubOMWkEzqu8F7V52-I0zErf3CHnAPn/s1600/Music+Room+LoB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuSxASzwbI0hMz9Adp7NIKlYf9Eq1fYCLqSn8B1WRU2-1UkScz_cLj5iBVA4MhIhfvY96F56bxY18btUsUfHXxXBK0UvAbTrbhhKDto_YGcMeoXubOMWkEzqu8F7V52-I0zErf3CHnAPn/s640/Music+Room+LoB.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Music Amphitheatre, new Library of Birmingham</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Children’s Library will be located on the lower ground floor connecting to the new Amphitheatre outside the Library, hosting concerts – for example by the Citys’ renowned Conservatoire and other musicians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The entrance will enable access to both the new business and learning hub on the ground floor and connecting through to the REP, housing new dining facilities reflecting Francine’s vision for the REP to become the ‘social hub’ of the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Level 2 will house the extensive Reader Service collections. “I imagine a lot of student’s working in this area and I have created many different spaces for sitting and working with laptops and books alongside the window…For example looking over the city as the Library is located on one of the highest points in Birmingham.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">A new Gallery and Terrace will be located on level 3, including a small restaurant and café and a separate Research Area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“I also noticed the city was built on a gently rolling landscape with much greenery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to create more green opportunity in the city through rooftop gardens in the new Library.”</span></span></div> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLv5-5gPB_IJdbgH35sWgbIUXDK0oS4Xqkn_asMWNFwzkL28nJ0-mHjc27N4PZDN_NlKhGdH5eLjxZnvmvucmYuWPi_emuRy-mL0F3yZTq-fkVft4IH1BBzwJrU0P130hOKs9-kLBNy3B/s1600/Lob+Section.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="387" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLv5-5gPB_IJdbgH35sWgbIUXDK0oS4Xqkn_asMWNFwzkL28nJ0-mHjc27N4PZDN_NlKhGdH5eLjxZnvmvucmYuWPi_emuRy-mL0F3yZTq-fkVft4IH1BBzwJrU0P130hOKs9-kLBNy3B/s640/Lob+Section.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Section through new Library of Birmingham</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Archive collections will be housed in a rotunda structure rising upwards to the top floor with external imagery reflecting some of the inspirational source material contained in the</span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> 3 million photographic images and over 6,000 archive collections.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As outlined in an earlier blog, the Library's Shakespeare Collection includes the first Folio Edition of Shakespeare's works, published in 1623, worth an estimated £3-4m. Sitting alongside the Library's collection are those of the </span></span><a href="http://www.rsc.org.uk/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Royal Shakespeare Company</span></span></a><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and the </span></span><a href="http://www.shakespeare.org.uk/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Shakespeare Birthplace Trust</span></span></a><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- if connected digitally this would represent a huge cultural resource, unequalled anywhere else in the world. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For Francine this piece de resistance is highlighted in her ‘Shakespeare Memorial’, sitting atop the building, crown-like and coated in gold, with a central opening providing a view to the heavens above – a dramatic touch that perhaps even Shakespeare might have appreciated!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnC5eNcQAiwY5xpXnGYK37FmW5KwwRzARESrz3jix9bop8cQVqmA1cbTMal74ARfZxYGrxFbFvHsaXSGSvkEiiwb1kPHn_hHOoFl-qH4EjYDioegIKBLow8w84G_p6TOCDBtJUcFD9Xiqy/s1600/Lob+in+construction+Nov+2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnC5eNcQAiwY5xpXnGYK37FmW5KwwRzARESrz3jix9bop8cQVqmA1cbTMal74ARfZxYGrxFbFvHsaXSGSvkEiiwb1kPHn_hHOoFl-qH4EjYDioegIKBLow8w84G_p6TOCDBtJUcFD9Xiqy/s400/Lob+in+construction+Nov+2010.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Library of Birmingham in construction, picture 21st October 2010</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Francine Houben, Background:</span></span></b></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Born in 1955, Francine Houben attended the Department of Architecture at the TU Delft, graduating in 1984. Today, she is one of Europe’s most active architects, responsible for projects such as the <a href="http://www.mecanoo.nl/projects/year/tabid/89/language/en-US/Default.aspx">TU Delft Library (1998), St Mary of the Angels Chapel, Rotterdam (2001), Montevideo Tower (2006) La Llotja Theatre and Congress Centre, Lleida (2010), Spain and the Wei-Wu-Ying Center for the Arts, Kaohsiung, Taiwan due for completion in 2013</a>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Houben has held Professorships in the Netherlands and abroad, and in 2007 was appointed <b>Visiting Professor at Harvard</b>. From 2002 to 2006 she was City Architect of the Dutch City Almere. In 2001 she published her seminal manifesto about architecture: ‘Composition, Contrast, Complexity’ and, as a highly influential director of the First International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam in 2003, brought the theme of mobility to the forefront of international design consciousness.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">She lectures all over the world and sits on many prestigious international design competition juries. In 2001 she was awarded an <b>Honorary Fellowship</b> of the <b>Royal Institute of British Architects</b> and, between 2003 and 2005 was a member of the International Design Committee in London. In 2007 she was awarded an <b>Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and the American Institute of Architects</b>, and in 2008 received the <b>Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year Award</b>. 2008 also saw the publication of a monograph on the work of Francine Houben and Mecanoo: ‘Mecanoo’ published by Images Publishing in the Master Architect Series.</span>Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-39962603479748796232010-11-15T07:05:00.000-08:002010-11-15T07:13:46.977-08:00Design and Innovation – Unpacking intangible drivers of value added and competitiveness<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Economic geographer, Professor John Bryson of Birmingham University, highlights in his new book due to be published in December, ‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Design Economies, the Changing World Economy</b>,’ that, “Companies are increasingly competing on variables relating to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">design, brand and place</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">“The notion of ‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">inimitability</i></b>’ is central to this and devising strategies on this basis to deliver continued market share.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Whilst it is easy to talk about design, brand and place it is not always easy to unpack what we really mean by these. Trying to quantify the value of these notions becomes an even greater challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Products are becoming more complex, mixed in with service and cultural elements. We are in the territory of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘intangibles’</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mentioning this word to business people and policy makers alike you may get a variety of reactions from scepticism, disinterest, confusion and perhaps some misunderstanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">What does John Bryson mean by design, brand and place?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">According to Bryson, design covers product design and design of production.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So products can be designed to include greater customisation, quality of service, continuous innovation and cultural resonance reflected in both product and brand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Production includes designing greater efficiencies and flexibilities making processes harder to replicate, including bundled products and services, continuous process innovation and enhanced delivery times through nearness to market.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Place is wrapped up with ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cultural capital’</i> as a resource that can increasingly deliver vital <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘inimitability’</i> for our companies to trade on in selling products and services.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brand sums up these unique aspects and communicates this meaning to consumers.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">This means policy makers need to understand cultural resource and how to protect and promote it.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Accounting knows how to deal with tangibles but despite the evident value-creating capacity of intangibles the case for capturing and representing their value within existing accounting practice remains a challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Following the recent financial crisis and in the world post Lehman Bros’ demise it is one that is now widely regarded as best forgotten. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">However there is a definitional issue – we have not come up with an agreed definition for intangibles. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Rohit Lekhi, Research Republic, whose report for the Work Foundation <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Accounting for Intangibles: Financial reporting and value creation in the knowledge economy”,</b> notes that intangibles include, “Knowledge, know-how, human capital, informational data, reputation, design, innovation and organisational practices as examples of such assets.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Speaking to me on this Rohit Lekhi noted, “while most accountants are clear that they wouldn’t start where we are now if they were starting again today, they remain very sceptical about the case for widespread accounting reform.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">For the West Midlands this is a vital issue going, in my view, to the heart of our competitiveness.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Research by the Design Council in 2007, ‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Value of Design Factfinder Report’ </b>found that 66% of West Midlands businesses felt that design had either ‘a limited’ or ‘no role’ to play in their businesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">In the same survey 41% of WM businesses recognised that design was becoming more important in helping them to compete, however, 57% of businesses didn’t have any form of in-house design activity.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Dr James Moultrie, Institute for Manufacturing, Cambridge University, in a report for the Design Council, ‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Company Spending on Design, Exploratory Survey of UK Firms 2008’ </b>found that design spend in companies surveyed was overwhelmingly focussed on the technical aspects of design, such as R&D and production, accounting for about 80% of spend; promotion accounted for around 10% of design spend with design identity attracting around 5% of spend and user-centred design around a further 5% of design spend.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">The Lekhi report states, “Traditional accounting acts to obscure a whole array of intangible drivers of value and thus fails to anticipate their future value creation.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Rohit Lekhi reckons that for most investors the metrics being used are “the balance sheet and gut instinct.” Adding, “Most business people have an instinctive recognition that intangibles are important - and increasingly so, given the growing importance of knowledge intensive industries. But there remains deep scepticism amongst many investors about whether the largely unrealised value of a firm’s intangible assets can really be used to underpin investment decision”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">A report by Gil and Haskel, of Queen Mary and Imperial Universities respectively, 2007 revised 2008, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">‘Industry-level Expenditure on Intangible Assets in the UK,’</b> suggests that overall industry spend on intangibles in 2004 was 152bn with tangible spend at £92bn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Manufacturing intangible investment was £40bn and tangible at £12bn – a ratio of 2.5 to 1 up from 1.2 to 1 in 1977. Manufacturing accounted for 12% of total tangible investment and 31% of intangible investment in 2004. Perhaps more striking is the fact that most value added in manufacturing is coming from intangible investment.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Whilst these figures vary between different reports, it is clear that the emerging knowledge economy, now accounting for over 45% of UK value added employment, is largely driven by many of the intangibles which we find so hard to quantify – including design and innovation. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">It is investment in intangibles that is increasingly the key driver of competitiveness, growth and value added. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Rohit Lekhi’s report notes that, “investment in economic competencies such as reputation and human and organisational capital account for around 50% of total intangible investment in 2004.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Will Hutton of the Work Foundation has said, "Manufacturing invests more, proportionately, in intangibles than the service sector. Manufacturing is the biggest single investor in design, spending twice as much on design as it does on R&D," </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Recently Professor Verganti said, “the challenge for companies is not having the ideas but making sense of them and having a vision. The companies that are most successful are the ones that understand the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">meaning </i>behind their products to produce radical innovations.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“To innovate the meaning of products you need to work with interpreters, people capable of radical vision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most radical people succeed when they are in ‘circles’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The interaction between a circle of designers who are interpreters of meaning, respected collaborators such as technologists, business people and others who can think outside the box, will make for a great design circle that should successfully discover new meaning for old products.”</span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Given all that Professor Verganti, Politicnico di Milano has said about the need to focus on the relevance and meaning of products to our customers and their lives all this data suggests that we have real potential to improve our design game and in the process our competitiveness. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Rohit Lekhi says that “Business people seem to be coming to the view that it would be interesting and helpful to get an understanding of the role of intangibles in so far as they affect strategic direction.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">“One of the more powerful aspects of the language of intangibles is the way they could offer a richer view of the strategic elements of a business. For example there are big differences in how you divert resources to ‘maximise shareholder returns for the short-term’, or ‘determine to become number 1 in your field in high-end design’.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">“As we progress through the landscape of the knowledge economy increasingly the issue coming forward is how do we render what we do as different – or how do we do things we didn’t do before? Put another way how do we do radical innovation?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">“If we don’t understand where value is added then it is very difficult to drive strategy moving forward. The essential truth is that intangibles are key drivers of value in the modern economy – even if we can’t measure them with the stark clarity of the balance sheet.”</span></span></div>Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-35529199082066880292010-11-08T04:27:00.000-08:002010-11-08T08:31:44.811-08:00The Decline in Manufacturing does not have to be inevitable and unending<div class="asset-body"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"The decline in manufacturing does not have to be inevitable and unending," said Sir George Cox in his report, <strong>'Review of Creativity in Business: building on the UK's strengths'</strong>, published in 2005 adding, "No company ever cut its way to greatness."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He continued, "In practice greater creativity is key to greater productivity, whether by way of higher value added products and services, better processes, more effective marketing, simpler structures or better use of people's skills. Every business has to be cost conscious, but that's insufficient for enduring success."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Most business people I meet and talk to in the region would accept these views as a matter of course. Whilst Manufacturing nationally accounts for around 15% of GDP it's still responsible for 2/3rds of our exports, directly employing 3.5m nationally in 2006. In the West Midlands manufacturing accounts for around 27% of our GVA, employing 362,000 in over 19,000 businesses in 2007. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This region has something additional that is distinctive and uniquely important to us - we have, in all likelihood, the largest cluster of lifestyle brands in any UK region, drawing on our own 'inimitable' heritage in defining their distinctiveness. Companies such as Aga, Rangemaster, Rayburn, Jaguar, Land Rover, Morgan Motor Cars, Pashley Cycles, Samuel Heath Bathroom Accessories and others. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
</div><div class="asset-more" id="more"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">However, the DCMS has not helped matters by tightly defining the creative sector to exclude not only the bulk of the productive sectors but cultural activities including heritage, archives, museums, libraries, tourism, and sport - the very things that define our distinctive identity, our unique values, the essence at the heart of our company's brands. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The DCMS definition by focussing creative industries on - Advertising, Architecture, Arts and antique markets, computer and video games, crafts, design, designer fashion, film and video, music, performing arts, publishing, software, television and radio - implies that sectors outside this are, by definition, not creative. As the creative sectors have been seen as growth sectors policy makers have focussed on these but not on their relationship with other sectors, such as manufacturing. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As two of the eleven creative sectors<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Design and Crafts - within the DCMS definition are not captured adequately by SIC codes it has been difficult to estimate their value on any part of the UK economy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A NESTA report by Birmingham University Business School economist, Lisa De Propris and colleagues, on ‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Geography of Creativity’</b> published August 2009, noted that the West Midlands was stronger in these very sectors that we weren’t able to measure well enough through SIC codes making it almost invisible to policy makers and academics alike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lisa <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">De </span>Propris and colleagues also found a significant clustering within architecture, arts and antiques (with jewellery being a significant element of this sub sector), designer fashion (including manufacture and retail of clothing), and software, computer games and electronic publishing in the West Midlands.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For academics there has been little research into the economic values of specialised production, which may for example draw on cultural heritage to add value, according to the economic geographer, Professor John Bryson, based at Birmingham University. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With the focus set on the creative industries the academics have largely followed suit concentrating on finance, cultural and creative activities where manufacturing is largely invisible. In fact, according to this thinking, it is assumed production will relocate to low cost economies such as China while developed market economies concentrate on services, design, R&D and high value added production. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">John Bryson says, "This invisibility is also re-enforced by a policy preoccupation in many developed countries with jobs rather than GVA. The past thirty years have seen major shifts and improvements in manufacturing productivity, bringing greater output but fewer jobs....In the academic context, the shift away from manufacturing in economic geography means that very few geographers are trying to understand the changing geographies of manufacturing in developed market economies."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not only do manufacturing and engineering continue to underpin the UK and more especially the West Midlands economies, they are also vital in underpinning the Business and Professional Services sectors. A 2002 study by John Bryson and colleagues found that amongst these firms over 24% of their clients were manufacturing businesses and 40% of the clients of computing, marketing and design businesses were manufacturers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bryson concluded that economic geographers needed to understand the relationships that exist between business and professional services businesses and their clients rather than concentrating solely on the activities of those firms alone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another author in this field, Livesey has argued that "manufacturing has evolved but our understanding of it has not, manufacturing firms turn ideas into products and services. ..What was once seen just as production is now production, research, design and service provision." Will Hutton of the Work Foundation has coined the phrase 'manu-services' to reflect this change.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Within economic geography a strong consumption and services bias means that limited detailed research has been undertaken into declining but restructuring manufacturing activities.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Companies that no longer compete on price alone are embarking on a variety of strategies to ensure continued market share," says John Bryson "by competing on other variables related to design, brand and place." Central to this concept is the notion of <em>'inimitability</em>' and according to John Bryson there are at least seven possible strategies that may be adapted separately or in combination:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1. Production of customised products that require close contact between producer and consumer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2. Production of bundled products and services</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3. Developing skills and expertise that is difficult to replicate or transfer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4. Creation of production processes that are difficult to replicate and may be protected by patent and registered designs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">5. Continuous and ongoing process and product innovation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">6. Flexibility in responding to customers' requirements</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">7. Delivery times and nearness to market.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">John Bryson has looked at a number of sectors across the West Midlands and internationally ahead of the publication of his book in December, "<strong>Design Economies and the Changing World Economy</strong>", including the lock industry in the West Midlands. This first started to flourish in areas of Wolverhampton, Wendesfield, Willenhall and Walsall from the 17th century, becoming a craft based activity in the 19th century later moving into mass production accompanied by examples of specialised production through the 20th century. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In 1994/95 employment in this sector was around 3000 but by 2005 this had fallen to 1500. From 1996 to 2005 the number of businesses declined from 600 to c125 and in 2008 there were fewer than 5 lock firms employing over 250 people. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">M&A activity has resulted in larger lock manufacturers retaining production in the area but the centre of control has now been removed from the West Midlands and it has been argued that these businesses are progressively disengaging from the local economy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">However in the case of SMEs Bryson found that firms could compete with low-cost lock producers by making specialist high value added production. These lock firms were competing on expertise, customization, design, brand and quality of service.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He cites one company specialising in the manufacture of padlocks using locally sourced material to create padlocks which could not be produced by firms mass producing standardised locks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another business was specialising in more complex locks for target markets in healthcare sectors, such as for the visually impaired, where it was important their customers couldn't hurt themselves on the locks. At the same time this business developed a common lock platform enabling them to produce up to 50,000 product variations from 600 base products. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Design played an increasingly important role for these specialised producers - firstly in product design and innovation and secondly in designing production processes to reduce waste and costs, for example through just in time production and stringent inventory controls. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whilst skilled labour has remained a feature of the lock industry in the region, having in the past attracted skilled artisans to this area since the 1970s, with the continued decline of the West Midlands many of the social clubs where these people networked together have closed and the ties between the businesses themselves have been lost with them becoming increasingly isolated, independent and untrusting of each other. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are few linkages between firms in terms of localised learning. Today most small lock firms cited skill shortages as the major threat facing their activities with a significant proportion of skilled workers being close to retirement and a shortage of young people coming into the sector. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">John Bryson concludes that manufacturing has changed over the past 15 years and that many of these changes have gone largely unnoticed by academics and policy-makers. The alterations have been so radical that it is possible to argue that economic geographers no longer understand manufacturing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"The existing literature of economic geography has," he says, "neglected these firms and perhaps it is assumed they are just relics and declining features of the industrial landscape of developed economies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"The continued survival of these businesses is based on product-based competitive advantage combined with locational advantage and supported by efficient responsive and customer-focussed manufacturing processes." He concludes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"We should understand something about product archaeology - the historical associations that our products are identified with in our customers' minds and this is where branding comes in. Each region is different and the policy environment must prevent that cultural resource from disappearing as it can do when companies get taken over by multi-nationals wiping out brand value. This was the case with Malvern Water only recently and may happen looking forward in the case of Cadburys following the Kraft acquisition."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If we do not focus on and understand that increasingly our core productive sectors and their strengths and continued survival depend on design and branding then how can we hope to make sensible decisions around our economy whether in the context of LEPs or national government moving forward.</span></div>Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-29181334714338657212010-11-05T12:36:00.000-07:002010-12-09T12:14:49.393-08:00Falling in love again - What are we to do?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“People don’t buy products anymore because they<u> need </u>them, they buy them because they <u>love </u>them.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These words could have been spoken by any of our great West Midlands businesses – Jaguar Landrover, Aga Rangemaster, Aston Martin, Morgan Motor Company, Pashley Cycles or Brintons Carpets...companies wrestling daily to re-invent their much-loved classic brands. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It may strike you as a statement of the blindingly obvious but, according to Professor Roberto Verganti of Milan Polytechnic and Copenhagen Business School, it hasn’t been fully grasped by many businesses and Business Schools around the world who are focussing on user-centred design and ideas-generated innovation rather than 'radical innovation to generate increased sales and profits as well as customer loyalty..</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“You need to make people <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fall in love</i> with a product and to do this there is a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">different set of rules</i>,” he said speaking at a Visiting Lecture series organised by the Birmingham Institute of Design in association with Aston University, School of Engineering and Applied Science.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It comes down to creating things that are more meaningful and make more sense to people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Prof Verganti says “the word ‘design’ is from the Latin, ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Designare</i>’ to designate or assign meaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“It’s the product’s meaning that makes people love your product. Everything we do, see, we always give meaning to things in our lives.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will Hutton of The Work Foundation has put it slightly differently saying ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">People hunger for the experiential’</i>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Changing the meaning of a product, or radical design innovation, “goes far beyond the accepted approaches to innovation based on user observation and generating bundles of ideas,” processes which Prof Verganti says can be too speedy and superficial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there is one thing that Italian businesses in Lombardy have been good at it’s been ‘managing radical design innovation’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This approach is summed up by Ernesto Gismondi of Lombardy lighting business, “Market what market? We do not look at the market. We make <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">proposals</i> to people.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Or as Alberto Alessi has put it, “Each object represents a tendency, a proposal and an indication of progress which has a more cultural resonance.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fundamental issue for all businesses is ‘how can we make people feel better?’</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But how to do this? Being radical can be risky, expensive, generating the moments best tucked away and forgotten or those remembered for the wrong reasons?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Prof Verganti says “You do this by leveraging through ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">interpreters</i>’ – people with capacity to combine the ‘big picture’ with profound insights at company level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To do this takes a lot of research.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He reminds us of the complex forces shaping our businesses – and how we need to be alive to all of these to get the ‘big picture’...cultural organisations, sociologists, anthropologists, marketers, media, educators, artists, technologies, supply chains, designers, retail, logistics, legal frameworks and of course people themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Prof Verganti says companies need a big network of ‘interpreters’ to do radical change and to see user-experience from a different perspective adding, “You don’t get something new by hiring the most famous designers around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trick is to find new interpreters.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most radical people succeed when they are in ‘circles’ or networks of like-minded people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ernesto Gismondi of Artemide recognised this and funded architect and designer, Ettore Sotsass who formed the Memphis Milan Design Collective of the 80’s resulting in a wave of ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">rule-breaking’</i> designs paving the way to a different way of managing design innovation in Lombardy that drove sales and profits over the next 20 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Professor Verganti’s research has shown that any region can start an effective design cluster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His research also notes some of the characteristics of effective innovators versus imitators.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For him, it’s clear that all businesses need designers – so in that respect there is no difference between the innovators and imitators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s a bit like a dentist – of course you need a dentist, the question is do you have the right one for you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alberto Alessi works with over 90 designers from all over the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is always trying to find the next great talent to suit his business.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The real differences between innovators and imitators in Lombardy lies in the higher % of architects as designers employed by the innovators, coupled with a higher percentage of non-Italian designers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Most innovative companies have a lot of networks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Networks for innovation need to be larger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These businesses have collaborative strategies in design and knowledge diversity based on long range planning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These businesses work with interpreters to develop meaningful scenarios for their customers by moving outside the accepted thinking and perspectives.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The danger for strong brands is that they become conservative making too many incremental changes rather than working to create their future. 90% of products are the result of market pull but to create your future you need to interpret the future through a strong vision which makes people feel better.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Birmingham Post blog visit <a href="http://blogs.birminghampost.net/business/2010/09/falling-in-love-again-what-are-1.html">http://blogs.birminghampost.net/business/2010/09/falling-in-love-again-what-are-1.html</a></span></div>Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152796563377507528.post-66853136374148740782010-11-02T14:58:00.000-07:002010-11-02T14:58:40.468-07:00Getting our LEP act together in the West Midlands<div class="asset-body">With Greater Birmingham, Coventry and Warwickshire and Stoke and Staffordshire named as 3 of the initial 24 LEPs announced last week I, no doubt like everyone else involved, will be keen to do whatever I can to support the work of these emerging bodies....That does not mean that I, or many others like me, believe these are the best solutions to the huge economic challenges facing our region.<br />
<br />
<strong>Business Groups' Reaction to LEP announcements</strong><br />
<br />
Following last Thursday's (29th October 2010) announcements Chris Clifford, Regional Director, CBI West Midlands commented, "We welcome the clarity that the announcement brings for the wider Birmingham area and we will of course work to support the newly emerging LEP for Greater Birmingham and other LEP bids. <br />
<br />
"We're pleased by the Coalition government's focus on LEPs that have some scale as we see this as being important to developing networks supporting business-led regional growth. As there is little new money much will have to be done through more coordinated working, cutting out duplication and having clear goals between business, local authorities and learning institutions. <br />
<br />
"We hope the position in the Black Country will be re-assessed - if we can work together in something representing more of a travel to work region - this would be a big step forward for business.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="asset-more" id="more">"We are very concerned about the ambiguity raised around business rates in today's announcement, and if this means re-localising rates, we are opposed to giving local authorities power to set these. Such a change would mean that businesses would face unknown varying levels of tax across the country. The CBI is determined to retain the nationally set Uniform Business Rate." <br />
<br />
John Rider, Chairman, Institute of Directors, West Midlands said, "The IoD will continue to support Business Voice West Midlands and its position supporting the work of the LEPs that have so far been announced. We certainly wouldn't support any one LEP over any other. <br />
<br />
"What is great news is that the universities can have a strong influence on the situation as we seek to grow our knowledge economy across the West Midlands. We have simply got to put all the various views that we have had over the months of summer debate behind us and 'go for growth' by all working together. <br />
<br />
"We hope the Black Country will join in with us working alongside these efforts in Greater Birmingham as they form a natural part of the Birmingham travel to work area. We have seen a lot of the vested interests associated with localism over the summer but Greater Birmingham represents the natural economic geography of the area and we look forward to working in the best interests of our businesses and wider communities."<br />
<br />
<strong>The need for 'Partnership Capital' across the West Midlands</strong><br />
<br />
This announcement has been made just over two years after the world suffered the biggest economic shock in 60 years. Loosely referred to as the credit crunch anyone affected by it in business will have had the experience seared into their consciousness. <br />
<br />
For them this was not some academic exercise, an intellectual nicety to be debated at the tax payers' expense - for the owners of many small businesses their houses were on the line, their colleagues' jobs, their businesses, their livelihood and reputation.<br />
<br />
Of course the reasons were multiple. One inescapable conclusion was the overwhelming acceptance across the Western world of a belief in the principles of the unhindered free market and a drive for short-term returns, especially on bonus-fuelled Wall Street and in the City. <br />
<br />
This dogma, combined with a lack of sufficient regulatory apparatus, (exacerbated by a lack of comprehension associated with the slicing and dicing of complex financial instruments being peddled around the globe in our interconnected 'knowledge economy') led to a blind spot regarding the tremendous dangers facing us at the time. <br />
<br />
Now we talk daily about the need to reduce our deficit, to reduce the legacy of debt we are bequeathing our children and the worklessness already affecting 16-24 year olds not in work, education or training. <br />
We seem to be slowly getting our minds around the need for greater regulation with Mervyn King, for one, pushing hard in spite of much ostrich like refusal to recognise the reality of our position by those with the greatest vested interests in the City.<br />
<br />
We do not seem to have grasped the implications of the complexities of our inter-connected knowledge economy and how we need to tackle growth. We have not fully appreciated the need for collaborative working - making it easier for vital knowledge and innovation that will add to our competitiveness and economic dynamism being facilitated through parternship approaches between the wider public and private sectors. <br />
<br />
David Bailey illustrated this in his lecture on the automotive sector reported last week, operating, as he said, "in the face of tough new emissions targets coming out of Europe that government will have a central role to play in helping to provide the framework to support industry growth (for example in installing electric recharging points) and incentives for investment during this period of technological transition." <br />
<br />
Public and private sectors are not two completely separate sides of the economy but different and essential aspects of the whole. <br />
<br />
Of course wealth creation needs to be business-led, but a knowledge economy relies on just that - knowledge and in the global context size matters together with unity of thinking and approach driving efficiencies and cutting out duplication. The LEP plans may be OK for the likes of Birmingham but what about elsewhere across the region?<br />
<br />
In the UK the Work Foundation, NESTA and SQW amongst others have shown that economic dynamism and innovation are best nurtured when there are successful partnerships between business, civic and learning partners. These partnerships work best when they are based around larger urban economies where the scale, critical mass and diversity enable knowledge and information-sharing which economists refer to as economic spillover.<br />
<br />
To get the best out of our regional economies, SQW recognised that a history of partnership working and 'partnership capital' needs to have been developed. They cite Manchester as having worked hard in this respect, putting aside local differences in the interests of a larger vision aimed at delivering the best results for their wider local populations - promoting a strong voice and image of their area, developing a quality infrastructure through collaboration as well as the building blocks of 'design and innovation eco-systems 'between the partners to nurture their capacity for growth.<br />
<br />
They observed a dearth of partnership capital across the English regions outside of Manchester. "Without a reasonable degree of 'partnership capital' - both social/institutional and financial - it is difficult to envisage effective delivery....Some level of resourcing and enhanced powers are important too, without this, LEPs could prove to be of limited effectiveness," their report noted. <br />
<br />
So what have we come up with in the wake of this financial tsunami - an idea loosely based on 'localism' yet masking a drive towards centralism as outlined in David Bailey's blog... An idea relying on partnership working, with the evidence here, in the wider West Midlands at least, suggesting this doesn't exist sufficiently. And with resourcing perhaps being at a fifth of the level available to the RDAs.<br />
<br />
Well, it might be fine to experiment with economic development structures if we weren't in the hole we're in. In the West Midlands we have a GVA deficit against the average for the English regions of an estimated £16.5bn. We have seen the loss of 60,000 private sector jobs over the past decade and during the same period our knowledge economy in Birmingham has shrunk, one of only 3 of the UK's 11 core cities where this has happened. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development is forecasting (2nd Nov 2010) public sector job losses of 725,000 with a further 900,000 in the private sector totalling 1.6m job losses by 2014-15 on the basis of current government cuts, excluding any job losses in the current period 2010-2011.<br />
<br />
<strong>Business Views on LEP Structures</strong><br />
<br />
Over the summer I did not hear one business person expressing the view to me that the changes being proposed were visionary, vital or much needed. The general tone was one of resignation summed up in the phrase, 'we are where we are'. Is this really the best we can do when we face the biggest economic crisis in 60 years, when we worry daily about debt legacies to our children?<br />
<br />
During that time I met with a number of businesses whose interests crossed proposed LEP areas, such as Phil Riley, whose business covers the whole West Midlands footprint. As Chief Executive, Orion Media Group they own BRMB amongst other radio interests and expressed concerns about the fragmentation of the West Midlands into 6 possible LEP areas.<br />
<br />
Phil Riley felt it would be "crazy to split the region into 6 pieces" but he did feel "strongly that Birmingham should be the 'badge' because," he said, "I believe, it's the place most people have heard of. "When we bought BRMB, Beacon, Mercia and Wyvern covering the WM there was no joint rate card so if a large corporate wanted to buy the whole region each station had to quote separately, there wasn't one unified offer. This was one of the first things we fixed when we walked in the door.<br />
<br />
"The danger is the LEPs will be in exactly this same position, each struggling to get their voice heard, no unified position, and no strength of voice, with each one working to undermine the other in the struggle to get a deal for their patch. You do need some leadership whether in business or in regional government.<br />
<br />
"When we're talking to listeners on each of our stations it's really important they know and understand that we're their local station, based locally and focussing on their interests - local radio with a common purpose. But when we're talking to business we want to be able to speak to them coherently in a way that makes sense for them. This is what the LEPs need to aim for otherwise we run the risk of a multitude of LEPs with no common purpose."<br />
<br />
Having met with Paul Kehoe, Chief Executive, Birmingham Airport, just a few days before the LEP announcement he commented on LEPs saying, "We need to see the creation of a business and political block to deliver real growth meeting the wants and needs of our community - this is essential to sustainable and balanced growth in the West Midlands for the future. And looking ahead, if the total travel to work area around Birmingham had come together this could have been better solution to LEP situation, but we are where we are."<br />
<br />
He said, "Manchester has managed to sell itself over 20 years through good team leadership at the City Council between their Chief Executive, Sir Howard Bernstein and their Leader Sir Richard Lees. They have created international links by appreciating that you can sell 'Greater Manchester' more effectively than Wigan, Salford, or Stockport on their own. When you get to use the Mercator scale map you can only see big places. Whilst Walsall, Dudley and Wolverhampton are very important they do not appear on that Mercator map. Together they may represent a 1m population block but we sell the opportunity that is the Midlands' 1 hour travel time catchment more effectively.<br />
<br />
He concluded, "Given Manchester's strong performance and leadership, I'm hoping that Birmingham can benefit by leveraging from the Lib-Con Coalition government mirroring our own City's Lib-Con coalition in place over the past 6 years."<br />
<br />
In light of the huge challenges facing us is this not the moment to come up with a plan that we genuinely celebrate and believe in? Should we not be setting aside old rivalries, rolling up our sleeves and working for the longer term good of our children and their children?<br />
<br />
<strong>Getting our LEP act together - A Community Interest Company</strong><br />
<br />
Earlier in the summer John Rider, Chairman IoD West Midlands, said, "the LEP journey thus far in the West Midlands has been characterised by embarrassing displays of vested interests and 'localism' of the worst kind with various bodies pitching for LEPs, largely based on existing local authority boundaries. <br />
<br />
"Bids have been made to control the revenue and assets from the demise of AWM, but interestingly, no one wants the 'toxic assets' - the land with problems. The assets held jointly with private sector organisations will also take some unscrambling. Currently, the government plans to centralise much of the (reduced) future support for the regions back to Whitehall. <br />
<br />
"Most clear-thinking people recognise that 'Greater Birmingham' is the natural economic geography of the West Midlands and our travel to work and supply chain patterns can easily demonstrate this point. People criss-cross the region as they go about their work and we have members whose businesses straddle local authority areas (sometimes more than one) and many hospitals and schools operate with porous boundaries.<br />
<br />
"I have major concerns that the proposals coming forward do not have the necessary size, credibility, and logical economic geography to lead the economic renaissance required. The economic challenges that face us are massive and we deserve much better. Fragmentation, short-termism and promises that 'we will all work together' will not work. <br />
<br />
"Business confidence is very fragile and the private sector has been challenged to create the much-needed jobs to replace the circa 80,000 public sector jobs predicted to go soon in this region...The latest scenarios indicate that regional employment may not return to pre-recession levels until 2030.<br />
<br />
The proposed Community Interest Company would, he stated, "provide focus and leadership within our area as we strive to tackle our deep-seated economic problems. Such a company - with about 40 specialist staff (AWM has around 380) would be ideally suited to carry out the RDA legacy role and to support LEPs cost-effectively."<br />
<br />
The CBI, IoD and others through Business Voice West Midlands lobbied long and hard over the summer for the creation of an 'overarching mechanism' able to coordinate the activities of the LEPs where strategic interests might cut across LEP areas - for example planning decisions, inward investment or skills investment and development plans.<br />
<br />
As their bid was not for an overarching LEP but for the creation of a Community Interest Company, it is still possible that something may come of this idea, it may even be that we can make it happen between us. It may be just what is needed to help us to develop our own version of 'partnership capital', bringing coordination required for strength and unity of voice and agreed strategic priorities... The vital ingredients if we are to succeed in highly competitive global markets in the best interests of our wider communities and businesses.</div>Beverley Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974610163407627254noreply@blogger.com0