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Oct 09

“We invited a mixed variety of speakers to provoke debate”

Posted in: design movies, Dezeen movies, Global Design Forum, London Design Festival 2013, Max Fraser

In this movie filmed by Dezeen, London Design Festival deputy director Max Fraser summarises the aims and key themes of last month’s Global Design Forum series of talks and discussions.

Movie: Global Design Forum 2013 — London Design Festival deputy director Max Fraser

Global Design Forum is held annually over two days as one of the key events during London Design Festival. “What we’re trying to get to is the core of how design can help make the world a better place,” says Fraser in the movie. “We’re trying to eke out some of the issues that are affecting design right now.”

This year the opening evening took place at London’s V&A museum and a full day of talks was hosted at the Royal Festival Hall. Speakers included designers Peter Saville, Ross Lovegrove, Michael Young and Jaime Hayón, as well as leading figures from the automotive and advertising industries.

“We’ve tried to encourage a mixed variety of speakers,” says Fraser. “We wanted to invite people from different parts of industry to come together to debate issues and hopefully disagree and provoke each other, then see if there are any ideas that can be implemented or if there are any new processes or techniques that can change the way that the business of design is done today.”

During this year’s event Peter Saville spoke about designing a visual identity for rapper Kanye West and a water-filtration system that uses plants to extract arsenic to be sold on for profit was voted the “Idea that will change the world”.

The music featured in the movie is a track called Caverns by London band Dead Red Sun.

See all our coverage of London Design Festival 2013 »
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The post “We invited a mixed variety of speakers
to provoke debate” appeared first on Dezeen.

Oct 03

New immigration rules are “hugely damaging” for design in London

Posted in: Alex de Rijke, design and education, Deyan Sudjic, Kieran Long, Max Fraser

News: leading figures from London’s design institutions have warned that new immigration rules which make it harder for international students to stay in the UK after graduation could be a “disaster” for the city.

Kieran Long, senior curator at the V&A museum, described London as “a crossroads for great creative people to come and learn from their peers,” but warned: “Anything that stops that would be a disaster.”

Design Museum director Deyan Sudjic said: “London has really based its success on having 150 years of great art schools. They have been somewhat industrialised, got too big, and the government has also got quite curious about allowing students to stay once they’ve graduated. We need to be an open city, that’s what London always been.”

Last month the UK government announced changes to immigration rules that add “genuineness” interviews to the existing points-based hurdles students must clear if they wish to extend their leave to remain in the country once their course ends.

The new rules also introduce the power to refuse an application for a student visa extension where the applicant cannot speak English.

“It would be a disaster for London,” agreed Nigel Coates, professor emeritus at the Royal College of Art. “For creative people, London is the most attractive city in the world, partly because of its schools. But the government, confused as always, seems to be shooting itself – and us – in the foot.”

“It’s making it very, very difficult for AA students,” said Sadie Morgan, president of the Architectural Association school. “They give huge amounts to the UK economy. It’s a really big issue. It’s damaging and short-sighted of the UK government. They’re looking to be doing something aggressive about immigration but it is hugely damaging for schools like ours.”

Architectural firms can apply for visas on behalf of overseas graduates they want to employ, but Morgan said it was a “convoluted and expensive” process.

Sudjic added: “London is a remarkably successful place at attracting really smart, gifted young designers. They come to study here and lots of them build a practice here, not necessarily based on clients here, but on clients all around the world. London is a great place to be but it can’t be complacent and one of the things it has to do is go on attracting smart and new people and get them to stay.”

“London is welcoming, enterprising and full of opportunities”, said Max Fraser, deputy director of the London Design Festival. “It’s multiculturalism is one of its great selling points. We want to retain the best talent and the new visa restrictions are not conducive to that.”

London mayor Boris Johnson is understood to share the institutions’ concerns and convened a meeting with leading London arts schools this summer to discuss the issue. However, the mayor has no influence over national immigration policy. The UK’s Conservative government introduced the rules to appease backbench MPs, who demanded a tougher stance on immigration.

Dezeen spoke to leading figures in the design world during the London Design Festival last month to get their views on London’s position as a centre for design and the reasons for its current strength as a creative hub. The pre-eminence of London’s arts schools and its openness to immigration were the most-cited reason for the city’s standing as one of the world’s leading international centres for design.

“I think London has always been a place thats incredibly tolerant of new things, of people arriving in the city,” said Kieran Long. “We know that the city is based on immigration, and the people that are already here tolerating them and we’re really comfortable with that. In terms of design and architecture, we have some of the greatest schools in the world, a lot of people come to study here.”

He added: “I think there are threats to that, certainly we should keep London as open as it possibly can be and any political agenda that’s about closing that down somehow, to me, is anathema to what London really is.”

Sudjic said: “London is a great place to be but it can’t be complacent and one of the things it has to do is go on attracting smart and new people and get them to stay.”

Alex de Rijke, dean of the School of Architecture at the Royal College of Art, added that funding cuts and the rising reputation of schools abroad presented new threats to London. “Inevitably you produce a lot of architects that stay for a while then go and forge a career, whereas perhaps in the future that will not be the case as emerging economies all over the world will inevitably take over cultural production. So I see, not necessarily a lessening in the influence of education here, but certainly more of a diaspora of talent.”

“As other universities around the world offer amazing opportunities for the global student population, it’s increasingly difficult to be able to offer added value,” agreed Morgan. “The added value is being able to stay and work in the UK because of the huge kudos you get from working for UK practices.”

In an interview with Dezeen during the festival Patrizia Moroso, creative director of leading Italian furniture brand Moroso, praised London’s openness to students from overseas and contrasted it with the situation in Italy, where she says underinvestment in schools is leading to the collapse of its creative industries.

“The schools [in Italy] are collapsing,” she said. “When I see our universities and design schools, they are not the best in the world, they are not so important unfortunately. If you don’t give importance to learning, not immediately but in ten years you lose a generation of material culture.”

Last month the mayor of London proposed a new “London visa” to allow exceptional creative talents to bypass the lengthy new visa application system to set up businesses in London. He told the Financial Times (£): “It is a clear message to the elite of Silicon Valley or the fashionistas of Beijing that London is the place they should come to develop ideas, build new businesses and be part of an epicentre for global talent.”

The post New immigration rules are “hugely damaging”
for design in London appeared first on Dezeen.

Sep 12

London Design Guide 2014-2015 by Max Fraser

Posted in: Max Fraser

Dezeen is now selling the latest edition of writer and editor Max Fraser’s London Design Guide, and we’ve also got five copies to give away.

Dezeen is now stocking London Design Guide 2014-2015

Released today, this third edition of Max Fraser‘s 208-page guide to design in the British capital features reviews of more than 150 new and established retailers, galleries, museums and bookshops, including our Dezeen Watch Store retail space on page 191.

Dezeen is now stocking London Design Guide 2014-2015

The book is divided into ten neighbourhood chapters, each accompanied by detailed maps and listings for specific streets that feature copious design venues.

Dezeen is now stocking London Design Guide 2014-2015

A selection of restaurant, bar and café recommendations for each area are picked for interior design credentials as well as food and service quality.

Dezeen is now stocking London Design Guide 2014-2015

This issue also includes essays about the state of retail and the future of physical shops, written by a series of experts.

Dezeen is now stocking London Design Guide 2014-2015

You can buy the London Design Guide 2014-2015 here for £12, or in combination with our Dezeen Book of Ideas for just £18.

Dezeen is now stocking London Design Guide 2014-2015

We’re also giving readers the chance to win one of five copies. See details of how to enter below.

Dezeen is now stocking London Design Guide 2014-2015

To enter this competition email your name, age, gender, occupation, and delivery address and telephone number to competitions@dezeen.com with “London Design Guide 2014-2015” in the subject line. We won’t pass your information on to anyone else; we just want to know a little about our readers. Read our privacy policy here.

You need to subscribe to our newsletter to have a chance of winning. Sign up here.

Dezeen is now stocking London Design Guide 2014-2015

Competition closes 10 October 2013. Five winners will be selected at random and notified by email. Winners’ names will be published in a future edition of our Dezeen Mail newsletter and at the top of this page. Dezeen competitions are international and entries are accepted from readers in any country.

Read on for more information about the London Design Guide 2014-2015:

London design guide 2014-2015 edition, edited by Max Fraser

London’s only comprehensive design guide returns with new content and contributors in this totally updated and rewritten third edition.

Dezeen is now stocking London Design Guide 2014-2015

For fans of contemporary and vintage design and those looking to access it, London Design Guide gives a fresh insight into the city’s design retailers, galleries, museums and bookshops. More than 150 new and established hotspots are compiled and reviewed, providing a tantalising viewpoint of the design capital of the world.

Dezeen is now stocking London Design Guide 2014-2015

Each entry is categorised by neighbourhood and accompanied by detailed maps to help navigate the best that the city has to offer. In each of the ten neighbourhood chapters, we’ve honed in on streets that demonstrate a healthy mix of independent shops and services and asked selected business owners to comment on their evolution and attributes, with contributors including Stephen Webster, Ally Capellino, Sam & Sam Clarke and Michael Anastassiades. Furthermore, restaurant, bar and café recommendations are featured for each area, selected as much for their design credentials as for the quality of food and service.

Dezeen is now stocking London Design Guide 2014-2015

Every edition of London Design Guide includes themed essays from a variety of design experts and commentators. In this edition, we’ve examined the state of retail during a period when shops are undoubtedly struggling with a weak economy, tapered footfall, high rents and the great might of internet shopping. We ask retailers and analysts, including Sheridan Coakley (scp), Simon Alderson (twentytwentyone), Lina Kanafani (Mint) and Magnus Englund (Skandium), what’s the future trajectory of bricks-and-mortar shops?

Dezeen is now stocking London Design Guide 2014-2015

The 208-page London Design Guide is a snapshot of the design scene today, a celebration of creativity and a practical tool for Londoners and tourists alike. There’s no better incentive for exploring the wealth of design in the capital.

The post London Design Guide 2014-2015
by Max Fraser appeared first on Dezeen.

Mar 05

Max Fraser appointed deputy director of the London Design Festival

Posted in: Dezeen Wire, Do not show on the Homepage, Max Fraser

Dezeen Wire: design writer, curator and publisher of our book Max Fraser has been appointed deputy director of the London Design Festival, replacing William Knight who moved to trade show 100% Design in January.

Max Fraser

Above portrait is by Ed Reeve

This year’s festival will take place from 15-23 September. See all our stories about last year’s festival here.

Here’s the release from Fraser:

London Design Festival appoints Max Fraser as Deputy Director

The London Design Festival today announced the appointment of Max Fraser as the Festival’s Deputy Director. Fraser, a design writer and curator, who is also publisher and editor of the London Design Guide, will start with immediate effect.

In a year when the global spotlight will be focused on London, the capital will have the ideal opportunity to broadcast its reputation as one of the world’s most creative capitals. The London Design Festival, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, can justly claim to be one of the world’s most important design events, with over 300 events taking place last year over the nine days of the Festival.

Fraser will contribute across the Festival but be specifically responsible for marketing, strategy and communications, the wider partner network and thought leadership activity.

Speaking on his appointment, Fraser commented:

“I’m delighted to be contributing to The London Design Festival’s ongoing progression and greatly look forward to strengthening its position as the highlight of the annual design calendar. My motivation has always been to celebrate and promote design excellence and the festival provides the ultimate multi-disciplinary platform to achieve this.”

Ben Evans, Director of the London Design Festival, commented:

“Max is joining the Festival team at the right time as we enter a new stage in our growth and development. His insight and experienced perspective will be invaluable. Few know design as well as Max and his network, ideas and energy will only strengthen the Festival.”

Max Fraser came onto the design scene in 2001 when he launched his first book, DESIGN UK (Conran Octopus). This early success enabled him to broaden the conversation around contemporary design across a variety of media including books, magazines, exhibitions, events and video. Having always worked for himself, he has carved a niche as a design commentator, delivering content, insights and strategy to the media as well as a variety of public and private bodies in the UK and abroad.

He is the author of several design books including DESIGNERS ON DESIGN, which he co-wrote with Sir Terence Conran. In 2009, he set up his own publishing imprint, Spotlight Press, which debuted with the sell-out publication LONDON DESIGN GUIDE. His company will continue to publish further titles.

The London Design Festival is a key constituent of London’s Autumn creative season, alongside London Fashion Week, Frieze Art Fair and the London Film Festival. Established in 2003 its role is to celebrate and promote London as the world’s creative capital and gateway to the UK’s world-class creative community.

The Festival works closely with, and receives financial support directly from, the Mayor of London – having transferring support from the London Development Agency. The London Design Festival also receives support from Arts Council England, London as a Regularly Funded Organisation for 2012/2013.

Sep 06

Competition: five copies of the London Design Guide to be won

Posted in: Max Fraser

London Design Guide 2012-2013

Competition: we’ve teamed up with Max Fraser, author of the London Design Guide, to give away five signed copies of the brand-new 2012-2013 edition.

London Design Guide 2012-2013

The 208 page paperback features 140 design retailers, galleries and museums across London plus a further 100 bars, restaurants and cafes, all categorised according to neighbourhood and accompanied by detailed maps.

London Design Guide 2012-2013

The guide also includes walking tours by local design figures including Sheridan Coakley, Tom Dixon and Kit Kemp, plus short essays by Naomi Cleaver, Hugh Pearman, Libby Sellers and more.

London Design Guide 2012-2013

This is the second edition of the London Design Guide (see last year’s edition here) published by Spotlight Press, which also publishes our own Dezeen Book of Ideas.

London Design Guide 2012-2013

To enter this competition email your name, age, gender, occupation, and delivery address and telephone number to competitions@dezeen.com with “London Design Guide” in the subject line. We won’t pass your information on to anyone else; we just want to know a little about our readers.

Read our privacy policy here.

London Design Guide 2012-2013

Competition closes 4 October 2011. Five winners will be selected at random and notified by email. Winners’ names will be published in a future edition of our Dezeenmail newsletter and at the bottom of this page. Dezeen competitions are international and entries are accepted from readers in any country.

Subscribe to our newsletter, get our RSS feed or follow us on Twitter for details of future competitions.

London Design Guide 2012-2013

Here are some more details from Spotlight Press:

London Design Guide 2012-2013 edition
Edited by Max Fraser

Following the success of the first edition, London’s only comprehensive design guide returns with a totally updated and rewritten second edition.

London Design Guide 2012-2013 gives a fresh insight into the city’s contemporary and vintage retailers, as well as design galleries, museums and bookshops. All 140 new and established hotspots are compiled and reviewed by design commentator Max Fraser.

Shops are categorised by neighbourhood and accompanied by detailed maps – plus walking tours written by local tastemakers including Sheridan Coakley, Tom Dixon and Kit Kemp – to help navigate the best that the city has to offer. You’ll find restaurant, bar and café recommendations, selected as much for their design credentials as for the quality of food and service. And we’ve commissioned 10 short essays by local experts including Naomi Cleaver, Hugh Pearman and Libby Sellers, each discussing an aspect of the industry, be it producing, selling, communicating, collecting, even discarding design.

The 2012-2013 edition also introduces 4×4, a new 16-page supplement featuring the top furniture, lighting and accessories designs in store. The survey does your homework for you, evaluating the designs based on quality and longevity.

The 208-page LONDON DESIGN GUIDE is a snapshot of the design scene today, a celebration of creativity and a practical tool for Londoners and tourists alike. There’s no better incentive for exploring the wealth of design in the capital.

About the Editor

Max Fraser is a design commentator, author and publisher whose work broadens the conversation around contemporary design. He has authored several design books, including Deign UK and Designers on Design (co-written by Sir Terence Conran). Fraser is the founder of Spotlight Press, an independent imprint that publishes London Design Guide and Dezeen Book of Ideas, both out this year.
specification:

Retail price: £12
Publication date: 15 September 2011
Publisher: Spotlight Press
Pagination: 208 pp
Format: 208 x 135mm portrait
Binding: paperback, thread-sewn
Availability: worldwide
ISBN: 978-0-9563098-1-5

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Mar 21

Interview: Max Fraser at Joy of Living

Posted in: design graphics, Maggies Centres, Max Fraser, Somerset House

Interview: Max Fraser at Joy of Living

In this movie recorded at Somerset House in London author Max Fraser talks about his Joy of Living project, where designers including John Pawson, Michael Wolfson and Brodie Neill donated artworks based on graph paper to raise money for a cancer charity.

Click on the symbol in the bottom right of the video player above to view the movie in full-screen HD.
Can’t see the movie? Click here.

The movie also features Charles Jencks, co-founder of Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres, talking about the work the charity does.

120 pieces were on show before being sold to raise money for the charity. More details in our earlier story.

The exhibition has now closed but artworks are available to buy for £250 each from the project website.

More about Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres on Dezeen »

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