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North East has designs on design

A new hub for innovative design in the North East is to launch next month.

27 March will see designer Wayne Hemingway join over 200 delegates from the design and business community to celebrate the launch Design Network North.

Funded by regional development agency One North East, Design Network North will assess innovative design projects, provide funding, and act as a broker for designers in the region.

It is hoped that the network will eventually be housed in a £13m facility in Gateshead’s Baltic Business Centre.

Design Network North will be co-ordinated by RTC North and supported by the universities of Newcastle, Northumbria and Teesside.

An agreement with the Design Council is set to be signed, which will formalise close collaboration and enhance access for designers and companies to a number of Design Council initiatives in the region.

Businesses based in the North have welcomed the creation of the network and the potential of the new Design Network North and centre.

Mike Addison, Senior Scientist at Procter and Gamble, said: “We firmly believe world class innovation supported by world class design is key to consistent and sustainable growth. “Given our commitment to, and extensive operations in the North East, the planned design network fits very well with these aspirations.”

Malcolm Page, deputy chief executive of One North East, said: “The Design Centre North will be a flagship, state-of-the-art facility for business development focused on the use of design, innovation and product development.

“We know that for this region to realise its full capabilities, businesses across all sectors must embrace design and the benefits it can bring.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .