WEDESIGN Forum Christmas party
Wednesday 6 December 2006, Paintworks, Bristol
It was a triumph! Over 180 people from the West of England design world packed into Paintworks to enjoy the final WEDF event of 2006, and what an event it was – stimulating debate, great food, music, networking and general conviviality.
A year ago the Forum was a mere gleam in the eye of a group of local designers. It was launched in March 2006 and to have arrived at such a successful point by the end of the year is very exciting and rewarding for all those involved in growing and communicating the potential of the group.
“a year ago we were thinking about launching and didn’t even know if we would get past first base….” Bob Mytton, Mytton Williams, founder WEDF member
In keeping with the quality of previous events the issue for the evening was “Who is designing our future? – The challenge facing designers in the West of England”. The Forum brought together speakers with very individual perspectives to drive discussion and involve the design industry at all levels. Roger Proctor, Managing Director of Proctor & Stevenson and Chairman of West of England Design Forum was in the Chair for the evening.
“great night – lots of heated debate which is always good!” Katie Winterbourne, Senior Communications Consultant, The CREATE Centre
To open events John Savage, chief executive of Business West and the Bristol Initiative spoke about business involvement in current developments. He explored the issue that we are expecting a population growth in the SW of over 1m people in the next 10 years and asked how regional planners are going to plan for this expansion, including what opportunities exist for us local designers?
Ashley Nicholson of Verve properties, the developers of the successful and very popular Paintworks initiative then moved on to extol the value of mixed-use development and explained how developers create sustainable convivial communities and how architects seek to control the built environment.
Finally, Craig White of White Design took as his theme ‘think global, act local’ and passionately pushed that all designers can contribute to sustainability and other global issues at a local level.
“It was an excellent event – good band, drinks, people... and conversation!” James McNaughton, Creative Industries Development Manager, Culture South West
The evening was sponsored by Colour Studios, Paintworks and Taylor Brothers.
