Projects

Skills for Enterprise Project

The Project Group secured Big Lottery, Awards for All, funding to work with British designer makers to develop a vocational training programme for our members.

We will be working in collaboration with established designer makers, to deliver a structured programme, based on the experience of the makers, and working on real products.  We will work through the whole product cycle, from the initial idea to taking it to market, demonstrating to our members the economic potential and flexibility of becoming a maker.  

The first maker designer artist to work with us was Andrew Tanner.  He led a series of workshops in the studio, working with all members and with a small group, to develop ideas and products.

Andrew Tanner is an award winning artist, ceramicist, designer, consultant mentor and author, with a passion and empathy for combining traditional craft with contemporary design, whilst celebrating traditional manufacturing processes.  

To find out more, visit his website: http://www.andrewtannerdesign.co.uk/

Stella Corrall, artist, design maker and educator, ran four workshops using plastics, working with a small group of members on this design project, "Designs in Mind".  Stella also gave an illustrated evening talk, open to all interested people, on 'sustainable design, plastics and the environment'.   Some of the finished items created can be seen at our Christmas Sale.

Stella creates bespoke interior products and artworks using specifically designed flexible translucent plastics.  Each design begins with creating the material itself.  The tactile material is then manipulated into decorative, functional pieces.  Stella adheres to sustainable practice and uses recycled plastics and fabrics wherever possible.

To find out more about Stella's work, visit this website: http://www.fantasticplastic.org.uk/th/biz_talking_stella.html