Designers Resolutions 4 – The Road to Design
- Eternal Spirits at Designers Resolutions 4
Nottingham’s fourth Designers Resolutions Event was held at Antenna in Nottingham on Thursday 17th November. Fourteen of Nottingham’s most celebrated creatives came together to discuss their ‘Road to Design’ which was the theme of the evening’s event. Traditionally the event which was founded by Susi Henson of Eternal Spirits and Sarah Davenport of Davenport Design has always been held at the Nottingham Council House where guests bought along a picnic and sat at picnic tables that had been brought into the venue. The move to Antenna was a natural progression for the event and was welcomed by the creative hub in Nottingham’s city centre. Antenna which partners Confetti Studios houses a large number of creative businesses throughout the city, whether it be for a virtual or actual tenancy and is the perfect place for the Nottingham creative network to thrive. Over one hundred guests came to Designers Resolutions to listen to the cream of Nottingham’s creative scene give a pecha kucha style presentation (20 images – 20 seconds for each one). Although each of the speakers are based in Nottingham for their businesses, all are internationally renowned in their field of design and all the speakers exemplified the huge creative energy that is thriving in the city.
Sarah McNicol head of Antenna compered the evening which was opened by Nottingham’s Broomhill String Band; an amazing six piece that created an instant energy in the room, leading the way for the evenings speakers. Dr Valeria De Passetti architect and also Italian Consul for the East MidlAnds spoke about the life of the Italian female artist Artemisia, next up was Simon Rudkin freelance a web designer whose biggest client is Sony Records and has designed websites for the likes of Susan Boyle & JLS. Debbie Bryan of Debbie Bryan’s Studio in the Lace Market spoke of her creative journey with her knitted accessories and beautiful resin jewellery she creates using pieces of old Nottingham lace; Debbie spoke about the way this city influences the work she does and how it’s received overseas. Sarah Davenport led the audience through her journey of creativity through poetry and talked about the importance of ethics in design. Simeon Hartwig of Bantum Clothing the street wear label delighted the audience with his colourful visuals and wonderfully funny stories of his inspirations and getting his t-shirts on the likes of The Streets front man Mike Skinner. Martin Knox leading branding expert inspired the audience with thought provoking images and statements that questioned our approaches to creativity. Nicola Valentine the city’s highly acclaimed Novelist whose works include ‘The Killing Jar’ and her new work ‘Haunted’ took us through that moment when she knew at school she wanted to become a writer and the journey she took in getting there.
Eternal Spirits at Designers Resolutions 4
As the audience continued to be captivated by the creative energy in the room and the way in which each speaker told their inspiring stories, guests ate their way through the individual picnics that Antenna had created for the guests in old fashioned brown paper bags tied with gingham ribbons, and sumptuous cupcakes from Nottingham based Lottie Cupcakes which with a Wizard of Oz theme had red glittery shoes on top and little yellow brick roads. Everyone enjoyed their picnic dinner as they sat in the middle of a giant art installation of magical autumnal surroundings by Nottingham artist Jai Clarke who brought Antenna to life by creating beautiful fabric bunting which hung off each pillar in the room to create colourful trees which were signposted towards the ‘Road to Design’. The work by Jai Clarke was sponsored by Warrens Barbers in West Bridgeford. Highlighted by the stunning lighting effects the tech team at Antenna had created and visuals projected on the walls by Spool Films the event was truly a creative collaboration unrivalled by any other.
Rikki Marr Illustrator and creative thinker talked through the journey of his business Live Scribes which goes into companies to illustrate the thoughts of businesses and non-creatives, he got everybody’s creative juices flowing by asking each member in the audience to draw the person next to them which drew lots of laughter throughout the room. Alison Knox delighted everyone with her view on the world and the creative process and the energy she puts behind her beautiful artwork Everyday Angels in which she depicts Angels throughout her work. Charlotte Thomson the renowned Burlesque and Pin Up illustrator that has done work for the likes of Gossard sadly couldn’t be there on the evening so her presentation was done in her own words by Designers Resolutions organiser Susi Henson. Traci Kelly a visual artist who creates thought provoking work using the body as her subject gave an interesting insight to her creative journey and the way she represents social and cultural politics and agendas in her work. Michael Lau Nottingham based photographer who has worked for many fashion brands as well as photographing celebrities such as Jonny Vegas talked through the passions and inspirations behind his work and love of photography. Susi Henson of Eternal Spirits and the organiser of the event presented her journey through creating a hand crafted Victorian corset, the women that have inspired her work and her love of creating the perfect gown for the bride to be as well as the women she has designed for which include Dita Von Teese and Leona Lewis. Jack Curtis an Illusionist stepped away from talking about the magic he creates on the evening and talked through the journey of getting a film off the ground in Nottingham and the journey he and his Hackney Cab have taken together to get the film finished.
Guests left inspired, amused, enthralled and bursting with energy from the great speakers, great music, great food and above all the great time they had.
