PLEASE VOTE FOR MY DESIGNS ON MADE.COM!

Two of my products have been selected to be included in the VOTE page of the new home brand MADE.COM.

Made offer handpicked pieces from designers all around the world. The designs are then added to the Vote page of their website and customers get to choose what will go into production – Power to the people!

The products are made to order then shipped back to the UK, which in total takes about 10 weeks. It might seem like a long time but that’s how they keep the prices so super cheap without skimping on quality. Lets be honest we’ve all been into a furniture shop and tried to order something only to be told it’s out of stock and you have to wait until 2020 for it to arrive! This way when you buy it it’s yours, clever!

I’m not just biased either, honest. I’ve got my eye on their Tripod Pedestal by Sean Dix.

Voting is easy, you click HERE and the products are below:

The Limpet Wall Hook.

and Hound Occasional Table.

Thanks so much I’d really appreciate your support, all I want is for more people to be able to buy and enjoy my designs…VOTE!

Better Late then Never!

Shamefully late post of some Christmas markets and Pop-up shops I popped into before the frantic wrapping began. Even though Christmas has long gone and the evenings are gradually getting lighter I felt these were still worth a belated mention.

The Temporium is a new pop-up concept store that brings together some of the UK’s most exciting design-led brands. It was located in the Brompton Design District, and had a huge range of high end gifts including the Dezeen Watch Store.

Then right next door we came across Lovely Pop Up Store, it looked liked an old Jewellers and still had all the old shop fittings; great.  235 Brompton Road, Kensington.

Also managed to walk around the Cockpit Arts Open Studios, in Holborn. It was chilly but the mince pies and Mulled wine kept all the visitors coming!

Shan Annabelle Valla’s ceramics.

I bought some great acrylic ring/brooches from the Lost Values studio, where adults and children were busy making some of their felt monster's with LED eyes. I also love their reflective range, which was exhibited at LDF 2009.

Then finally The Chocolate Factory, in Stoke Newington, which was part of the Hidden Art Open Studios. It is a really great space, with a real mix of of makers from ceramicists to illustrators.

You can join their Facebook group to keep up to date with the next open day.

And then home, only to realise you forgot one vital present.

Next Blog: January Design Fairs.

The future isn’t bright

As you will have read in my previous post Hidden Art are in danger of closing down. The HA team suggested writing to the Mayor of London; so that’s what I did. Amazingly I received a reply, although the content wasn’t very encouraging I was really impressed with receiving a response, considering how inundated they are with ranting Londoners!

Below is  their reply:

-----Original Message-----
From: Mayor of London [mailto:mayor@london.gov.uk]
Sent: 14 January 2011 16:47
To: purewhyte@gmail.com
Subject: RE: MGLA171210-6715 Please save Hidden Art

Dear Ms Whyte

Thank you for your letter of 16 December 2010 regarding your concerns for the future of Hidden Art. I have been asked to respond on the Mayor's behalf.

The Mayor is very pleased to note your feedback of the positive impact that Hidden Art has had on designers and design makers in London.

We have consulted with colleagues at the London Development Agency (LDA) and they have confirmed that the LDA's funding of Hidden Art ended in March 2009, nearly two years ago.

Due to its budget being cut and the Government's intention to close the LDA by 31 March 2012, the LDA is unable to consider the funding of new projects which are not already contracted or planned.

The LDA has written to Hidden Art Chief Executive, Dieneke Ferguson in similar terms and we can only endorse the advice given in their letter that Hidden Art considers how the organisation might be able to leverage support from its partners or other private sector organisations within the sector. We do recognise the challenges that the current pressures in public funding present to organisations such as Hidden Art and wish the organisation well in its endeavours.

Thank again for writing to the Mayor.

Yours sincerely

Heidi Stokes

Economic and Business Policy Unit

So the future of Hidden Art is still in jeopardy, but this isn’t the only East London designer/maker institution at risk. 

Last week I attended a Creative Dialogue with Shin Azumi at the Metropolitan Works. This is currently a free networking and seminar session, where a designer/design related professional talks about their work or a particular subject matter. It was announced that their funding had also ended and there were only 11 months remaining for these sessions to continue.

I signed up to both of these organisations when I became and independent designer, with a way to network, and just get away from my desk and interact with other like minded individuals. These events made me feel and become involved in the design community and it is sad that this opportunity will not be available for future designer makers.

Hopefully a ray of sunshine is around the corner. 

SAVE HIDDEN ART!!!

Since designing fulltime and launching Purewhyte in 2008 I became a member of Hidden Art; from then onwards they have been a vital supporter and source of advice and opportunities for me.

From religiously attending their monthly networking sessions, Xmas markets, Hidden Polymers program, to the Hidden Art Forums and most recently having the amazing opportunity to exhibit with them at the Milan Furniture Fair this year or just popping in for a tea and chat.

You only need to look back over this blog to see how often Hidden Art has been mentioned.

I have just received a shocking email: “…Due to the current financial climate, it is uncertain as to whether the London Development Agency will continue to fund any projects. The LDA provide 50% of our funding and have done since March 2001. Should we lose this funding and fail to find an alternative source by 17th January, Hidden Art will have to close…” This would be an absolute travesty as they have been supporting Designers and Designer Makers like myself for the last 20 years.

Having Hidden Art close would be unthinkable and if you care about the future of Hidden Art, and if they have given you support or helped you in the past, please take 5 minutes to do one of the following and help our cause:

• Tell us how Hidden Art has helped you and your business, so we have stories and quotes to back up our funding case – you can post your message on our facebook page, or on this page of our website, or via email to Dieneke@hiddenart.co.uk
• Write about Hidden Art and the support you received on Twitter (and any other online media) using the hashtag #helphiddenart – we want the word to get round.

• If you know of anyone that may be able to help us, whether that’s a funder or somebody in the media, let us know, and maybe facilitate an introduction. Forward this email to them or send your own email.

YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ON THEIR WEBSITE or take a look at their ’21 years of Hidden Art’ photo album to see what we’ve achieved over this time.

Please please show your support if you can, so Hidden Art can secure their London Development Agency Funding and continue their valuable work.

I know I would definitely not be in the position I am today without them and I am sure I will need their help and knowledge in the future.

SAVE HIDDEN ART!

Here are just a few photos of where Hidden Art has helped me:

Feb 2010 Hidden Art awards.

March 2010 Milan photography shoot organised by Hidden Art.

April 2010 the Milan Furniture Fair; happier times.

Creative Fun!

Apart from the London Design Festival there is always something creative and interesting to visit a tube journey away.

Below are a few that I’ve visited over the last month or so; I always have my camera to hand so there are allot of photos.

This years Serpentine Pavilion designed by Jean Nouvel marks the 4oth anniversary of the of the Serpentine. Every year a temporary pavilion is commissioned, and this years is very striking.

Like a red shard of glass it cuts through the green of Hyde Park. Contrasting red and green make it so visually intriguing.

I love the warm red glow inside against the sharp contours outside.

This was the only thing worth photographing at Decorex.

I was lucky enough to go to the opening night of Superdesign, an exhibition that ran from 14th-17th October atVictoria House, London. Now in its fourth year, SUPERDESIGN is an innovative exhibition of contemporary design art.

Here are a few pieces that caught my eye.

Reverb Wire from the Apartment Gallery

Facet Moon Table by Arik Levy 2010, Designed for Mitterrand Cramer

Flamecut series by Tom Dixon

The venue from the Apartment Gallery.

Marco Dessi from Vessel Gallery

An unusual use of glass Campana Brothers for Vessel Gallery.

It was a really great space, with a broad collection of Design Art, which pulled in the design glitterati and interested passers by.

‘Thin Black Lines’ exhibition by a design favourite of mine: Nendo at the Saatchi Gallery.  As you can see in the images below the the structures/products follow the theme of outlines.

For some better images and exhibition review visit the Core77 website.

There was so much to see at the Saachi gallery three other exhibitions of note were: ‘Projectory’ the second installment of Phillips de Pury’s pop-up program. Richard Wilson’s 20:50, and below the Untitled work by John Wynne, which used 300 speakers to great effect.

On a very chilly Sunday I went to see Mid Century Modern,  at Dulwich College. The concrete 1950’s style venue, was the perfect surroundings for an eclectic mix of mid century furniture and accessories alongside carefully selected designs that will become future antiques. 

I didn’t splash out on any purchases but there were plenty of people who did.

I love the Southbank and visited Move: Choreographing You at Hayward Gallery one sunny autumn day. This exhibition is a breath of fresh air, with children and adults alike able to clamber all over, and interact with all the pieces. It runs until 9th of January 2011 so don’t miss out!

This might look like just fun…but it’s also art.

And finally…

This isn’t specifically art/design based experience but far too amazing an experience not to blog about.

For my birthday this year, a collection of my friends and myself went to BLITZ PARTY, a World War 2 themed event. From ration books to sandbags everything was perfect: with men in uniform or with handkerchiefs carefully folded in their top pockets. An women with their seemed stockings and victory curls.

An absolutely fantastic night enjoyed by all and highly recommended.

How glamorous are we, I wish everyone still dressed like this (although it would take me forever to get ready in the morning)!

That's all for now, I’m now saving my time and money for the many Xmas markets soon to be upon us.