Design Manchester is an originative ten-day festival in venues across the city, celebrating creativity, collaboration, and inclusivity in the worlds of art, design, film, illustration, animation and photography.
Curated by a passionate team of creatives, the festival, now in its second year, seeks to inspire and educate, working with high profile movers and shakers from the creative industries. 2014 highlights include a must-see exhibition by adidas, housing 650 pairs of rare and vintage styles from personal collections; critically acclaimed Dress of Glass and Flame, Helen Storey’s remarkable artwork exploring the chemistry of glass and flame at Manchester Art Gallery; and Secrets of Nature (Sounds Unseen), a series of beautiful ground-breaking silent nature films accompanied by live music from metamono, who will be using analogue electronic equipment. The core festival day on Fri 24 Oct will feature a selection of internationally renowned speakers including Michael C Place from Build, Ross Phillips from Dalziel & Pow and celebrated Brazilian graphic designer Rejane Dal Bello, with contributions from Peter Saville RDI, Angus Montgomery, Editor at Design Week, Malcolm Garrett RDI, Professor David Crow, Dean at Manchester School of Art and Cllr Sue Murphy, Deputy Leader at Manchester City Council.
Design Manchester 14 is working with headline sponsor the Manchester School of Art, part of Manchester Metropolitan University, and partnering with Manchester Science Festival, in a creative merger incorporating inspirational talks and debates, interactive workshops and stimulating exhibitions held at various venues across the city.
2014 events include:
Material Matters
Until Fri 12 Dec
Special Collections Gallery
An exhibition looking at how different materials have been used in art, craft and design over the centuries and across cultures. Tim Milne, founder of ARTOMATIC the innovative materials library, will talk about the use of materials and explore the connections between intuition, communication and the physicality of objects on Wed 29 Oct.
In partnership wit Manchester Metropolitan University.
10×10 In Process
Until Thu 30 Oct
Kosmonaut
Photography of Design Manchester’s recent 10×10 exhibition at Federation House Gallery shot by Sebastian Matthes will be on show at Kosmonaut Bar in the Northern Quarter. 10×10 is the product of Manchester’s creative community, which sees local artists and designers collaborate with creatives from varying disciplines. Each unusual partnership culminates in innovative and imaginative works from Brendan Dawes, The Neighbourhood, Barney Ibbotso, DR.ME., Mark Jermyn, Jane Bowyer, Textbook Studio, Sneaky Racoon, Lisa Stannard, Sam Meech, Mr Hass, Graham Rutherford, Micah Purnell, Iris Cooper & Si Scott.
Unit Editions
Mon 20 Oct
TwentyTwentyTwo
Design Manchester talks with Tony Brook and Adrian Shaughnessy, the two graphic designers who founded Unit Editions in London, a publisher of high-quality, affordable books on graphic design and visual culture. In this intimate conversation they trade stories on how Unit got started, some of their biggest sellers – including Wim Crouwel: A Graphic Odyssey and Herb Lubalin, Designers & Books Notable Design Books 2011 and 2012 – and getting a first library card at the age of two.
Supported by Unit Editions.
The Science of Play
Wed 22 – Wed 29 Oct
TwentyTwentyTwo
There is an inherent connection between creativity and play. Both allow us to get lost in a world, explore, problem solve and unleash the imagination. This exhibition brings together some of the best talent in Manchester to investigate the meaning and importance of play. The Science of Play is in aid of charity Play360, who design and build playgrounds for communities throughout the developing world. Speakers at the launch event include Matthew Kenyon and Mick Timpson.
RSA Great Recovery Workshop
Thu 23 Oct
MMU, The Shed
Combining design with science, this hands-on workshop will introduce participants to the concept of designing for a Circular Economy, all through the medium of the mobile phone. The free workshop is suitable for all. Hosted by Nat Hunter and Hillary Chittenden of the RSA.
DM14 Core Festival Day: The Science of Imagination
Fri 24 Oct
The Grand Hall, Manchester Town Hall
Now in its second year, this day-long conference features internationally celebrated and influential speakers discussing The Science of Imagination, showing an insight into their creative work. Speakers include Brazilian graphic designer Rejane Dal Bello, Ross Phillips from Dalziel & Pow and Michael C Place from Build. Other key figures involved are Peter Saville RDI, Malcolm Garrett RDI, Angus Montgomery, Editor of Design Week, Professor David Crow, Dean at Manchester School of Art and Cllr Sue Murphy, Deputy Leader at Manchester City Council. Also featuring will be a specifically filmed discussion between the organisers of Design Manchester and the partner conference Science Fiction, taking place simultaneously at USC in Los Angeles with Alex McDowell RDI and Jason Dylan of 5D Global.
Sponsored by G.F.Smit Papers. Conference Partner Manchester School of Art.
adidas SPEZIAL
Fri 24 Oct – Sun 2 Nov
7 Dale Street
Housing 650 pairs of rare, vintage, deadstock, re-issues and collaboration styles from the personal collection of numerous adidas collectors, the SPEZIAL exhibition is a chance to explore the adidas archives and experience adidas history first-hand. Alongside the collection a very special one-off SPEZIAL will be unveiled. Exhibition Curator Gary Aspden will give a personal tour of the collection on Tue 28 Oct.
Produced by adidas.
Manchester Print Fair
Sa 25 Oct
People’s History Museum
The Manchester Print Fair is a free, independent art and design event that celebrates all manner of printed design, from artist’s books and zines to posters, postcards t-shirts and tea towels. This year, over 50 stalls will feature. Workshops will be held throughout the day by G.F.Smith, with special event Paper Madness encouraging families to fill the room with paper and creativity and watch it evolve (12-4.30pm). There will be mask making, screen print demonstrations and an origami master class by the Japanese Society. One-off prints based on the science of imagination will also be on sale.
Sponsored by G.F.Smith.
Metamono: Secrets of Nature (Sounds Unseen)
Sun 26 Oct
MMU, The Shed
Playing only analogue electronic equipment, metamono have developed a touring show of live music as accompaniment to Secrets of Nature – Sound Unseen, a series of stunning nature films dating from 1903 to 1927. By placing these characteristically British films in a new context with specially composed music, the band reignite the sense of wonder in nature that these films produced when filmed. metamono will also present a workshop introducing and discussing their uncompromising all analogue approach to electronic music with an in-depth look at the ‘manifesto’, a practical demonstration of ‘The Instrumentarium’ and a discussion of the relationship between digital and analogue audio.
Produced with the National Media Museum and the BFI. Supported by MMU Digital Innovation and Stage Sound & Light.
National Art&Design Saturday Club Taster
Mon 27 Oct
Manchester School of Art
This club provides young people aged 14-16 with an unique opportunity to study art and design on Saturday mornings at their local college or university, completely free. It aims to support with gaining qualifications, giving them an insight into studying and understanding of careers in the creative industries.
Hosted by Manchester School of Art and The Sorrell Foundation.
Helen Storey: Dress of Glass and Flame
Mon 27 Oct
Manchester Art Gallery
Exhibited for one day only, Dress of Glass and Flame is a spectacular artwork exploring the chemistry of glass and flame, previously shown at the Venice Biennale in 2013 and the London College of Fashion in 2014. Designer and social artist Helen Storey MBE, with scientist Tony Ryan OBE from the University of Sheffield, has captured this alchemic process and kept it alive via a life-size glass dress that has at its heart a burning flame. Helen Storey will discuss her artwork before joining a Q&A with the Whitworth’s Deputy Director Jennifer Harris, DM14 Curator Malcolm Garrett, and Erinma Ochu, Wellcome Fellow at University of Manchester.
Sponsored by the Royal Society of Chemistry. Produced in partnership with Manchester Art Gallery, Whitworth Art Gallery and Manchester Science Festival.
3D Printing The Future
Mon 27 Oct
MMU, The Shed / MSA, Benzie Building
To complement the new MOSI exhibition on 3D printing, Manchester Metropolitan University, in association with MSF, Design Manchester and Hobs Studio, present an evening of innovative demonstrations and discussions about the future of 3D printing, showcasing some of the latest advances in this emerging field. Followed by a panel discussion between key representatives of the arts, sciences and businesses on how 3D printing has influenced their practice and what the future holds for this exciting new medium.
In partnership with MMU Digital Innovation, Hobs Studio and Manchester Science Festival.
NORTH: The Great Debate
Wed 29 Oct
Manchester School of Art
Taking place against the backdrop of a seemingly unstoppable movement towards more devolution to the cities and regions, and the recent publication of the ‘One North’ plan by the leaders of Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield, Design Manchester’s Great Debate will look at how the creative industries can stimulate and create a prosperous, successful Northern economy. Chaired by Robert Yates, Assistant Editor of The Observer, with a panel including Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, Lou Cordwell, Founder and CEO of Magnetic North, Professor David Crow, Dean and Pro Vice Chancellor at Manchester School of Art, and Caroline Norbury, CEO of Creative England.
Sponsored by Images&Co. In partnership with Manchester School of Art. Supported by APDIG (All-Paarty Parliamentary Design and Innovation Group) and Shoosmiths.
Take 5
Thu 30 Oct
TwentyTwenyTwo
The Design Council brings its popular monthly talk series to Design Manchester. This time, design icon Ben Casey of The Chase is in the spotlight. 5 insights: 5 minutes each, 5 questions from the audience.
Hosted by Design Council.