Nottingham’s bid to be the 2012

World Design Capital Newsletter May 2009

What is World Design Capital? The World Design Capital is a city promotion project celebrating

the merits of design. Held biennially, it seeks to highlight the

accomplishments of cities that are truly leveraging design as a tool

to improve the social, cultural and economic life of cities,

throughout a year long programme of design-related events.

The designation provides a distinctive opportunity for the selected

city to showcase their accomplishments in attracting and

promoting creative industries, as well as demonstrate how

government and industry work together with educational

institutions, designers and the community to revitalise and

reinvent the urban environment.

What’s new? Design Hero!

Every Tuesday at 10am live on BBC Radio

Nottingham a design related business is

interviewed. This has been really successful

and continues to be so. Please listen on 95.5

and 103.8fm, DAB and online.

All interviews are posted on the BBC

Nottingham website if you missed them.

Please use the web address below to direct

you to the page where you will find the

interviews so far:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/people

If you are interested in becoming a ‘Design

hero’ live on Radio Nottingham then please

contact Becky Smith.

Application update: Nottingham’s application was submitted on the 31

st March 2009.

The application was very extensive and detailed and highlighted

the varied and eclectic design industry that Nottingham has to

offer; past, present and future.

We held a very succesful launch event on the 31st

March 2009 in

The Old Market Square where Raleigh Choppers and Corsets were

on show. Please see images.

It is unknown at this time who are our competing cities.

Promotional brochures have been sent to a wide national cross

sector audience and to design institutions to raise the profile of our

bid. (the brochure can be found on the website).

Nottingham’s bid was showcased at MIPIM 2009, Cannes, France

(the international property show) in March this year. Please see

images and visit www.investinnottingham.com for further

information on the creative industries / design sector in the city.

What next? Our application is currently being reviewed (April – May 2009) by

the World Design Capital judges along with applications from

other cities.

In July 2009 we will be informed if our city has been shortlisted.

If we are shortlisted then the judges will be coming to visit

Nottingham in August 2009.

This will be the opportunity for the city to come together,

collectively to showcase its strengths in design.

We will be getting in touch with you all in July to look at ways that

we can all work together to showcase our city, together so please

WATCH THIS SPACE and keep looking on

www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/wdc for further information.

Benefits to Nottingham: Gaining visibility as a centre of creativity

and innovation.

Attracting investors and creative people.

Strengthening economic development.

Positioning as a leading city of design on an

international stage.

Building a global image and taking part in an

international design network.

Contact details: Please refer to Nottingham’s wdc website

for additional information:

www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/wdc

or visit the official World Design Capital

website: www.worlddesigncapital.com

or contact:

Becky Smith

Project Manager Economic Development,

Nottingham City Council

becky.smith@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

+44 (0) 115 915 5391

Did you know? Home to three expanding science and innovation

parks and £50 million of space is in the pipeline.

Sir Paul Smith is from Nottingham and his flagship

store is on Low Pavement.

Over 2,000 active research projects spanning a huge

spectrum of activities across both our universities.

Arts and culture in Nottinghamshire have been given

a £12.2 million boost from Arts Council England.

Iconic Raleigh Chopper – designed and made in

Nottingham.

90% of all swimming medals at the Beijing Olympics

were won in the LZR swim suit – designed by The

University of Nottingham and Speedo.

Jubilee Campus, The University of Nottingham –

winner of BCIA, Building Award.

Gamecity – UK’s biggest independent video gaming

festival.

Innovation Park, The University of Nottingham –

tallest free standing art form in the UK.

Nottingham Contemporary – one of the largest

contemporary art spaces in the UK.

The MRI Scanner and Ibuprofen were invented here.

BioMedical Research Centre, Nottingham Trent

University – pioneering design of new cancer

treatments.

River Crescent – luxurious and bespoke riverside

apartment complex has won many awards including

the 2008 Daily Mail Property Awards for Best

Architecture, Best Apartment and Best

Development.

No. 1 Science Park – won awards for its architecture

and sustainable infrastructure.

Things to look out for:

2

nd June 2009– Launch of Nottingham Creative Business

awards. Please go to www.creativeawards.biz for further

information.

6th

– 11th

June 2009 – Undergraduate Art and Design

Degree Shows, Nottingham Trent University. Please go to

www.ntu.ac.uk/dregreeshows for further information.

7th

October 2009 – Nottingham Creative Business Awards.

Please go to www.creativeawards.biz.

23rd October 2009 - Roses Design Awards

The event will be held at The East Midlands Conference

Centre. http://www.thedrum.co.uk

27th

– 31st October 2009 – Gamecity. www.gamcity.org

23rd & 24th -

November Technology World 2009

Invest in Nottingham will be exhibiting at this at the Ricoh

Arena Coventry. For further information then please look on

www.investinnottingham.com

Why? Our extensive design industry deserves appreciation,

accreditation and recognition and this is a stepping stone in

the right direction to gain that.

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