Our Designing for the Future and Michael Aldrich Foundation artists and makers had an exceptional year in 2019:
Brighton artist and ceramist Jack Durling, has had work stocked at galleries in Hove and London, completed an amazing collaborative art project with Blind Veterans UK, exhibited at Designer | Maker | Artist | Poet and at various art fairs throughout the country. And he has been chosen as one of the Craft Council’s selected makers for the Hothouse 2020 programme.
Designer Tom Meades successfully launched the first GOMI recycled plastic speakers, exhibited at Designer | Maker | Artist | Poet, created 50 bespoke trophies out of flexible plastic waste for the Berlin Commercial Film festival awards, collaborated with brand Desperados and also with textile specialist Juliana Sissons making fashion out of recycled plastic with the Saturday Fashion Club.
Designer Chloe Meineck raised nearly £30,000 on Kickstarter to get the Music Memory Box (conceived as part of DFF) into production and received international recognition being named as one of MIT Technology Review Innovators 35 under 35.
Designing for the Future alumna, Hanna Mawbey opened her own shop in Worthing, Heavy Gretel, stocking art, design and crafts from Sussex including from her former fellow students at the University of Brighton.
Maker Eleanor Owens exhibited at Designer | Maker | Artist | Poet and various craft fairs with her work being stocked at Wild Sussex and Heavy Gretel.
And finally, Poet Tommy Sissons :
Signed a publishing contract for my debut political book, started @englishgrass with some solid collaborators, performed at approximately 50 events, read 96 books, received 4 commissions, gave 3 lectures and facilitated 20 workshops [including at Designer | Maker | Artist | Poet]. I’ve had 3 poems and my debut short story published. I finished writing my second poetry collection, wrote a novel, dropped a collection of t-shirts and started a radio show with collaborator Matt Wilson.