Seminar 1 ‘My Brilliant Career’

Leading design practitioners from Russia and the UK talk about their work. Every day a top designer will give a talk about their influences, inspirations and aspirations.

11 March, 1200-1400

Tom Dixon, owner of Tom Dixon Ltd that evolved from Eurolounge, previous experience with Habitat. In 2000 was awarded the OBE for services to design.

Andrey Dmitriev, Interior designer, decorator from St.Petersburg. Recent works include – the Russian pavilion at the Frankfurt Book fair (October 2003), Indonesian Restaurant and “Bellini” Restaurant in St.Petersburg.

12 March, 1130-1330

Tricia Guild, founder of Designers Guild in London in 1970, author of 11 books on design and colour including Cut Flowers and White Hot.

Sergey Smirnov, General Director of Smirnov Design Company

13 March, 1200-1400

Thomas Heatherwick, three-dimensional designer and is best known for a series of spectacular one-off projects.

Vladimir Samojlov and Alexander Matveev, work together since 1993, created the first Russian industrial design Internet project Designet.ru.

Seminar 2 'Design and Manufacture'

12 March, 1530-1700

What is the relationship between design and manufacture in the UK? Many designers talk about a lack of support from the UK manufacturing industry. But there are small producers whose reputation is based on developing and maintaining relationships with designers.  What exactly do they do and why is it successful? And is there an alternative approach to ensuring design quality without bringing in big designer names?

Our panel includes:

•Mark Bond, Product Development Manager for Homebase, with previous experience at Marks & Spencer and Conran & Partners

•Thorsten van Elten, independent design entrepreneur

•Jane Withers, creative consultant, Wedgewood

•Sergey Smirnov, General Director of Smirnov Design company

•Vladimir Samojlov and Alexander Matveev, work together since 1993, created the first Russian industrial design Internet project Designet.ru.

Workshop 'Souvenirs of the 21st Century'

Seminar and presentation 11 March, 1530-1700

There is no doubt that we are more sophisticated travellers than we used to be, but the selection of tourist souvenirs available once we get to our destination never changes. If we feel that Matrioshka dolls do not truly represent modern Moscow any more than Beefeater dolls represent London, what should a contemporary souvenir ideally be?

This three day workshop will encourage participants to design a new souvenir for sale in Moscow. Participants will look at whether all souvenirs should be useful objects or whether purely commemorative items do not actually need to be functional.

Speakers from the UK will include Mark Bond, Harry Richardson of Committee and Jane Withers

If you would like to take part in this seminar please fill in the application form on British Council Russia website www.britishcouncil.ru