University News Last updated 27 June 2012
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A “new wave” of talent took to the stage at the finale of celebrations led by Birmingham City University to mark Birmingham’s status as the original design city.
The Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, part of Birmingham City University, impressed more than 200 guests at The Mailbox after staging its annual Graduate Fashion Show. The catwalk show featured the work of 20 emerging fashion design students as part of the final evening of the successful week- long Birmingham Made Me Design EXPO.
Students from BOA – Birmingham Ormiston Academy, the specialist creative, digital and performance academy sponsored by the University – staged a ‘talent showcase’ featuring singing and recital performances. They were joined by Olga Militsi, an MBA student at Birmingham City Business School, who gave a dance performance.
Organiser Beverley Nielsen, Director Employer Engagement at Birmingham City University, said: “We’re thrilled with the response to the inaugural Birmingham Made Me Design EXPO, a business- education collaboration highlighting the world-beating brands being produced and designed in Birmingham and the Midlands - as well as the strides being achieved in innovation through university and businesses working together.
“Having coordinated this expo through our team at Birmingham City University we have been delighted to welcome more than 150 exhibitors to our 12 design zones. With thousands of people having visited from the public, education and business we are getting across the message about the importance of designing and making things to economic growth.
“We would like to thank all the founder members involved in IDEA Birmingham, the think tank behind the Birmingham Made Me Design EXPO, The Mailbox for hosting this event, the speakers at our more than 30 fringe events, the curators involved in creating the 12 design zones, the event management team at Birmingham City University and the support of key businesses, including especially the much valued support of Ian Callum as Founder Chairman Idea Birmingham and Director of Design at Jaguar.”
Following the results of an online public vote winners of the Design and Innovation Awards Ceremony have also been announced. More than 5,000 people voted to select winners across four categories including the Birmingham Made Me Best Midlands Brand, Best Midlands Innovation and Radical Design, Best Midlands Collaborative Design (Education and Business) and Best Midlands Emerging Brand. A special accolade for a Lifetime Achievement in Design was also awarded:
• Award for Lifetime Achievement was made to Dr Alex Moulton, 91, for his contribution to design and innovation including his work with Sir Alec Issigonis in designing the suspension system for the original Mini but in particular in recognition of his role as ‘a pioneer of the small-wheeled bicycle revolution’.
• Best Collaborative Design between (Education and Business) winner was the 2012 Hydrogen City Concept Car, with Cattleya CIC being voted the first runner up and Vax ev, the world’s first cardboard vacuum cleaner voted the second runner up in this category.
• Best Midlands Emerging Brand: Café Blend was voted the overall winner in this category with Disorder Boutique and Fei Liu being voted first and second runners up respectively.
• Best Midlands Innovation and Radical Design overall winner was Acme Whistles, while the AGA Total Control and Vax Air Lightweight Vacuum cleaner being voted the first and second runners up respectively.
• The Best Midlands Brand: AGA received the greatest number of online votes with the Birmingham Assay Office being voted the first runner up and Codemasters being voted the second runner up in this highly contested category.