University News Last updated 20 March 2012
Business leaders representing traditional manufacture – including furniture, jewellery, textiles, ceramics and leather goods – will be celebrating their success at a showcase event hosted by Birmingham City University.
The companies have worked with experts at Birmingham City University to make their traditional products even more competitive in the modern marketplace by applying cutting edge design and new thinking.
Examples of their eye-catching work will be on show at the Interiors and Lifestyle Futures event, hosted at Birmingham City University’s School of Jewellery. The exhibition opens at 2.30pm on Wednesday 21 March.
“Collaboration has been the linchpin behind Interiors and Lifestyle Future’s activities,” explained Adrian Burns, Communication Manager at Interiors and Lifestyle Futures, a think tank which aims to inspire creativity and innovation with partners across the region.
“Many of the companies taking part in this exhibition have initiated collaborative activities which will endure beyond the lifetime of the project - creating new opportunities and business for those involved, hopefully for many years in the future.
“Our showcase event is about celebrating the West Midlands Interiors and Lifestyle Future’s creativity, presenting an overview of the projects achievements, celebrating the companies who have been integral to the project and acknowledging the project team’s results.”
Keynote speaker will be design leader Glenn Howells, of Birmingham-based Glenn Howells Architects. Mr Howells will be joined by television presenter Kay Alexander to help celebrate Interiors and Lifestyle Futures third birthday.
Adrian Burns added: “The West Midlands has a wealth of creative and innovative companies and designer makers for who design and manufacture are integral to the development of their products whether they be producing or manufacturing furniture, jewellery, textiles, ceramics, leather goods, household items, giftware or flooring.
“The products and case studies on show are a small representation of the design and manufacturing capabilities of companies who are part of Interiors and Lifestyle Futures.”
Exhibits selected from companies that design or manufacture will include:-
• Furniture furnishings and textiles
• Carpets, floor and wall coverings
• Kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and home office
• Ceramics, lighting and window products
• Interior architecture fixtures and fittings
• Jewellery and silverware
• Fashion, clothing, textiles and accessories
• Travel and leather goods
• Sports and leisure goods
• Home wares (ceramic and glass) giftware and artwork
Interiors and Lifestyle Futures was set up by Advantage West Midlands and the birthday celebration is designed to showcase examples of successful initiatives, collaborative actions, business start-ups, knowledge-based collaborations and collaborative trade fairs which have come about as a result of this three-year project.
Partners have included the Ceramic Industry Forum (CIF), plus the Jewellery Industry Innovation Centre and Design Knowledge network teams from Birmingham City University.