Wayne Hemingway visits LJMU
19 March 2010
Designer and entrepreneur Wayne Hemingway MBE visited LJMU to address delegates at the CHEAD (Council for Higher Education in Art & Design) conference, hosted by the Liverpool School of Art and Design at the Art and Design Academy.
Martin Downie, Director of the Liverpool School of Art and Design, contacted the Business Development Centre (BDC) for help in securing a high-profile speaker who could provide the industry viewpoint on the ways that higher education can benefit the art and design industry in the current economic climate and to provide perspective in the development of creative cities, of which Wayne is a highly-respected expert and commentator.
In a lively presentation, Wayne described how he and Gerardine - his future wife and business partner - headed to London as teenagers in 1981 and sold their clothes at Camden Market to pay their rent, quickly realising they could make money from selling fashion. Their Red or Dead fashion label was born, which they later sold for a considerable sum to set up Hemingway Design in 1999, which specialises in affordable and social design.
Wayne described the need for more people with creative flair to hold key public sector roles in areas like urban design, explaining how “these positions are held by 'business people' who don't have creative ideas but are responsible for shaping how we live and the environment we live in”. He also described how cities need to provide space where young designers can sell their products in affordable, prime locations and art schools could further play their part by providing space for graduates to set up businesses.
Hemingway Design's current major project is Vintage at Goodwood, a three-day festival celebrating five decades of British design. With paid work and voluntary opportunities for LJMU art and design students at the festival, Wayne is continuing discussions with LJMU and developing ideas for a student competition. More details on these opportunities will be available soon.
Dominique Aspey, who manages BDC's Start-Up Network, made the initial approach to Wayne Hemingway to invite him to speak. Commenting afterwards, Dominique said, “We were delighted when Wayne accepted our invitation to speak as we hold him in high regard as an entrepreneur and a designer. His contribution today has been excellent and we look forward to continuing our relationship through the student competition and with our own entrepreneurship events.”
For more information on the BDC's Start-Up Network, please contact Dominique Aspey on 0151 231 8062 or email: d.aspey@ljmu.ac.uk
For more information on Vintage at Goodwood, visit: http://www.vintageatgoodwood.com/home.aspx
