Some of Leicester’s leading studios and design businesses are opening their doors for a special behind-the-scenes tours this weekend.
It’s all part of Design Season 2, which runs until October 25 and gives an insight into Leicester’s design sector. The city is home to the second largest design cluster outside of London.
De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) is one of the backers of the season, and students from the university’s arts and design programmes will be given the chance to see what opportunities there are in Leicester to work in the creative sector after graduating. An exhibition of work by DMU Product Design graduates will be on show at LCB Depot until Thursday 24 October.
Throughout the day on Saturday 19 October visitors can join the DS2 Open Studios trail as businesses open their doors to the public, to give a unique working insight of what they do.
Businesses taking part in the trail include Bulb Studios, Leicester XR, Fullalove clothing and more. You can also pop over to the offices of music licensing giants PPL PRS for the chance to see their wonderful office artwork, which depicts music through the decades.
You can follow the trail by downloading the free map via the Cuttlefish Mapps App, which will help to guide you around on the day.
The Open Studios day is a wonderful opportunity for students to get an insight of the industry, for freelancers to see how different agencies and businesses work, for children keen to get an early insight into design, or simply for a day out to see just how the design industry works in the city.
Leicester is home to the second largest design cluster outside of London. With over 4,400 active creative businesses and over 14,100 people in creative-based jobs, the industry development shows no signs of slowing, and the Open Studios trail will offer a snapshot of this success.
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DS2 encompasses a design and designer led season of collaborations, talks, events, exhibitions, workshops and activities. Some of the other key event highlights include:
Loop Open Exhibition (until 25 October, LCB Depot)
Exhibition of graphic design and illustration work.
Overview Effect (Friday 18 & Saturday 19 October, New Market Square)
Don’t miss this free projection mapping event in New Market Square. This breath-taking outdoor show celebrates the ambition and technical achievement of the 1969 moon landing, in the form of a psychedelic and atmospheric outdoor projection set to a stunning original soundtrack. From the surface of the moon, you’ll experience the view of the Apollo 11 astronauts, and understand their shift in understanding about the fragility of the planet we call home.
Designs for the Grand Egyptian Museum (Friday 18 October)
Leicester’s Hayley Sharpe Design has the honour of being exhibition consultants for the Phase II Galleries as the world awaits the opening of the state-of-the-art Grand Egyptian Museum near the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx of Egypt. This is your opportunity to find out more about the project.
Create Leicester Day Event (Thursday 24 October)
Create celebrates its first day long event with speakers from the BBC, FutureGov, The Co-op and more. Join diverse digital talent from across the UK and learn from a range of inspirational speakers. Tickets.
James Burkmar, Workspace Manager at Leicester’s design hub LCB Depot, which has curated Design Season 2, said: “We’re delighted to have some amazing businesses on board with our Open Studios day. This is a rare chance for people to see behind the scenes of these successful businesses and gives a wonderful snapshot of life in our design community. Whether you’re starting out in your design career, or if you’ve always wondered how the industry works, this is your chance.”
“The business community has really pulled together to programme some brilliant events into DS2 and I’m delighted with how the season has been received so far.”
Posted on Thursday 17 October 2019