Design Manchester announces 2016 programme
Design Manchester returns with a lineup of events celebrating design and creativity, including an art battle, a design fair and an exhibition of Alan Kitching's work
Design Manchester, the city’s annual festival of design and creativity, returns this October with a series of events, talks, exhibitions, workshops, films, a design fair and parties. The theme for DM16 is Design City, with the festival planning to celebrate the part good design plays in making Manchester, and other cities around the world, great.
The first wave of events have just been announced. The heart of the festival is the Design City Conference (13 Oct), which this year takes place at the Royal Northern College of Music. The conference will bring a host of great design thinkers to the city, including multidisciplinary interaction designer Jason Bruges, immersive tech artists FIELD, wayfinding and graphic designer Alexandra Wood, Dutch design collective Trapped in Suburbia and Warner Bros’ senior VP of creative affairs and head of Blue Ribbon content Peter Girardi.
Also taking place as part of DM16 is the next stage of the great Women in Print project – an exhibition launched in July showcasing the work of local designers, print-makers and illustrators that celebrates the life and achievements of iconic female figures who’ve helped shape Manchester over the years. Expect a new exhibition, talks and debate, which will take place within festival sponsor Co-op’s HQ and Northern Quarter venue PLY.
Also planned is a landmark exhibition of the work of Alan Kitching, the world-renowned typographic designer and printmaker. Taking place at Manchester School of Art’s Benzie Building throughout the festival, Alan Kitching: A Life in Letterpress, will feature a selection of Kitching’s completed works, as well as sketches, proofs and roughs gathered from the artist’s own archive. Kitching will also host a masterclass as part of the exhibition – details to be revealed soon.
London Road Fire Station
One of the liveliest looking events in the festival is Art Battle Manchester VIII (14 Oct). Described as an “underground event never held in the same venue twice,” it’s a live artistic challenge taking place this time at one of Manchester’s most iconic buildings, London Road Fire Station. The Art Battle audience will watch painters, illustrators, tattooists and street artists go head-to-head against each other, with the 500-strong crowd deciding who has created the best masterwork within the 30 minute time limit.
Among the other highlights is a Design City Film Season, hosted by HOME. The first two films in the season are Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo and Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove, and each screening will have a design expert on hand to introduce the film and put its design achievements in context. There’s also a Design City Fair (15 & 16 Oct) at London Road Fire Station, with creatives and imprints offering works for sale, plus there’s a shed load of workshops – ranging from screenprinting to book-binding to origami – so attendees can get creative also.
DM16 takes place 12-23 Oct. For full information about the festival, and to pick up early bird tickets, visit designmcr.com; keep an eye on theskinny.co.uk/festivals for more announcements.