The Pioneers Symposium invited a panel of innovative curators to discuss their distinct strategies relating to the commissioning, production and presentation of functional design. The focus of each company spans from the creative to the commercial, and it is their curatorial thinking that adds meaning to what they do. With a format of questions to answer in short
presentation format, each company will discussed the projects they have worked on, in relation to issues of who to commission, where to get work made, and how to present the outcomes. The event was hosted by Katy West and Bobby Niven of Bothy Stores. Bobby Niven, Director of the Bothy Project, has been working in collaboration with independent curator,
Katy West on the inception, development and commissioning of Bothy Stores, a new commercial strand of The Bothy Project. The symposium coincided with The Pioneers, a showcase of the first edition of prototype products developed for Bothy Stores at Pig Rock Bothy, SNGMA, by six design teams.
Catriona Duffy – Panel
wearepanel.co.uk
Panel is an independent curatorial practice led by Catriona Duffy and Lucy McEachan. Based in Glasgow, Panel promotes design in relation to particular histories, archives and collections through exhibitions, events and cultural projects. Their programme engages public audiences and designers through commissioning and also makes connections with practitioners and institutions whose work extends into visual arts, craft and other cultural contexts and frameworks.
Rhonda Drakeford & Lulu Roper-Caldbeck – DARKROOM darkroomlondon.com
Darkroom launched as a design store and brand in 2009 by partners Rhonda Drakeford and
Lulu Roper-Caldbeck. For 7 years, it’s black-walled, joyous graphic interior and unique aesthetic changed the landscape of retail in London. The Darkroom concept is defined by a love for the bold and the brave, the crafted and the curious. It strives to make good design accessible, whilst also questioning the norm. In 2016 the brand has evolved to meet the challenges of contemporary retail with a focus on Darkroom-designed products accessible through e-commerce, wholesale and special pop-up experiences.
Fi Duffy-Scott – Make Works
makeworks.co.uk
Fi is a manufacturing geek, designer and founder of Make Works. She trained as a product designer at Glasgow School of Art, and has worked as a designer-maker in Philadelphia, Brooklyn and Scotland. Frustrated at not knowing where to get things made, Make Works started factory finding in Scotland in 2012 and have since visited, interviewed, filmed and photographed over 200 manufacturers, material suppliers and workshop facilities. The core focus of Make Works is making these manufacturers easier to access, providing an open-access directory with in-depth information, photography and short films.