Here are some elements of the David-Louis Tableware range on show at the recent Made in the Jewellery Quarter exhibition in the Jewellery Quarter. I will be uploading more pictures of the launch event on the Made in the Jewellery Quarter web site over the coming days. Check them out.
Well, I am coming up to the end of lecturing at BCU School of Jewellery for this academic year and have been creating a summary of the content for the students to discuss tomorrow and lo and behold when put in order it appears to me to be a useful guide to starting up a new business in the creative sector.
Although I have many projects on the go at the moment including launching a new brand plus developing my MA project alongside the running of the businesses and oh yeah I am organising an exhibition called “Made in the Jewellery Quarter” for Feb 2012… next month please do come along, anyway, I do think there is the makings of a good start your own business book there so perhaps in the future I will be able to apply myself to this.
Here is the basic content of the course I have developed if you have need of a lecturer or two in any of these areas in the creative sector just give me a call.
Course Overview
Entrepreneurship in the creative sector.
David Hendley (c)
Course Goals
To develop the skills you need to succeed in the current working climate.
To assist with developing an online portfolio.
To assist with developing your vision and create a clear next step when you graduate.
Course Overview
Puropse of a career / business plan
Create a mission statement
Outline of a basic career / business plan
Establish your personal vision
SWOT analysis of your core skills or idea.
Researching & developing your own logo and brand.
Market research -types of, how to & practical.
Freelance employment – rates & marketing
Costing your work professionally
Overheads of a studio
Distribution of your products strategically
Legal structures of a business
Marketing using press releases
Developing your online strategy
Basic web design and architecture
Building an online portfolio
Harnessing social networks
………………………………………….
of course I will keep developing the course so get in touch if you wish.
David Hendley.
Check out our other online gift businesses
http://www.gifts-of-distinction.co.uk
Gifts of Distinction I Sterling Silver goodies for that very special gift – engraving is available.
http://www.david-louis.com
Lifestyle giftware for the home – designed by our lead designer David-Louis
http://www.flaskstore.com
A vast array of exceedingly well made hip flasks and all can be engraved for free.
http://www.tankardstore.com
A specialist web site focusing on an exquisite range of tankards for every occasion.
Last week I visited the pre-launch of the designer maker pop up shop & the ice rink at Somerset House, London, here is a nice snap of the ice rink before it opened.
Just so you know there is a selection of David-Louis.com items on display there so if you are in the area do drop in.
How can I start this post? I’m always saying there is loads going on but its true!!! But I will keep it simple if I can..
Well, the FROST project is now confirmed and the 18 Design Space creatives will be exhibiting in St Paul’s Gallery, St Paul’s Square from the 2nd to the 6th of December and moving to ‘The David-Louis project’ at Artfull Expression on Warstone Lane, from the 8th to the 14th of December.
So in this world of virtual information and communication this is an exhibition you actually have to visit by using you two feet in order to see the wares and designs of these new makers. To compliment this exhibition at the Warstone Lane venue there are already over 150 makers work on show, so you cannot but be bowled over by the choice and style of all the makers. Just to say as well, the David-Louis Project and Artfull Expression are open all year round so you can visit us any time of the year.
Also, I have completed a commission by fashion designer Todd Lynn to produce his bespoke, limited edition hip flask on behalf of Chivas Regal and the Chivas Studio, this fine whiskey has been relaunched world wide over the last few months and the three day event in London was what I consider to be totally fabulous, I will upload some images of the event and the hip flask itself over the next week or so. Alexander McQueen also designed an exclusive bottle top for the Chivas Regal bottle which were a limited edition and handmade. I was delighted to see the Hip Flask being exhibited along side the bottle in very contemporary style and being viewed as works of art as opposed to total consumer products. Of course I need to thank Todd and all his team for entertaining me at the do and hope we can do it again. I also would say the cocktails we had using the Chivas Regal were delicious.. more please 
I had to run off at the end of the night, like Cinderella, to catch my train back to Birmingham as early the next morning I had a new product design meeting with our external support group the, JIIC, it looks like we will be working together on two new product concepts, one is the coolest tax disc holder in the land and t’other is Top Top secret until it launch in March ’09 I would say. All the new designs will contain what I consider to be my philosophy, function and beauty blended seamlessly together. So keep an eye, join my mailing list if you like and I will mail you the preview and launch details.
Byeee,
David-Louis
Wahoo – I did say I wouldn’t mention it again if I didn’t get anywhere so you can probably imagine my delight at being able to say the Magnetic Beer Cube Bottle Opener by David-Louis has been short-listed for the releaseonedotzero competition. You can see a video of it in action here.
On Tuesday 4th November 2008 at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, (ICA), London the short listed items will be projected on the gallery walls along with the ultimate winners to a broad range of national and international museums – culture organisations plus journalists from prominent titles and journals. So fingers crossed and I await to hear the jury’s final decision.
On another note work has begun on our new extension to the retail outlet here in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, The David-Louis Project at Artfull Expression, a crew of 6 volunteers from Design Space (Thanks to Fiona Mawlam, Sarah Kelly of Saloukee, See Sun Yung and Claire Pardoe for all there help) came to help me on Saturday last and we managed to empty the new space of years of accumulated nonsense – we filled many a skip – the goal is to open an exhibition space so we can attract touring exhibitions and local designer makers etc.
The proposed opening our first exhibition is approx. 12th December 08 – entitled FROST. I hope this project works out and it does seem we have the support of the local designer maker community along with support from within our building here so we are on course….
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As Roots Manuva said ‘we are up to everything and into everything’ at the moment, The shop in the jewellery quarter in expanding now and we have take on a budding designer maker ‘ Clare Victoria Pardoe’ is now managing the retail out let which is called.. You guessed it ‘ The David Louis project AT Artful Expression’.
I am hoping the new appointment will create a new profile for the shop and attract both customers and new designer makers as suppliers. The shop is in the Jewellery Quarter at 23 Warstone Lane, B18 6JQ – drop in any time and I’ll give you the scoop on each maker we stock and the history of the local area – just ask for David-Louis
The corporate side of the business, Gifts of Distinction is growing and we have introduce new Computer Aided Design skill base with the taking on of an intern, Shah ALi, a local student on his gap year – this is really exciting and attracting high profile clients which due to discretion and professional practice I am unable to mention specifically….
I see on my way to work today they are filming the advert for the new Jewellery Quarter (Web site not launched yet!!! – but is definitely on the way) TV campaign for the run up to Christmas, so keep an eye on your TV and don’t forget to mention the advert WHEN you visit the Jewellery Quarter on the run up to Christmas….. You will visit the Jewellery Quarter won’t you… yes you will
I will finish off now just saying that I am commissioning the production of another video at the moment featuring our new Spaghetti Measuring Device have a look the product- its too cool for cats.
Ooops – the reason I called this post 2.0ing and more is we are attempting to link Delicious, our facebook account, our blog and twitter (Twitter ID ‘DavidLouisDsign’) together – so you can Link, FB, blog and tweet us any time (in theory).
David-Louis.