Connecting Creativity and Promoting Design Excellence
Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, making mistakes and having fun!
Mary Lou Cook, Actress, Singer, Dancer
Our mission is to provide all members of the design and creative community with opportunities to communicate, exchange ideas and build on the region’s reputation as one of the UK’s leading design hubs. And have fun.
When Steve Jobs said this he transcended the worlds of art and design. Like Dieter Rams and Charles and Ray Eames before him, he understood that the best functional design is also art; something that enhances and benefits all our lives, every day in every way.
The founders of DESIGN SUSSEX are committed to creating events and experiences, stand alone and in partnership with the region’s many other organisations, that provide the chance to exchange ideas, meet possible collaborators and have fun doing it.
DESIGN SUSSEX is a not-for-profit organisation. All income is invested back into activities.
Design is not just what it looks like. Design is how it works.
DESIGN SUSSEX was founded by John Cowell, Mat Ashby and Arabella Ansar who are all local residents. Our intention was to create an organisation that would be a catalyst for collaboration across the entire creative community and provide opportunities to meet and engage together.
Since our launch in September 2022 we have held a number of events featuring our members interests and businesses. These have included the first RYE HOME DESIGN & DECOR DAY featuring a range of local home design and product providers. Another first was a screening of the original animated film and talk by Oliver Brooks.
Our most recent was a marketing workshop with local marketing and brand consultants, ROCKPOOL.
Many of our activities are kindly hosted by the fabulous KINO Rye and we are extremely grateful for their support and enthusiasm.
The story so far………
News and Upcoming Events
The Rye Arts & Design Club
Many towns and cities enjoy the benefits of an Arts Club. Some, like the Chelsea Arts Club are famous, but all provide a space for informal exchange of ideas, a meeting place for like-minded people and a seedbed of new collaborations and creative relationships.
In an ideal world, Rye would have a building offering the community all of the above. In its absence we are creating a regular gathering - monthly at first, more often if there is a demand - which will be held on the mezzanine in the KINO, Rye.
News of the launch date and associated events will be available soon, in the meantime sign up to express your interest HERE go to the CONTACT/JOIN page.