Tim Burley, New Chair for South West Design Forum

The South West Design Forum has elected a new Chair and Vice Chair, with Tim Burley and Matt Desmier taking the roles respectively.
At the South West Design Forum Board meeting on Monday 18th October 2010, Roger Proctor and Emma Collins both stepped down after each had served for four years in the posts. Tim Burley and Matt Desmier were both elected in a unanimous vote. The Board was made up of 22 people representing over 20 different organisations.
Tim Burley, 39, is a director of Red Rocket, a design agency founded in the South West in 1996. From its base in Exeter, Red Rocket employs a team of designers, web developers, marketers and project managers, working for clients including Rok plc, Western Power Distribution and Burts Chips.

Tim said: “A healthy and vibrant design industry contributes massively to the success of this region, and I’m taking on this challenge at a time when our efforts have never been more crucial. To showcase our creativity, to improve standards within the industry, and to help design buyers understand the value of what we do; these are the things that can really help forward thinking businesses thrive at a time when so many others are struggling.”

He continues: “Filling the not inconsiderable shoes of outgoing chair Roger Proctor is a big challenge, but it’s one that I’m really looking forward to. I get to work with and represent over 7,000 design businesses here in the South West – that’s a huge amount of creativity to tap into!”

Matt Desmier has been appointed as Vice Chair of the South West Design Forum. He has already served as the Chair of Dorset Design Forum, and is the Head of Partnership Development at South West Screen.

Matt said: “Being made Vice Chair of the South West Design Forum is a great opportunity. This is an organisation that is full of engaging and interesting people, all with the same vision – to promote and support the work of designers in the South West of England. There is a lot of talented people in the region and it’s great to be able to represent them.”

The South West Design forum represents six regional groups throughout the region, which include Cornwall Design Forum, Designed in Devon, Dorset Design Forum, Gloucestershire Design Network, Somerset Design Enterprise Network and the West of England Design Forum. We are the expert voice of design in the region.