The Somerset Design Enterprise Network is pleased to announce that it will be hosting Sustainable Business by Design on the 22nd March 2011, at Somerset College.

The Sustainable Business by Design conference is run in association with the Creative Industries iNet (Innovation Network). It is also funded by The Design Programme, Design Council, Somerset Design Enterprise Network, South West Design Forum, Arts Council, ADK Design, Business Link and Exeter College.

It will be an invaluable chance for designers, businesses and the public sector to fully understand what sustainable design is, how it can be harnessed, how design professionals can extract maximum benefit from it, and how to communicate this value to clients.
To register your attendance and find out more information please visit: www.sustainable-design-uk.com Speaking at the event will be a range of industry experts, including David Kester, Chief Executive of the Design Council, and Mark Shayler, Design Advisor & Eco-Designer.

Also speaking at the event is Lynne Elvins, a Design Consultant and Advisor on Sustainable Innovation and John Boult, Associate Professor Design Strategy at Brunel University and Designer.

There will also be a series of follow-up workshops after the conference, which will be run in a number of locations in the South West.
The conference will inspire designers increase sustainable design practise and advise them how to market sustainability to their clients. Designers will also be able to discuss these issues with key figures from other sectors such as Food and Drink, Branding, Marketing, ICT and the Public Sector. As sustainability shifts from being a noble aim to a means of delivering a competitive advantage, this unique event will bring together the top players in the industry to debate sustainability challenges.

Andrew Knutt, Chair of the Somerset Design Enterprise Network, said: “Somerset & the South West has a vibrant business and design community, and its clear that early adoption of sustainability can provide a competitive advantage and offer commercial opportunities. Design plays a key role in helping industry achieve this and our ‘Sustainable Business by Design’ programme will explore and demonstrate how organisations can improve their brands, products, processes and services.”

The Sustainable Business by Design conference is part-funded by the Creative Industries iNet (Innovation Network), a programme of support designed to help the South West’s creative businesses thrive and advance the area’s growing reputation as a global creative centre of excellence. The Creative industries iNet is part of the Government’s Solutions for Business portfolio, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and led by South West Screen. www.inets-sw.co.uk/creative