The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Dundee Design Festival to return to the Factory Floor
Event back for second year with host of exhibits and workshops
The programme for Dundee Design Festival has been unveiled this week as the event prepares to return to the city for a second year.
Former print factory West Ward Works will be transformed into a hub of creative activity between May 24 and 29 as designers flock to exhibit their work, as well as host workshops and performances.
This year’s theme is Factory Floor, acknowledging the global shift in design practice where designers and makers are blending forms of production – a mix of craftsmanship and industrial processes to create a hybrid of the very old and the very new.
A spokeswoman for Dundee Design Festival said: “The idea this year is for people to stay in the building for as long as possible.
“There will be pop-up café called the Refectory, run by the Rep Theatre, and a shop by the DCA, which would be similar to the shop in their own centre but with a selection of specially curated items by artists and designers.
“Creative Dundee are also looking to set up informal work spaces where freelancers can come to work and meet other people in their field.
“We really want people to make the most out of this amazing historic building, and to come to spend an afternoon or even a whole day there.
“This year’s festival will also be longer – it’s on for five days, compared to four last year. It’s very important that Dundee continues with all the different activities that cement its reputation as the City of Design.”
One of the highlights will be an ongoing interactive event which will see the public help to create a 2,000 sq ft installation representing Dundee.
Print City, put together by print artists from the DCA and Dundee University, will take place over the five days and will involve screen printing a collage of images on pieces of cardboard, which will then be put together to create a cardboard version of the city.