Design Event at TENT, London Design Festival Design 2012 - Application FAQs
Do I have to submit my application as a powerpoint presentation?
Yes. Your application will be assessed by a panel who will meet to discuss your submission; the powerpoint format makes it possible for the panel to view your application as a group. Your powerpoint presentation should have a simple format with all the requested information clearly legible. Your application will not be assessed on the layout/design of the presentation itself; the panel will make their decision based on the content of your submission.
Can I contact you to discuss my application before I send it?
Yes. You are welcome to get in touch with the Design Event team to discuss any queries you may have before submitting your application. You can call the Design Event office on 0191 265 3537, or email Olivia Ahmad.
Who will the selection panel be?
The members of the Design Event selection panel are yet to be announced, but details will be published on the Design Event website in due course. Previous Design Event selection panel members have included; design lecturers, trend forecasters, design curators and established design practitioners.
The selection panel will be looking for work that demonstrates innovation, and that is of high quality and relevance to a trade audience.
If I am selected to exhibit with Design Event will I be able to exhibit all of the products described in my application?
Not necessarily. The Design Event selection panel will make a selection of your products from your application based on what the panel think are your strongest products and what they think will make the biggest impact on a trade audience and style and design specialist press.
Why do exhibiting designers have to pay an exhibitor fee of £250?
Exhibiting with Design Event at TENT represents excellent value for money; for example stands are sold at a cost of £225 (plus VAT) per m2. The combined exhibitor fees contribute just under 10% of the cost of the showcase exhibition.
In addition to the remaining costs of the exhibition being covered by Design Event and we will feature exhibiting designers in a national press campaign. Designers are also offered professional development support from the Design Event team in advance of the exhibition to help make them tradeshow ready.
Will there be any other costs?
Design Event will cover all the costs of the showcase exhibition, including the production of a colour brochure for the stand with featured designer’s details and a national press campaign. Other than the exhibitor fee, designers will be responsible for the cost of return travel to London and their accommodation whilst in London. The exhibition is open for four full days.
What level of sales can I expect to make?
Designers exhibiting with Design Event at 100% Design in 2010 received an overwhelming response from exhibition visitors. Corporate and private sales and commissions totalled over £51,000. In addition, contacts were made with major retailers and manufacturers and new stockists were sourced. Your presence for the duration of the exhibition and appropriate preparation and after-event follow-up is essential for making sales and maintaining new contacts. The Design Event team are available to support you to become tradeshow ready so that you can maximise the benefits of exhibiting.
What will the stand design be?
The Design Event stand will be designed in response to the selected products so that each product is displayed to best effect and so that diverse products work together as a collective. Design Event’s 2010 stand had a very open layout which maximised the visibility of products from different approach points. The stand build was simple and used Design Event’s brand colours of black, mid-grey and yellow to allow the products themselves to take prominence.
Design Event will go through the stand design with each exhibitor once it has been confirmed.
Design Event will produce an information panel to accompany each of your products on the stand. This will include information about your product, your practice and your contact details. The information panel ensures that your work is differentiated and clearly attributed to you.
Were you originally exhibiting at 100% Design?
Yes, we were going to exhibit at 100% Design but due to changes in the layout and format we have decided that this year we will exhibit with TENT London.
Do I need to attend the exhibition?
Yes. Attending the exhibition for the four day duration will maximise the benefits you will gain from exhibiting. Benefits of attending in person will include:
- increased likelihood of sales at the event
- increased likelihood of post-event sales
- direct feedback from visitors
- increased networking and press opportunities
- stronger connections with interested parties
- ability to discuss partnership and collaboration with interested parties
- building on your presentation and sales skills
Design Event staff will also be present for the duration of the exhibition to support you and to collate visitor contact details which will be distributed to exhibiting designers after the exhibition.
What else do I need to do?
You will need to submit some information about your products and practice and some high-quality high resolution images of your products to Design Event by 1 May 2011. Design Event will send you a form to complete when you are invited to exhibit.
In order to maximise on potential sales at the exhibition, you will need detailed information on the costing of your product, including both wholesale and retail prices. You will also need to know about timescales for production of your product so that you can answer visitor queries on order times. Design Event will advise you on ways that you can market your appearance at Tent London through your own website and social media platforms etc in advance of the exhibition.
Why do I need to submit an image of my product so far in advance?
Design Event will manage a national press campaign to promote the stand at London Design Festival. National style and specialist design publications request content months in advance of publications being released. Supplying images in advance maximises the press opportunities for your work.
Do I need to produce my own print-based marketing material?
Design Event will produce press packs and a colour brochure featuring information about your practice, your products, your contact details and colour images of your products. This brochure will be available from the stand. You are welcome to bring your own brochures and business cards for limited use on the stand, however there will be limited storage space available on the stand itself.
When do I need to pay the exhibitor fee?
The fee of £250 is to be received by Design Event by 29 June 2011. Payment can either be paid in full or paid in two instalments of £125 (the first instalment is to be paid by 31 May 2011).
How do I pay the Design Event exhibitor fee?
Fees can be paid by cheque or by direct bank transfer. Further details of where to direct these payments will be given in confirmation of your offer to exhibit.
