See their work in the Festival Terrace shop or online here.

Q: What three words best describe your work/style?

Eclectic, stylish, British

Q: Who, or what, inspired you to become a designer-maker?

I think I was inspired by the hours and hours of plasticine moulding and collage making with my Mum when I was small. From school homework, to nativity costumes to overseeing the production line for my degree show and steam pressing my MA collection – she’s seen it all and been there every step of the way.

Q: When are you at your most creative?

When I don’t think about something becoming a viable end product – often enjoying the freedom of a process and its outcomes is the most exciting part of the journey. The hard part is realising that something could be sold in store and then having to find ways to streamline it into a viable product. Sounds a lot easier than the realities and practice of small batch production.

Q: What can’t you work without?

Coffee, music and V5 black inky pens…

Q: What projects are you currently working on?

I am currently looking at manufacturers who will be able to produce a small range of table ware for me. It’s exciting and daunting at the same time, as it means giving the production over to somebody else and hoping their standards are exacting as my own. I am also taking some time out to develop some ideas that I have had for a long while – things that won’t make me a lot of money (if at all) but will feed the soul.

Q: What’s the best thing about having a studio at Cockpit Arts?

Having such brilliant makers next to you to discuss work when things are good but especially when they are going a bit wrong – empathy is a wonderful thing to have around you when you are small business, especially as many of us are often in the same boat. 

Q: What difference has receiving support as part of the Commercialising Creativity Project and winning the Cockpit Arts/Camden Recycling prize made?

I was really lucky to have received ERDF manufacturing advice and the Cockpit Arts Recycling prize in 2011 both awards helping my business in different ways.

The ERDF funding paid for manufacturing mogul, Nigel Rust, to analyse my entire product range and production processes with a fine tooth coomb to ensure that my products are as cost efficient and competitive as possible – especially important in these difficult financial times. Nigel has also drawn up and encouraged a speared sales strategy going forward – the first of my career!

The Camden Recycling Award will enable my new range of ceramics to be packaged beautifully yet sustainably – small changes that I plan to cascade across all other product ranges in 2012/13.

Q: What three pieces of advice would you give a maker setting up business for the first time?

Take your time and don’t worry too much as you’ll learn a lot along the way, try to be principled and stick to it (this is much harder than it seems at times!) don’t forget your work-life balance and to enjoy your business (one of my resolutions for 2012!)

You can read more about Catherine’s work and business on her website.

And if you would like to get some advice on making your workplace and  processes more efficent as Catherine did from Manufacturing expert Nigel Rust, come along to the workshop: Lean Manufacturing for designer-makers starting on 22 February.

And read more about the other workshops open to designer-makers with their own businesses on our workshops page.

Business can sometimes be a little like running through a minefield blindfolded, however with good planning and a large pinch of common sense it can be both personally fun and commercially rewarding.

The old adage of “failing to plan” equates to “planning to fail” holds true in that having a clear set of objectives and targets for the forthcoming trading period is more important than ever in the increasingly competitive market place.

Sales forecasting for the coming year is not an exact science, however if done with common sense and open eyes and minds for the markets you trade in it can be an extremely valuable tool in your business plans.

The bottom line is to have “Sales Targets” set in place that breaks down into quarterly, monthly and weekly numbers. In this way you can plan and prioritise how and where you will sell, to who you will sell and for what prices.

Quite simply if you don’t hit your weekly or monthly targets you need to do more in terms of pro-active selling and promotional activities. Targets need to be achievable at least, don’t set the bar too high but make sure you review how the plan is progressing and be prepared to re-visit your forecast and to stay focused on driving sales forward.

What informs an accurate forecast?

• Current market trends (research and personal and contemporary experience)
• Market analysis, growth and decline
• Customer demand (current and previous, seasonal, peaks and troughs etc)
• Global economic climate (do your sell abroad or source materials from outside the UK and what are the risks to your business)
• New business vs. existing business (what is your priority?)
• Alternative offerings (competition and similar products and services, make sure your USP is robust)

Ask yourself the following?

• How many new customers can you expect to gain in the New Year?
• What might the value and volume of those sales be?
• How many existing customers can you expect to lose?
• How can you plan to retain existing customers?
• What is your customer breakdown by market, type and product and what might it be this year?
• What is the average level of sales per customer type, and what might it be this year?
• What is the level of spend per market segment and how might it change this year?
• What are you best selling products, who buys what and what might it be this year?
• What is the trend in spending with each of your customers and market place?
• What level of spare capacity and resource do you currently have? Will this rise or fall?

Top tips for generating a forecast

• Generate a month by month plan
• Consider how your sales plan will affect your production plans.  For instance so you need to communicate your plans to your suppliers or outworkers so they can plan accordingly?
• Make targets achievable and realistic and review on a regular basis
• Ensure resources are in place (materials, packaging, production time etc)

Top Tip:

If you have a realistic and achievable forecast in place it will help you identify problems and take advantage of opportunities and more importantly …. Act accordingly

Grant Baker
Grant Baker joined EEF (The Manufacturers Association) in 2005 and worked on the London MAS program for 4 years where he gave advice to small businesses on taking their products to manufacture and product development before moving to the South East team to deliver manufacturing and innovation services to the South East region of the UK. 

Grant worked as an advisor to a group of Cockpit Arts designer-makers as part of the Commercialising Creative Content project funded by the ERDF, he worked with businesses to resolve issues around production development, production, distribution and selling via one-to-one meetings, email and phone support.  In subsequent blog posts you’ll hear more from the advisors and makers involved in the project through more top tips and feedback.

Images: From top: Sian Zeng and Sue King in their studios.

And take a peek at Cathy Hogan, Buyer for Heal’s ‘Christmas Picks’  and read our news pages to find out more about the weekend’s attractions.

We look forward to seeing you there…

Holborn:

Fri 25 November (11am-9pm)
Sat 26 – Sun 27 November (11am-6pm)
Tubes: Holborn, Chancery Lane & Russell Square

Directions, Map and Access
Download the Studio Guide PDF
Download the E-flyer
Join the Event on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter

And next weekend in Deptford:

18-22 Creekside, London, SE8 3DZ
Fri 2 December (11am-9pm)
Sat 3 – Sun 4 December (11am-6pm)
One Stop from London Bridge to Deptford or DLR to Deptford Bridge.

Map, Directions and Access
Download the Studio Guide PDF
Download the E-flyer
Join the Event on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter

We are a Social Enterprise and the proceeds from this fundraising event help support designer-makers.
Free Fri 2 Dec, £3 Sat & Sun. Free entry age 15 and under.

Work pictured by Abigail Brown

Four Cockpit Arts studio holders were interviewed and the films also feature expert guidance and advice from IP specialist lawyers at Briffa. To view these excellent resources go to the Own It website or YouTube where you can down load the following films.

Hear jeweller Angie Boothroyd talk about her experiences of selling in ‘How to Have a Good Trade Show – the legal and organisational framework’.

Find out about how to commission a customer focussed website with ceramicist Jo Heckett via ‘Your On-line Showcase – from commissioning a designer to good customer service’.

Listen to jeweller Ruth Tomlinson discuss working to commission in ‘Approaches to Selling Part 1 – making it yourself’ and hear ceramicist Helen Johannessen talk about  licensing and outsourcing production in her film ‘Approaches to Selling Part 2 – working with produces and manufactures’.

Cockpit Arts will be partnering Own It on 21 March 2012 for our spring seminar ‘Making It: Licensing’ an evening event focussing on the different ways in which designer-makers can license their products and protect their IP.  Watch this space for further information.

Did you find the videos helpful? Let us know what you think.

Catherine Hammerton prides herself on her businesses’ ethically sound production policies and all her wallpapers and home accessories are 100% designed and made in the UK. With the £500 prize money she will be developing new packaging and branding options for her, soon to be launched, ceramics range which will take advantage of existing materials by giving them a second life including using old copies of the Financial Times!

The runner up for the prize is fashion designer Lena Santana who will be working on a one-to-one consultancy basis with the charity Global Action Plan who ran out recent eco packaging workshop.

Find out more about Catherine’s plans for the prize money on her blog which will be updated shortly.

Last Friday I caught up with silversmith Ndidi Ekubia (pictured below with ceramicist Andrew Wicks) at Frome’s Black Swan Arts for the opening of ‘Silver’ a new showcase celebrating their 25th Anniversary.

Black Swan Arts invited Ndidi to curate the show and she asked a diverse group of makers to stretch their imaginations by creating pieces of work that responded to the theme of silver.

The result was a wonderful selection of work including a number of makers from Cockpit Arts such as: Hannah Bedford (jewellery), Adele Brereton (jewellery – pictured left), Ndidi Ekubia (silver), Amber Khokhar (wall pieces), Jennifer Kidd (jewellery), Sue King (glass), Terri Leahy (embroidery), Billy Lloyd (ceramics), Lucy Martin (jewellery), Katharine Morling (ceramics), Amanda Ross (wall pieces), Jen Rowland (lampshades and stationery), Louisa Taylor (ceramics), and Allison Wiffen (ceramics).

Ndidi commented on how much she enjoyed wearing a curator’s hat for a change saying: “curating the show at the Black Swan was a huge challenge bringing together the work of 31 artists. I loved every minute of it and would do it again! The Black Swan Arts is a little gem of a building including an education space, artist studios, cafe and shop with the Gallery upstairs”.

The show runs until Saturday 26th November so if you happen to be in the South West make sure you stop by.

Do you feel so overwhelmed by what it takes to make your business more eco-friendly that it stops you doing much about it? Focussing on packaging can really help to start the process, as six Cockpit designer-makers discovered when they met Clair McMullen from environmental charity, Global Action Plan at one of Cockpit’s environmental workshop sessions.

Clair had plenty of simple tips for packaging decisions that not only help cut down on packaging waste (and sometimes make cost savings), but also support your brand image and identity which can pay dividends in the longer term.

- Keep the packaging small and consistent: Instead of larger one size fits all boxes, keep the packaging appropriate to the size of the product and have a range of different size packages. Or, instead of using bought tissue or paper wrapping, why not tie up your work in existing materials like beautiful recycled scarves that are pleasing objects in their own right and add value to the customer offer? 

 - Think about the long term re-use of your packaging: Could you design packaging that would very likely be re-used? Puma looked at alternatives to shoebox packaging and came up with a shoe bag that did away with the need for a box (and then a bag to carry the box), and is nice enough to be reused for everyday shopping. The important thing here is that any bag designed for re-use has to stand a good chance of actually being used, otherwise the energy needed to make that bag is more than a disposable one!

- Think before you buy your packaging (and think alternative!) Buying single-type packaging made of one material only is best-practice purchasing because it makes the end disposal process much easier – and therefore more likely that your packaging will ultimately be recycled in the proper way. Buying boxes which are then applied with sticky tape means stripping the tape off first, so consider buying paper tape from an eco supplier, or jiffy bags with paper wadding. Also think out of the box but in the context of your craft: Wool as an insulating material instead of polystyrene balls for example.

- Collaborate with other designer-makers in your building or studio: There are lots of suppliers of environmental packaging around now but unfortunately it can work out more expensive than conventional packaging. In which case, are there opportunities for clubbing together with other designer-makers to buy, say, a paper or cardboard packaging shredding machine, or to place a larger and therefore more cost-effective order with one supplier?

Watch this space for news on the winner/s of the Cockpit Arts’ Camden Recycling Prize, with innovative ideas on investing £500 on taking your packaging to a new eco-level.

This latest collection of work from Cockpit designer-makers will be on show in the Festival Terrace Shop from 1 October until 31 December, and features designs from Sarah J Miller (sjm Design), Helen Minns and Charlotte Sale. Each maker has also created a special £25 product to celebrate Cockpit’s 25^th Birthday.

Sarah J Miller is best down for her humorous and quirky captions that feature on a range of giftware. Fans won’t be disappointed as she’ll be showing a selection of her mugs and plates along with her festive Christmas decorations that feature a new nativity set - specially designed for Southbank Centre.

In additional to her beautiful collection of stationary and cards Helen Minns will also be showing her digital prints. These latest prints feature silhouetted and patterned images of seasonal birdlife including grouse and peasants in a range of autumnal colours.

Colour also features heavily in Charlotte Sale’s exquisite glassware. She will be showing a collection of her splash bowls in vibrant and rich colours and has also developed a special ‘magnetic adornment’ for vessels or magnetic boards.

So if you are planning to head to the Southbank this weekend to soak up the last of the sunshine, do pop by and take a look!

Abigail Brown can be found on stand B15 showing her unique soft sculpture studies of real and imaginary birds and butterflies.  Crafted from new and reused materials, Abbie’s work is beautifully displayed in vintage curiosity cabinets and is highly sought after so make sure you get in quick before they fly away!

Cockpit Arts Award winner 2011 Billy Lloyd has a striking display at stand C18 .   Billy makes thrown porcelain tableware intended for everyday use and is an exciting addition to the Cockpit family.

Glass is well represented at this year’s show and includes Cockpitter Charlotte Sale at stand E31.  Using hand-blowing techniques, Charlotte’s signature, colourful Spritz pieces are available alongside her work from Acorn Cups and Charms of Natural Science series.   As seen on the BCCs Best of Britsh earlier this year!

Sculptural glass artist James Lethbridge, a previous Cockpit Arts Award winner,  shows his intricate, botanically inspired pieces, which draw their inspiration from twisting vines, microscopic pollen and celestial phenomenon at stand  D20.  James is also showcasing his signtaure style with chandeliers that are available for commission.

Constructing jewellery from small elemental units, Jo Hayes Ward creates intricate sculptural pieces with an architectural aesthetic. Her award winning designs include simple forms that on close inspection dissolve into a filigree of shimmering cubes, striking interlocking gold and diamond rings and bold three-dimensional brooches in gold, silver and aluminium.  Find Jo at stand  D28.

Milliner Karen Henriksen’s stand (D21) was so busy with folk trying on her sculptural, contemporary classics that we couldn’t snap a pic of her or the work!  So here’s a press shot of Karen’s signature Windswept  range of innovative, re-invented classic caps and hats instead!

Kate Wood’s distinctive, delicate beaded jewellery needs to be seen up close and worn to be truly appreciated!  Inspired by natural forms, exploring growth through the accretion of individual elements, Kate creates beautiful collections by meticulously wire-wrapping using oxidised silver and gold vermeil with freshwater pearls and semi-precious stones.

Exquisitely displayed at stand E01 are Katherine Pogson’s leather fashion accessories and body adornments, which explore three-dimensional form.  Here’s Katherine, Cockpit CEO Vanessa Swann and jeweller Jacqueline Cullen enjoying last night’s private view at Katherine’s stand.

Kerry Hastings, selected for one of the display windows by Michele Alger of Liberty, is showing her hand built vessels which use the traditional method of coiling.  Kerry uses stoneware clay coloured with oxides and glazed internally only in contrasting colours.  Alongside her larger asymmetrical vessels are a new collection of tea light holders, which make great (self) gifts!.

Maya Selway’s new collection includes both jewellery and sculptural objects, all created using metals that are ethically produced and 100% recycled.   Fast becoming the collector’s choice and one of Origin selection panel Lee Broom’s favourites, you can find Maya at stand A15.

Also new to Cockpit this year is Rose Ellen Cobb, C48, showing contemporary jewellery in bone china, porcelain and silver. Pattern, textures, such as vintage lace, and colour are at the heart of Rose’s work, which is also reflected in her striking stand display and fabulous packaging.

On stand B05 is Row Pinto with her range of knitwear for fashion and home. Made on her fine gauge, vintage, industrial knit machine which is hand powered, Row is showing work inspired by her love of nature bearing her signtaure stripes.  Row always creates a beautiful display so make sure to get a glimpse!

Jeweller Ruth Tomlinson can be found at stand B28, showing pieces from her five current collections: Flora, Encrustations, Hoard, Sketch and the ‘Diamond and Wedding’ collection.  Ruth’s jewellery is driven by a passion for tiny intricacies, small oddities and a search for preciousness within the world.

Award winning maker Shan Annabelle Valla is showing work from both her ceramic and glass collection this year.  Specialising in luxury interior accessories and commissioned artworks, Shan’s collection ranges from functional products to curious decorative objects that put a subtle twist on the everyday.

Teri Howes has created a stunning display full of impact to showcase her intricate, hand-crochet gold and silver jewellery.  Teri describes her jewellery  “quite literally as drawings in the air or 3-dimensional embroidery – the pencil line or thread replaced with wire. “  This low-tech technique is a gentle, quiet rebellion against today’s world of instant everything and a personal favourite of our CEO Vanessa!

Timea Sido is showing bowls, vessels and tea-light holders all bearing her signature tangled web pattern.  The work challenges conventional ceramics, by using an innovative technique in which delicate organic lines of earthenware clay are layered to create a unique filigree pattern structure.   Another display natural, Timea even makes her own frames!  Stand C12 .

And we also caught up with a whole host of alumni including Hikaru Noguchi (A32) Jo Gordon (C04), Katty Janneh (C31), Lost & Found (E50), Sophie Cook (C43).

Don’t miss your chance to see these and nearly 200 other exceptional makers between now and next Wednesday and let us know who your personal favourites are!

Origin dates and opening hours are Thursday 22nd – Wednesday 28th September 2011
11am –  7pm; the show is open until 8pm on Thursday 22nd September and closes at 5pm on Wednesday 28th September.