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Renowned critic and author to speak at York Design Awards Launch

11 January 2016:

The York Design Awards is bringing the best-selling author, cultural commentator and award-winning journalist Stephen Bayley to the city as part of its launch of the 2016 awards programme on Tuesday 26th January at Bootham School.

Stephen, who co-created London’s influential Design Museum with Terence Conran and is credited with changing the way the world thinks about design, will deliver a keynote speech to a specially invited audience of around 200 people from the property, architecture, building and development sectors at the annual awards’ launch event.

As a regular contributor to publications including The Telegraph, The Independent, The Times, GQ and Vanity Fair, Stephen is renowned for provocative views on ‘style’ and ‘design’. He has worked as a design and media consultant for leading manufacturers including Ford, Coca-Cola and BMW, and is an Honorary Fellow of the RIBA, an Honorary Fellow of the University of Wales and a Fellow of Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts.  His latest book, Death Drive – there are no accidents, a cultural history of the car crash, will be published in March.

Stephen says he has said many “annoying things”, amongst which he includes: “If you think design is intelligence made visible, it’s dismaying how stupid things seem.”

Janet Hopton, Chair of the York Design Awards says, “It is a privilege to have Stephen Bayley lined up to speak at our 2016 awards launch evening. As a British design and cultural commentator of such eminence, we are really looking forward to hearing his thoughts on what constitutes ‘good design’ in the context of architecture and a city like York. We are sure his presentation will provoke debate amongst those who attend which is always to be encouraged given architecture’s very public arena.”

Founded in 2006 to encourage the highest standards of restoration and refurbishment of existing buildings and reward the best design in new buildings and spaces in York, the York Design Awards are now entering their tenth year. Developers, architects, building owners and homeowners are encouraged to submit their projects for consideration in one or more of the eight categories.

The awards programme operates with the generous support of a number of sponsors who have a strong association with the city. Hiscox, who recently opened their landmark new office building on the city’s Peasholme Green, are once again the main sponsor, with additional high profile sponsors including the Shepherd Group, David Wilson Homes and Arup, as well as local organisations including York Civic Trust and City of York Council.

Details of how to enter the prestigious awards, which are open to builders, architects, developers and building owners, will be available soon at www.yorkdesignawards.org. Winners will be announced and presented with their awards at the presentation evening which takes place on Wednesday 22nd June 2016 at the Ron Cooke Hub.

A limited number of places are available for Press readers to attend the York Design Awards launch event. To apply for a place please email alan@partners-group.co.uk.

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