Support organisation Design Initiative has closed its doors due to lack of funding. The organisation ran for 20 years and supported thousands of designers in the North West.
Offices in Manchester and Liverpool have now closed and its four staff members have been made redundant. Design Initiative its Arts funding pulled in March 2011 and continued to lose funding from various sources ever since.
Originally founded in 1992 as Liverpool Design Initiative, the organisation later opened offices in 2000 and soon branched out further into the North West. They provided information and advice for a large number of designers. In a statement Design Initiative said it was successful in "directly assisting 2,300 designers, makers and artists to generate sales to the value of £15 million and helping to create over 150 jobs".
Roger Morris, chair of Design Initiative's board, said: "During its 20 years in existence, Design Initiative has had a substantial impact on the growth and continued success of the design and contemporary craft sectors."
"It has enabled thousands of designers to establish, grow and sustain their businesses. It has also retained the talent of designers, makers and artists in the region, to ensure they are part of a thriving community and a centre for dynamic creative practice."
"The organisation would like to take this opportunity to thank all of its staff, funders and sponsors - past and present - for their support over the last 20 years. Without their efforts, Design Initiative would not have been able to accomplish what it has done."
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