The Lighthouse

Creative businesses make informed and active choices regarding their business models; routes to market, identification of innovative ways to work with others that sustain their operations including the development and realisation of products. This event takes as its starting point the Starter for 6 businesses exhibiting in Model Business at The Lighthouse, Scotland’s Centre for Design and Architecture and will explore these essential business topics.

What to Expect

• An insight into product realisation, developing sales strategies and reaching end users via case studies of Visorcat and FitSip
• Taking inspiration from Jamie Bruski Tetsill’s emerging business Shapes of Things, business model innovation in collaborative and co-creative practice
• Panel discussion with the Starter for 6 businesses, contributors and you exploring the challenges faced in launching a new innovative creative enterprise and the choice of business model to support and sustain this

Who’s Involved

The Starter for 6 businesses are:

The Visorcat is an innovative (UK and European patents pending) and award-winning device that allows motorcyclists to safely clean and wipe their visors while riding. In January 2013 the Visorcat received an ‘IAM Likes’ accolade from the Institute of Advanced Motorists to reflect the organisation’s recognition that the product contributes to road safety. www.visorcat.com will go live in February 2013. Jill Boulton, the Managing Director, is a motorcyclist and former journalist. She said: “We have worked with our customers from the start. We’ve developed the product with our customers, for our customers. They have shown us the way.”

Holding a water bottle when you run is annoying, strapping on a back-pack or bottle belt is overkill, but most runners like to keep their mouth moist when they train. Christine Manson and Belinda Goldsmith, both keen recreational runners, problem solvers and entrepreneurs, created FitSip to solve this dilemma. It’s a sports armband containing a lightweight, refillable 200ml hydration pack, perfect for an hour’s exercise. It’s 100% hands-free and so comfortable, you forget it’s there. FitSip launches in Spring 2013.

Jamie Bruski Tetsill is an innovative designer with a flair for luxury and contemporary design. Having established himself in unique and sophisticated women’s fashion, Jamie’s design expertise has evolved into the realms of luxury accessories and home interior design. Uniting his passion for style and sophistication with his experience and expertise as a designer, Jamie has recently launched Shapes of Things, a unique Scottish design company and label offering collaborative limited-edition products to exclusive clientele.

The Starter for 6 businesses will be in discussion with:

Catriona Duffy and Lucy McEachan are independent curators working in Glasgow across a range of locations, venues and environments. Together, through their company Panel, they work on a project-by-project basis to create a dynamic programme of exhibitions, events and publications that engage public audiences in contemporary design practice. With backgrounds in visual art, design and art history, Panel has extensive experience commissioning and managing a wide variety of pioneering multi-disciplinary cultural projects. Examples of their previous work include The Inventors of Tradition (2011), Scotland Can Make It! (2012) and Carpets of Distinction (2012). In addition to their independent programme, they are Scottish partners of The UK Design Alliance, supported by the Design Council and Creative & Cultural Skills.

Clive Robinson studied Electronics to MSc level at Queen's and Heriot-Watt Universities and spent several years working in the aerospace industry for Ferranti, Edinburgh where he was involved in reliability engineering in Space systems. He worked as a designer, Project Manager and Quality Manager for a small consultancy designing silicon chips and CCD sensors. Since setting up his own business in 1991 to provide technical advice to the engineering industries, he has been heavily involved with several UK DTI and European programmes, focusing on technology transfer to small companies. A Chartered Engineer and a Member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, he regularly sits on expert panels evaluating multi partner, European knowledge transfer projects including Research for SMEs and Microsystems.

The Lighthouse, Scotland’s Centre for Design and Architecture runs a programme of exhibitions and events to support, promote and showcase the best of Scotland’s design and architectural industries. It is committed to nurturing design in Scotland and its relationship with business and industry and offering continued professional development within the Scottish design community.

Starter for 6 is Scotland’s premier start-up and investment programme for creative industry entrepreneurs.

What You’ll Get Out of It

• Inspiration to initiate and sustain your creative business and review your business model
• Insight into the stages of product realisation to support effective forward planning
• Opportunity to network with creatives facing similar business challenges
• Knowledge of the Starter for 6 programme

How to Book
This event is free. Spaces are limited so booking is essential.

To book your place please contact Reception at The Lighthouse, Scotland’s Centre for Design and Architecture on 0141 276 5365 or email information.thelighthouse@glasgow.gov.uk.