Programme director John Thackara shares his views on a new approach to design.
North East England has a strong heritage around design and innovation.
Visit the official Design Event website to get all the news from the region's annual design festival.
Dott 07 resides in The Robert Stephenson Centre. The building is almost 200 years old.
North East High Tech - Then and Now
Image copyright top left clockwise: Dawn Endico, Thristian, Ary, Sgt Fun, Saaby, Secretlyrobotic (Flickr)
What do all these guys in white coats do? What is high-tech for?
One of our ambitions in Dott 07 is to involve designers and artists in the serarch for answers. Non-technical people can imagine uses and applications for high-tech that researchers, being too close to their subject, often cannot.
In all Dott projects we encourage designers and artists to explore the North East's research labs and then propose practical uses of all this new technology that the boffins may not have thought of.
We also encourage designers to exploit the engineering skills that made the North East famous.
Stephenson father and son, for example, devised the modern railway. The prototype for a steam traction engine already existed - but it had an alarming tendency to blow up. The Stephensons created a version that ran on iron rails: The Rocket.
Dott 07 is based in one of the original Stephenson Company workshops. We still have the first rail in the railway age standing in a corner to inspire us!
One of our ambitions in Dott 07 is to involve designers and artists in the serarch for answers. Non-technical people can imagine uses and applications for high-tech that researchers, being too close to their subject, often cannot.
In all Dott projects we encourage designers and artists to explore the North East's research labs and then propose practical uses of all this new technology that the boffins may not have thought of.
We also encourage designers to exploit the engineering skills that made the North East famous.
Stephenson father and son, for example, devised the modern railway. The prototype for a steam traction engine already existed - but it had an alarming tendency to blow up. The Stephensons created a version that ran on iron rails: The Rocket.
Dott 07 is based in one of the original Stephenson Company workshops. We still have the first rail in the railway age standing in a corner to inspire us!
But if the 19th century was boom time for engineering innovation in the region, much of the 20th saw bust: In the latter half, coalmining, shipbuilding and engineering industries largely disappeared.
But in recent years the North East has diversified and renewed its science and engineering base. Our new industries include world leaders in underwater robotics, tidal power generation, telecommunications and pharmaceuticals. Internationally recognised companies such as Barbour, Berghaus, and Tommee Tippee, Sage and Formica are all based here. The Centre for Life is at the forefront of medical and scientific research.
Newcastle Science City is a integration of science and technology research and development and urban development. It will provide a new opportunity to boost the economic and social development of the City, the Region, and the North as a whole. Science City will develop projects that use the City Centre environment as a focal point for concentrated science-based development, contributing significantly to economic prosperity and growth.
High Tech Strengths of North East England
The New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC)
NaREC is a Centre of Excellence, fast-tracking concept evaluation, feasibility studies and prototype evaluation and testing through to early commercialisation.
Renewable Energy at a Local Level (REALL)
A partnership of community organisations, local authorities, businesses, agencies and other bodies which seeks to promote the development and awareness of renewable energy initiatives by local groups in the rural areas of Northumberland and Durham.
The Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences (CELS)
CELS exists to drive growth of the healthcare & life science economies of North East England.
The Centre of Life (LIFE)
Brings together science and biotechnology, research and education, entertainment and ethics. An imaginative programme of exhibitions and events, to raise standards in science education for young people and to engage everyone in contemporary science issues, such as climate change and stem cell technology.
Institute for Ageing and Health (IAH)
Brings brings together clinical, basic, and social scientists in partnership with colleagues in the National Health Service and older people. The IAH builds upon a long tradition of outstanding clinical research on age-related disorders.
Centre of Excellence for Nanotechnology, Micro and Photonic Systems (CENAMPS)
Aimed at entrepreneurs and leaders from industry, academia and government, our services focus on bridging the gap between scientific and commercial innovation.
The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI)
Established by One NorthEast as a UK wide resource to stimulate and drive innovation within the Process Industry. Working with global industry partners and leading research universities we are committed to delivering world-class, groundbreaking applied research and development.
Photonics Materials Institute
Brings together the world leading research groups in Durham working with organic optical materials. Activities range from synthesis through to devices fabrication and testing in areas as diverse as organic light emitting displays to adaptive optics for astronomy.
The Plastic Electronics Technology Centre (PETeC), formally known as the Direct Write Technology Centre (DWTC)
The Centre will offer a full range of product development services including application and technology roadmapping, market intelligence, product design and prototyping, fabrication, systems integration, validation and low volume manufacturing capabilities.
