“We are really excited to announce that the DCH is now live on Guild,” says Claire Blyth, DCH co-founder and Managing Director of Red Setter. “It’s a really easy messaging platform to use; it’s free and most importantly it provides a direct way for young designers to connect and benefit from the expertise of industry leaders who have been kind enough to put their support behind the DCH and its goals of connecting the industry and keeping it alive.”

Deborah Dawton, Chief Executive, Design Business Association and DCH co-founder, adds, “Right now it’s never been more important for the design industry to come together. For agency leaders, the DCH is a great way of giving back via mentoring, portfolio reviews, skills sharing and internships.

“For young designers having access to some of the industry’s leading founders and creatives who are willing to share their time is huge, never seen before on this scale and commitment. The support we continue to receive to grow the DCH and what it can offer is hugely inspiring for all of us involved.”

The DCH founders would like to thank all the agencies it has worked with already. The hub is still welcoming more support, either through time or financial contributions.

More information is on the DCH hub here and through the Guild mobile app’s groups section.

With the pandemic affecting the events sector in 2020, this year’s festival marks a welcome return to form with a host of live events across the city. 

The week-long programme features an exciting mix of exhibitions, workshops, installations, creative careers advice, presentations, and live music, open to everyone, entirely for free. 

This year’s theme, What a Pickle!, is a light-hearted exclamation about the multiple and complex crises we face as a society today. 

“We’re living in challenging times. Multiple and complex issues around mental health and wellbeing, the housing system, the biodiversity and climate crises, poverty, inequality, racism, and increasing uncertainty about the future can often leave us feeling powerless and fearful. York Design Week 2021 sets out to ask: What if we weren’t in such a pickle? What would that look, feel and be like? How could we design a way there? And how can we work together to do this?” explained YDW Co-Founder Rebecca Carr.

An invitation to come together and explore possible solutions openly and collaboratively, YDW’s weeklong events will celebrate creativity and problem solving through play, conversation, collaboration, and by taking a tumble into the unknown.