I have just heard about this really interesting festival that’s taking place in Newcastle this week. The Dott 07 festival is for anyone residing in the North East (or anywhere else for that matter) with an interest in sustainability and an eye for good design. Dott (designs of the time)07 festival is the culmination of projects that have been undertaken throughout the North East community, including events and design exhibitions right across the region, exploring what a sustainable life could be like- and how design can help us get there.

The festival brings with it work from the Design Council, that includes new and exciting designers and artists who are exhibiting their work at various locations across the North East, including one particularly sustainable exhibition, the Plastic Recycling Factory. These designs developed by Cohda Design, cleverly reform plastic packaging waste into exciting, and not to mention useful, furniture designs. This particular exhibition will reside in the Fire Station, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle this week. Other venues included in the project are The National Glass Centre, Sunderland and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, as well as many other galleries in the area.

The festival offers some great insights in the development of design and its reaction to our changing climate, and if not more importantly, it draws the community closer together in a bid to help our future environment. Taking place in most schools’ half term, it is also a good chance to teach our youngsters about leading a more future friendly lifestyle. Head down to Baltic Square, Gateshead between 10.00- 18.00 to get involved.