African & African-Caribbean Design Diaspora Partners: British European Design Group
The London based British European Design Group is a key force in the promotion of the UK creative industries in the United Kingdom, Continental and Eastern Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Hong Kong and the People’s Republic of China.
Since its foundation in 1991 by German born publicist and economist Karin-Beate Phillips, this 100% self financed, non-profit, non-commercial organisation has achieved an unparalleled track record of success in exporting British creativity and creative services worldwide.
The BEDG has been instrumental in identifying and establishing lasting professional contacts and linkages between UK based designers, studios, organisations and institutions and their foreign counterparts. In addition the BEDG has been providing a broad variety of business advice and assistance to creative professionals on a regular basis as part of the organisation’s free consulting services. This includes assistance in business development and strategic planning, finance, research and product development, advice in legal issues such as patenting, licensing and service contracts, sourcing of manufacturing potential, marketing, branding and promotion.
Since 1994 the BEDG has been acting as a sponser for government funding schemes offering financial assistance for UK based businesses to attend foreign trade fairs, seminars, inward and outward missions.
On the cultural side the BEDG initiates, curates and organises major international exhibitions showcasing the creative and commercial potential of the UK creative industries.
The BEDG is also frequently commissioned to design, organise and realise campaigns and exhibitions in other sectors than the creative industries by major international organisations and institutions.
In the educational sector the BEDG has been promoting leading British art and design colleges and universities such as the Royal Collage of Art, the Helen Hamlyn Research Foundation, the University of the Arts London and its constituent colleges, Bucks University, Kingston University, Manchester University, Glasgow School of Art, Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication and the Arts Institute at Bournemouth in international exhibitions and trade fairs.
The BEDG has always been concerned with highlighting the potential of regional talent and was the first organisation in this sector to actively promote creativity from British regions including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The BEDG has been one of the first members of Design Partners, the joint industry/government body, which works to increase the UK’s international design business.
The BEDG is an ATO-Accredited Trade Organiser in the Creative Industries Sector Panel of the United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI).
