In 1998, Piers Roberts and Rory Dodd set up SAME, the first contemporary design retailer on Brick Lane in East London, selling UK and Scandinavian designs ranging from furniture to lighting. Later that year, they set up Designersblock, a creative enterprise that curates design shows in innovative architectural sites, and acts as a platform for designers both new and established to showcase their work. When Designersblock launched in London, it brought together work by 35 companies from eight countries, gained a massive following and whipped up a media frenzy. Since 2000, they have been taking Designersblock far and wide, producing and curating shows in cities across the globe, often providing a fresh and well-acclaimed alternative to major design events and trade shows.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING ON RECENTLY ANDWHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE REST OF 2006/2007?
We've been doing shows all over this year; we did ashow in the streets of the Meat packing district in New York, we've also been in Frankfurt and Milan,and we launched Designersblock Istanbul during their Design Week out there. In September, we launched the Designersblock club in Shoreditch,which saw 15 bands, loads of DJs, and a lot ofdancing over a five-night stretch. Yr Mum ya Dadand Princess Julia DJ-ed, and Cantankerous and Paris Motel performed, who were all brilliant. We also showcased a singer called David Sugar, who'snot famous yet, but really ought to be. He doesloads of back flips and plays the Gameboy! More music-based events are definitely on the cards forus, and we'll hopefully make that a monthly event next year. We've just got back from Japan, where we have been doing shows for the past six years,and which is always incredible. Tokyo is so whatwe're about; anything and everything is possibleout there. Its so cutting edge, and we always lovefinding out what people over there are seeing,doing, and wearing, because it's just so different and amazing. As for the rest of the year and into 2007, it'll be ever more shows, ever more countries to branch out into and celebrate.

ARE THERE ANY MUSICAL ARTISTS OR BANDS YOU ARE A FAN OF AND WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH?
We have good connections with the music business, and we know loads of bands on the brink of massive success. We love the idea of having more bands play at our creative events. Bands love performing in unusual venues, which is essentially what we are about. We want to work with The Noisettes, and although we haven't managed to see them yet, I imagine they'd be incredible in one of our spaces. Their singer Shingai Shoniwa has got a wicked voice, and they're berserk. We also really want to work with The Mystery Jets; we very nearly had them and Amy Winehouse playing at one of our events in September, which we would've loved,but unfortunately they'd been touring for ages and needed to take a night off.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU COLLECT OBSESSIVELY?

We try not to collect things too obsessively. We get as much pleasure out of throwing things away as keeping them. But if I had to say one thing, I'd say Designersblock t-shirts!

DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVOURITE PROJECTS YOU’VE WORKED ON OR FAVOURITE COUNTRIES YOU’VE WORKED IN?
Our project in Selfridge's in 2002 was amazing. We worked with loads of designers and did installations for all 17 of their front windows, so we had our very own little Designersblock on Oxford Street. More recently, we loved working in Turkey, and look forward to doing more shows out there. Istanbul is such a vibrant city, and so geopolitically interesting, situated as it is on the brink of both Europe and Asia. Because of its situation, it’s also a place of fascinating crossover in terms of creative impulse and direction. We'd really like to do more projects in Korea, which is almost madder than Japan in a way. It's really rough around the edges, which makes for fascinating designers and shows.

WHO DO YOU SEE AS YOUR CONTEMPORARIES AND WHO DO YOU RATE?
There isn't really anybody else doing what we're doing. We rate anyone who tends towards creating ore exciting environments in which to promote, showcase and celebrate creativity.

www.designersblock.org.uk

WORDS: KATE ABBOTT