UNITED KINGDOM

Design Museum
28 Shad Thames
London SE1 2YD
England
Tel: +44 (0)20 7940 8790
http://www.designmuseum.org/

THOMAS HEATHERWICK CONRAN FOUNDATION COLLECTION

17 January - 21 March 2004
How would you spend £30 000 on 'things you'd like to live with'? That is the challenge facing Thomas Heatherwick, the acclaimed designer, architect and sculptor chosen by Sir Terence Conran as curator of the latest Conran Foundation Collection. Heatherwick is spending the money on 'ingenious inventions' to be displayed at the Design Museum as Thomas Heatherwick Conran Foundation Collection from 17 January to 21 March 2004.

After scouring factories, shops and markets all over the world, Heatherwick has found objects which, he believes, embody 'an idea big or small' that inspired someone to design and make them. Some are mass manufactured products from high street chains. Others are amateur inventions, specialist tools and things that caught his eye on street stalls. His choices range from Japanese eyelid glue, to a biodegradable cardboard coffin and technicolour ketchup. 'I've always been fascinated by inventions, especially ones which were anonymously designed and are often overlooked', said Heatherwick.

A DESIGN SHOW - BIG AND SMALL AND SET TO INSPIRE LONDON

BSN: 0403E
STORY: CONRAN FOUNDATION COLLECTION
LOCATION: LONDON, ENGLAND
DATE SHOT: JANUARY 16, 2004
TXN DATE: JANUARY 16, 2004
AUDIO: NATURAL SOUND AND ENGLISH SPEECH
DURATION: 02.17

SHOT LIST:
(January 16, 2004, London, UK)
1. Wide shot, Conran Foundation Exhibition
2. GVs, exhibition
3. SOT (English speech) super: Libby Seller, Curator, Design Museum:
"The idea behind each...
4. Establisher, Donald Bonasia
5. SOT (English speech) super: Donald Bonasia, Forkchops Flatware:
"It's a combination...
6. Various items from exhibition

SUGGESTED INTRO:
London's Design Museum has opened its tenth exhibition for the Conran Foundation Collection -- a selection of 'ingenious objects' from around the world. Items this year have been chosen by acclaimed sculptor and building designer Thomas Heatherwick.

SCRIPT:
This collection of curious everyday items have been collected from shops, bazaars and factories all over the world. Some are mass-produced products from High Street chain stores, others are amateur inventions from specialist shops. The 1,000 objects which make up this year's exhibition were selected by Thomas Heatherwick and funded to the tune of 000 by
the Conran Foundation.

SOT (English speech) super: Libby Seller, Curator, Design Museum:

"The idea behind each of the objects is that they have struck Thomas as being curious in some way -- curious about how they were thought of, somebody sat down and thought, 'actually that's a good invention' or 'I am going to make it like this', or 'this would be better if it has this added onto it', and he wasn't looking for things that made statements about cultures per se, but things that he found intriguing and obviously being British born and based, going to somewhere like Turkey he is going to be introduced to all sorts of amazing things that spark off the senses, so he brought back a lot of curious items from his travels."

The exhibition celebrates functional design. American designer and manufacturer Donald Bonasia is very pleased that his 'Forkchop' is featured.

SOT (English speech) super: Donald Bonasia, Forkchops Flatware:

"It's a combination fork and knife and a pair of chopsticks. I created this so people can eat in any language and feel comfortable. Being in this exhibition is very exciting because it's about good design with function and also having some fun!"

Each object is exhibited in a wooden box with a glass front, making it ideal to show in other parts of the world. The Museum is considering touring with 100 selected items later in the year. The complete exhibition is on at the Design Museum in London until March 21st 2004.