Rise and Design - Design in the Heritage Sector

Northumberland has more castles than any county in England, and in fact the whole region is full of stately homes and historic buildings, stretching back to Hadrians Wall and beyond.

But there's a place for the most advanced technology to monitor, maintain and care for these valuble assets to our region.

So we'll be hearing about just some of the ways that great design and innovation is not just keeping these places alive, but helping breathe new life into them.

Speakers include -

Colin Kelly, MAADigital

Colin and his team create ‘unforgettable immersive experiences’, whether they be digital twins, simulations, immersive landscapes, or augmented, virtual and mixed reality. And if you don’t know what those things mean, well now’s your chance to find out.

MAAD have worked on a number of heritage projects, creating immersive experiences that take people back in time to see what life was really like as, for instance a Roman soldier on Hadrian’s Wall.

Colin will tell us about these and much more.

Adrian McEwen, Museum in a Box

We all love a museum, but we can’t aways get to them. And for many people it’s simply not possible at all. So what about a museum that comes to you. Museum in a Box is just that - a small acrylic box that comes with a collection of objects – 3D prints, postcards, documents, maps and the like; anything you can pick up and touch – and which can be sent anywhere in the world!.

And we mean anywhere. There are boxes in the University of Melbourne, the Swedish National Heritage Board, The Smithsonian Institute and the National Museum of Iraq, as well as all over the UK.

Adrian will tell us more, and how you could commission your own.

Owen Weightman, 3D Virtual Spaces.

There are other reasons why someone may not be able to visit a museum. They may have a disability or mobility issues, or or perhaps are nervous about being amongst lot of people. Owen is busy creating creating digital versions of many local heritage locations such as Newcastle Castle, Lindisfarne Castle, Durham Cathedral, Black Friars, etc.

These digital versions allow people with disabilities to understand what they can see depending on their mobility capabilities, allow people who can’t reach certain areas of the castle to have a virtual experience, and familiarise neurodivergent people who want to visit but are too nervous because they don’t understand the environment.

As well as those who aren’t lucky enough to live in the North East, who would like to ‘visit’.

So join Owen on this virtual heritage tour.

Rise and Design lasts for approximately three hours, and includes networking before and after speakers. There is a chance to pitch at the end of the speakers' presentations, and you can book a stand for the whole event. We encourage all delegates to stay after presentations for networking - it is one of the most valuable parts of Rise and Design.