Wayne Hemingway at MMU

WAYNE Hemingway gave Manchester its first taste of his new e-design world in a visit to the Hollings Faculty of MMU.

The acclaimed designer was visiting the university to present Land of Lost Content, a web resource described as the 'most comprehensive collection of cultural and design images' in Britain.

A stunning resource for designers in all fields, it boasts five million images from architecture to fashion and furniture to graphic art.

Speaking to students and staff at the Department of Clothing Design and Technology, Hemingway explained: "I see a lot a young people’s ideas from the competitions I judge and to be honest it’s disappointing. I keep seeing the same designs and same influences, whether it be Prada, Alexander or whatever from the latest magazine.

Broaden horizons

"There is a whole design world out there, decades and decades of the most brilliant design, and I’d urge people to broaden their horizons.

"Land of Lost Content is about sharing brilliant design. I hope it will provide an invaluable resource that students can take through college and on to their careers and also provide material for lecturers."

Hemingway, who made millions from his Red or Dead fashion business now runs HemingwayDesign, which creates design concepts for everything from city centres to garden centres.

He was amazed to hear that MMU has around 10,000 students on creative and design type courses, and his advice to students was not to be limited by the subjects they were studying.

A career in design?

The geography graduate said: "Creativity is not something you just apply to fashion. If you are creative, you can be so in any of many different fields. So keep your mind open and be human.

"I look for personality more than talent. Employable graduates need to be nice people, who will fit in well with colleagues."

Land of Lost Content which may soon become an MMU resource, is at www.lolc.co.uk