Introducing Design Week’s new editorial team

We are excited to introduce the new Design Week editorial team that will lead the relaunch of the platform later this autumn. 

Rob Alderson joins as Editor, and Clare Dowdy will be our new Senior Writer. 

Rob was previously Editor-in-Chief of It’s Nice That, where he led content across digital, print, events and commercial partnerships. He went on to join WeTransfer, where he set up the brand’s storytelling platform, WePresent, and later Vimeo, where he was Director of Community & Engagement. He has written for Dezeen, Creative Review and The Financial Times Magazine, among others. 

Clare was previously part of the Design Week team under Lynda Relph-Knight. She has written for a wide range of publications including  Wallpaper*, Monocle, BBC.com, The Guardian, Blueprint and the Financial Times, where she had a regular design column. 

She is also an experienced events moderator, chairing panels at The London Design Festival and Clerkenwell Design Week. Clare will work three days a week.

Speaking of the new hires, publisher David Coveney said, “We’re re-establishing a whole new Design Week with a strong investment in both design and technology, and a plan to continuously develop the product. But Design Week’s new branding, design and technology would be nothing without the right editorial team.

“Rob will bring dynamism, enthusiasm and a deep knowledge of the design industry, and he’ll help us find the niche that makes us a valuable resource to readers and design buyers. Rob is based in Sheffield, and I’m based in Liverpool, which means we can cover a lot of ground outside of London.

“When it came to hiring a Senior Writer, Clare’s experience and knowledge made it an easy decision. She worked for many years on Design Week during its heyday, and being London-based, she will help us to cover the city’s incredibly dynamic design landscape.  

“Together with our freelancers, our design team, and our developers, I believe that Design Week’s future is going to be incredible, and bring it back to leading the way on UK design reporting.”

Rob Alderson said, “It’s a huge privilege to lead this nearly 40-year-old media brand into its new era. There are lots of platforms doing terrific work covering the creative world, but we see some white space for a re-energised Design Week to serve and engage the design community. 

“I’m delighted to be working with Clare, who brings not only a deep understanding of the Design Week DNA, but a rich and varied knowledge of the design world which will drive our new plans. 

“We have lots of ideas, but we’re also keen to hear from people in and around the design world to make sure we’re building something that provides genuine depth and value.”

Clare Dowdy said, “I’m very excited to be involved with this revived Design Week. I look forward to unearthing lots of inspiring stories about the design industry.”