what we are about

FUSE was born out of DESIGN SUSSEX which in turn, like so many current things, was conceived during the Covid lockdown.

We saw how many more creative people realised that working remotely out of the city, in a relaxed and inspiring environment not only suited their lifestyle, but also offered new opportunities for themselves and their families.

That said, many also missed the city buzz, the easy access to like-minded people and services!

Here in our quarter of the South East, we are fortunate to live in a combination of established creative communities and an inspirational environment. What was lacking was an accessible, broadly based facilitating organisation to bring these elements together. What used to be local Arts Clubs have mostly faded away, many other organisations are very corporate or restrictive and do not offer the opportunity to turn up, meet good people and just see what emerges!

DESIGN SUSSEX offered just such gatherings focused on our locality in and around Rye in East Sussex. We held various informal and more formal events such as the Rye Design and Decor Day, to promote local built environment creative services to the public. However, we found the narrow regional focus too restrictive once lockdown impediments were a thing of the past. We are surrounded by new established creative places such as Dungeness, Folkestone - now a creative hotbed - as well as Hastings, Bexhill, St Leonards and Newhaven.

Our new identity, conceived by Hastings based GOOD COMPANY and ourselves truly reflects what we are about: fusing together like-minded creative professionals in a way that is enjoyable and effective. Conversations that lead to collaborations. Collaborations that result in new projects. Tangental connections that create new ways of working together.

So, join us - FUSE with us! - and help make your area into a centre of creativity, a hive of activity and any other cliché you can think of!