MERSEYSIDE’S creative sector has been put under the spotlight at Liverpool’s second annual festival of design.

Liverpool Design Symposium yesterday saw leading designers and design students converge on the city to discuss the theme of Branding The City.

The keynote speaker was Michael Wolff, co-founder of design firm Wolff Olins and one of the world’s leading design experts.

The symposium is itself part of Liverpool Design, a 10-day celebration of the city’s designers and creative industries.

The event was originally created by Liverpool agencies Uniform and Smiling Wolf. It is now supported by national industry organisations D&AD and Design Business Association (DBA), as well as local support bodies Merseyside ACME and Design Initiative.

It was held at Liverpool John Moores University’s new Art and Design Academy.

Nick Howe, managing director of Uniform, said: “This kind of event promotes design in the city and is useful for students and design practices. There aren’t many opportunities for design practices to have a bit of interaction and it’s a good opportunity for everyone to get together and chat about design.”

Double Bafta winner Andy Chambers, director and co-founder of design agency Digit, gave a speech called The Adaptive City: Debranding Our Cities.

He talked about how brands needed to behave more like people and adapt to a “changing world”.

He added: “If your brand is good enough and the product is good enough, then people will find you.”

Deborah Dawton, chief executive of the DBA, joined forces with branding expert Peter Mills to discuss effective design in the public sector.

Yesterday morning was dedicated to design education. It included a talk on the D&AD Student Awards, with general advice for graduating students on how best to present themselves and their work in the current economic climate.

Ian Thompson, creative director at Thompson Brand Partners, also talked to students about “designing effectively to get the best jobs”.

Liverpool Design Festival launched last Friday and runs until Sunday.

Among the highlights so far was the Eco Design Show, held in the Crypt of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. It showcased the work of 30 designers exhibiting interior products, ceramics, furniture, lighting, jewellery and fashion.

Exhibitors included Liverpool designer Ilsa Parry, winner of the recent BBC2 show, Design For Life.