Welcome to the Liv Design blog, an eclectic mix of great design and quirky finds

Liv Design's Creative Director, Scott Johnson, will be a live guest on BBC Radio Nottingham this Tuesday 5th May, as part of the Design Heroes feature on the Morning Show with Frances Finn. "It's a real privilege and pleasure to be asked to talk about creativity and design in Nottingham," said Liv Design's Creative Director, Scott Johnson. "There's a huge amount of raw creative talent out there, not only in graphic design but fashion, new media, film, photography and architecture. Many people just don't realise what's right on their doorstep. It's one of the reasons I think Nottingham should be awarded World Design Capital 2012." He adds "Nottingham businesses need to know what's available to them, it would be a great asset for everyone. We should have more local collaborations." Frances Finn is on from 09:00 to 12:00 on BBC Radio Nottingham (95.5 & 103.8FM, DAB and online). The interview will start around 10:00.

Does your Bugaboo pushchair seem a little too common these days? Make your baby stand out from the crowd with these cool accessories! Bugaboo has collaborated with designer Paul Frank to create these limited edition funky items featuring the Paul Frank patterns and characters (Skurvy, Clancy and Julius). There are two Tailored Fabric packs (including fabric for pushchair hood, apron and seat back), and blankets and footmuffs. Perfect for your little monkey...

We've always liked Lacie products. Not only are they robust and perform well but they're stylish and well designed too. And did I mention inexpensive? Take Lacie's new USB Speakers for example (no model name??). Created exclusively for LaCie by Neil Poulton, their unique stylish design was inspired by the Pompidou Center in Paris. Built-in cables tuck neatly under the speakers for a neat, clean look. The simple USB plug-in means there's no need for an adapter or batteries so you can use them anywhere. And they cost less than £30! Neil Poulton is a graduate in Industrial Design from Edinburgh University and Milan's Domus Academy and first achieved recognition as the creator of 'the ageing pens' in 1989 (pens made from a wearing plastic that changed color and form with use). Today, Neil Poulton designs and develops best-selling, award-winning products for a variety of international clients including LaCie & Artemide. Since 1991, Poulton has lived and worke...

We might all be a bit chocced out after easter but surely there's room to check out Willie Harcourt-Cooze's 'perfect' chocolate at www.williescacao.com If you've been watching Channel 4's 'Willie's Chocolate Revolution' recently you'll have seen the eccentric chocolatier obsessively pursue his chocolate dream. The website was created by created by Taxi Studio and Link and Co.

The Nottingham Easter Egg charity motorbike run on Sunday was brilliant. Great to see so many bikes turn out to raise money and collect easter eggs for disadvantaged children in Notts. Great weather helped. Nearly a 1,000 bikes and 1200 people, joined in for a ride from the Forest (Goose fair site) to Mansfield Fire station collecting 1800 eggs, raising £1,000 cash for the kids and over £300 for the Air Ambulance. Our pics will be on soon. More available on Trent FM website: http://www.trentfm.co.uk/PhotoWallPhoto.asp?wallid=51447 Next year's, in it's 30th year, will be on March 28th.

Liv Design were at the event last evening to celebrate Nottingham's bid to be World Design Capital 2012. The event started in the Old Market square with a display by cyclists on Raleigh Choppers – a timeless and iconic design and created here in Nottingham. The event was followed with drinks and presentations at Nottingham's revamped Vienna bar and restaurant. Nottingham has a whole host of creative talent in every area of the creative industries – fashion, textiles, graphic design, photography, film and so on. There are many award winning design and advertising agencies in and around Nottingham, and for a mutually beneficial cause like this it's nice to see that the competitive fight for business is on hold for now! Nottingham has long been a vibrant and stylish city, partly due to it's colleges and universities which are renowned for their creative courses. The winner will announced later this year. For more information visit www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/wdc