It didn't come as news but Design Initiative have closed after 20 years of operation, all the staff left the Liverpool office some time ago and now it is Manchester's turn as the organisation closes completely.  Design Initive started in Liverpool and had some real success, and was a great resource for artists, designers and commissioners. At one point you couldn't start in business as a creative in Liveprool without first visiting LDI, they had access to information which would help you set up and survive that important first year of trading, but not only did it provide advice and guidance then came the workshops and exhibitions, some which drew the eyes of the national media to Liverpool. I remember well in the early years of LDI the BBC Design Awards exhibtion held at the now old but brand new at the time Alham Robarts Learning Resource Centre. Whatever became of Muriel Gray? 

It is hard to say what the first signs of the decline of Design Initiative were but I think they may have over reached when they tried to run activities across the whole of the North West plus afford the rent of two offices in Manchester and Liverpool, growing to fast without consolidating their foundations. However, in recent years it appeared to have a rennaisance with the annual Liverpool Design Festival but alas underneath it all it was not possible for them to afford two offices and at the end it had lost it's way, it's voice in the industry, in fact it had lost it's initiative.   Goodbye LDI I loved you so.