Although April 23 has passed, it’s not too late to support By Design Day 2011, which raises money for Behind the Scenes in the US and Canada and Light Relief in the UK. Some of the industry’s top designers pledged that day’s royalties to the two charities while others are choosing to make a straightforward donation. By Design Day is being championed this year by an illustrious group of international designers from a number of design disciplines including Neil Austin, Ken Billington, Paule Constable, Jonathan Deans, Rick Fisher, Howard Harrison, Scott Lehrer, Tony Meola, Scott Pask, Ken Posner, Jennifer Tipton, and Hugh Vanstone.

Royalties have been pledged from shows on stages all over the world including Hamlet and Moonlight (Jon Clark); Warhorse, Clybourne Park, and Les Mis 25th Anniversary Tour (Constable); La Cage Aux Folles (Deans and Nick Richings); Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Deans and Nick Schlieper); Billy Elliot and Sweeny Todd (Fisher); Arcadia and Rock of Ages (Gregory Gale); The Book of Mormon and The House of Blue Leaves (Pask); Umbrellas of Cherbourg (Malcolm Rippeth); Ghost and Tanz der Vampire (Vanstone).

Established in 2007 as Light Relief Day and now renamed By Design Day, April 23 is the day that, each year, people in the professional entertainment design business give something back to help others less fortunate than themselves. Light Relief assists those involved in the UK lighting industry while Behind the Scenes aids professionals based in the US and Canada working in any area of the entertainment technology industry.

Whether it’s recovering from an injury that prevents someone getting out and doing their job, or something more serious, Behind the Scenes and Light Relief are there to help. But in order to do that, they need your help. We’re asking you to give a day’s royalties or make a donation in support of By Design Day. And you can be sure the money will be put to good use.

To join your colleagues and pledge your support, please visit Behind The Scenes or Light Relief.