This year 's UK Design Week event , held at the Birmingham NEC between 10 and 12 October , provoked criticism on social media after young women dressed as Las Vegas showgirls were featured on a company stand . Tom Smith , the editor of The B1 M , commented in a LinkedIn post that he found it " incredible " that organisations did not speak out at the time . As an industry we talk a lot about improving equality and diversity, specifically the serious need to attract and keep women in built environment professions, but when something takes place that goes directly against these aims, our publications and institutions do and say nothing. The Chartered Institute of Architectural Architects later said in a statement : " We do not endorse this representation in any form , " while RIBA said : " We will be sending reassurances about the event ’ future guidance to exhibitors on these matters . "
This year 's UK Design Week event , held at the Birmingham NEC between 10 and 12 October , provoked criticism on social media after young women dressed as Las Vegas showgirls were featured on a company stand . Tom Smith , the editor of The B1 M , commented in a LinkedIn post that he found it " incredible " that organisations did not speak out at the time . The Chartered Institute of Architectural Architects later said in a statement : " We do not endorse this representation in any form , " while RIBA said : " We will be sending reassurances about the event ’ future guidance to exhibitors on these matters . "