These graduates show where design is going next
Described as ‘the UK’s largest design graduate show’ by its organisers, New Designers is an annual showcase of some of Britain’s brightest graduate designers. Now in its 39th year, New Designers celebrates the best emerging talent in the UK, bringing together more than 3,000 design graduates from 100+ university courses spanning fashion, textiles, furniture, product design, illustration and more.
This year, the event is taking place at the Business Design Centre in north London over the course of two weeks. The programme includes a roster of talks by major players such as Amechi Mandi under the umbrella ‘ND Educates’, as well as mentoring opportunities and workshops. Visitors to the show will be able to buy or order all of the latest graduate designs on show.
Each year, a select group of rising stars are honoured with an award, which is chosen by a panel of industry judges. The award has launched careers of some of today’s biggest household names, including homeware and furniture designer Bethan Gray. Below, we highlight five of the most promising award-winning talents…
Lucy Martin, winner of the Habitat Future Design Award
Lucy Martin sought to create a collection that combines nostalgia with organic symbolism for ‘Garden of Memories’, a range of wallpapers and linen textiles which she created using block printing, screen printing and hand painting. Judges praised Martin’s ‘use of colour, placement and bold stylised elements in her prints’, stating that her portfolio ‘showed a great talent and breadth of handwriting’.
Amy Gardner, winner of The PriestmanGoode New Designers Award
Loughborough University graduate Amy Gardner has been fast-tracked onto a one-year internship with PriestmanGoode after impressing judges with her project ‘Neo’, a conceptual trainer collection made from innovative materials. ‘My project features customisable footwear inspired by the physical and chemical aesthetic properties of New Zealand,’ she explains. ‘I translated these properties through various textile processes, including heat and colour changing, laser cutting, thermochromic embossing and digital embroidery. The collection explores creating prototypes of footwear products using neoprene and acrylic, showcasing innovative textile techniques.’
Elspeth Munro, Cole & Son Award For Future Designers
Creativity and originality are at the heart of Loughborough University graduate Elspeth Munro’s printed textile and wallpaper collection, ‘In every direction’, which secured her a £1,200 endowment and a tailored six-month paid placement and mentorship at wallpaper and fabric stalwart Cole & Son. Munro drew on her parents’ travels to places like Oman and Kew for the designs, which artfully depict exotic animals such as camels and deer within the dense patterns. Other textiles in the collection meanwhile embrace maximalist patterns such as geometric checks.
Moana Sofia Sidoti, New Designers ND Selects Award
The intersection between baking and design is explored in Moana Sofia Sidoti’s ‘Digitalised Pastry’, as the graduate mixes 3D-printing with traditional icing piping techniques to create sugary vases. ‘My inspiration started from being one of those kids drawn to vanilla and strawberry cupcakes and pastries, and their multicoloured effect,’ she explains. The resulting ceramics, which look like cupcakes one might find in a patisserie, have earned her a spot at next year’s Future Icons Selects exhibition. ‘I wanted to replicate this in my material process, adapting 3D printing for ceramics to achieve colour separation within the extrusion. I built custom piping nozzles and containers for porcelain, allowing me to incorporate different colours inside.’
Charlotte Devereux, The Tu Clothing Creative Pattern & Print Award
Judges championed Charlotte Devereux’s sunny pattern and print collection ‘Al Fresco’ for its diversity and versatility that ‘capture Charlotte’s love of travel’. Reminiscent of a day spent at the Amalfi coast, the cotton and linen is all aquamarine lines, warm red cotton stripes and fresh checks. We can already see it being used to dress outdoor dining tables up and down the country this summer.
