From 26-29th June and 3rd-6th July, New Designers is returning to the Business Design Centre in London for its 39th edition. Celebrating UK emerging talent, the event features over 3000 design graduates from more than 100 university courses across various disciplines.
As a double award sponsor this year, Habitat will present a celebratory display of its 60th anniversary collection in a dedicated showcase at the event. Visitors can view and shop an edit of the 60 Years of Design collection, featuring furniture and home accessories that reflect the brand’s past, present and future.
Guest collaborators Simone Brewster (also the presenter for Week 1’s ND Awards), Sebastian Conran, Felix Conran, Margo Selby, Tord Boontje, Silvia Kamodyova and Planq, along with Habitat's in-house designers – many of whom were New Designers alumni, including head of design Andrew Tanner – have reimagined classics from the brand's archives and created new pieces representing future collectibles.
Former New Designers graduates Callum Hall and Guy Selwood-Miller have also been invited to join the anniversary collective, highlighting Habitat’s long-standing relationship with the show.
Meanwhile, a key part of New Designers each year is the extensive programme of talks and workshops curated by alumna Hannah Payne, designed to prepare graduates for future employment. ND Educates offers opportunities to hear from leading brands, designers and industry experts as they share insights into the latest trends and discuss prominent sector themes.
Among the line-up confirmed to date, highlights include: a journey through Laura Ashley's evolution from humble beginnings to a global brand; Habitat offering practical advice for new creatives and sharing the personal career journeys of its designers; an interactive session from PriestmanGoode on the importance of diversity in design and overlooked career opportunities in colour, material and finish (CMF); a panel discussion on the impact of AI on the future of design, featuring designer Jason Bruges and professor Nick Bryan-Kinns; and the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID), exploring how thoughtful interior design benefits both the planet and its occupants.
ND Futures, part of the Schools Days, provides workshops for A-Level, GCSE and BTEC students seeking advice about design courses to pursue at the degree level. These workshops are free to attend and available exclusively to 15-18-year-old students attending New Designers as part of a group booking organised by their school.
Last but not least, new exhibitors have just been announced for ND Selects, including Christophe Ceramics and Studio Patty van den Elshout, joining a line-up featuring Fiona McTaggart, Belinda King Glass, Masao Rong and Iara Talledo Violani.
Find out more here.
