Part 2 of New Designers was opened by designer and campaigner for creative education, Sir John Sorrell, founder of The Sorrell Foundation. He presented the coveted New Designers Awards to this year’s most talented design graduates in the fields of: Visual Communications (including Graphic Design & Illustration); Furniture & Product Design (including Spatial & Industrial Design) and Motion Arts & Theatre Design.
John says: "I travel all over the world in my role as a Business Ambassador for the UK’s design and creative industries and I am always asked how the UK has achieved its great reputation for design and creativity. Make no mistake – we are seen as the exemplar and everyone wants to know our secret.
"At the heart of my answer is our 150 year-old art and design education system – with colleges and universities of art and design all across the UK. This unique infrastructure has served the nation extremely well and we need to work hard to ensure governments recognise this and give it the positioning and investment it deserves. New Designers is a great example of how to do it - a fantastic showcase of the best emerging design talent in the UK."
The Awards, which are presented in partnership with leading brands and organisations, recognise the design world’s rising stars, offering winners (and runners-up) vital support as they embark upon professional careers. The New Designers Awards winners in Part 2 were:
Business Design Centre New Designer of the Year Award
Prize: £1,500 cash prize plus £1,000 of legal advice from specialist intellectual property lawyer Briffa, £2,000 worth of accounting and taxation advice from accountancy expert Rhodes & Rhodes plus a dedicated half day focus on PR and marketing worth £500
Winner: Eric Downer
University / College: University of Portsmouth – Graphic Design, VC37
Title of work: ‘Everything about one thing’
Judges’ citation: ‘Through his skill as a typographer, Eric has taken the brutal object of the pylon and has used his research to produce a beautifully executed typographic piece’.
Winner’s comment: In design terms, winning this award is like winning the lottery, and great for graphic design. My book is about pylons, but if you dig down with any subject and look beyond the obvious, you’ll find something beautiful that you would never expect.
New Designer of the Year: Runner Up
Prize: £500
Winner: Alex Daniels
University / College: Coventry University – Consumer Product Design, FP3
Title of work: Fuse – one giant leap for walking aids
Judges’ citation: ‘Taking on an unglamorous product, Alex has brought a fresh new approach and an elegant solution to the walking aid. He has made it into an inclusive product suitable for both the elderly and injured.’
Winner’s comment: It is fantastic to be an award winner. New Designers is a great event, there are so many beautiful pieces of design being exhibited and it is amazing to witness the beginning of many future careers. The exposure to the press and to the industry has been great.
New Designers John Lewis Award for Design Excellence and Innovation
Prize: £1,000 cash prize and opportunity to meet the John Lewis team at their HQ
Winner: Kit Shadbalt
University / College: Bucks New University – Contemporary Furniture Design, FP21
Title of work: ‘Ease Trestle’, trestle designed to be changed and adapted to save space
Judges’ citation: ‘A beautiful and innovative interpretation of a traditional trestle design, well-resolved and ready to manufacture. Kit is a clearly very talented designer.’
Winner’s comment: ‘I’m excited about the chance to get ideas seen here at New Designers and now at John Lewis. It’s fantastic to have the John Lewis name associated with my work – it is invaluable for marketing.’
New Designers Wilko Award for Innovation
Prize: £1,000 cash prize and two week placement at Winnovate
Winner: Daniel Brooks
University / College: Loughborough University – Industrial Design Technology, FP24
Title of work: ‘Nüma’, a heatless, energy-efficient indoor clothes dryer that challenges the conventions of white goods
Judges’ citation: ‘We love design when it really demonstrates a true understanding of the everyday life and the challenges it sets. Daniel’s solution is so well thought-through and has a real mass appeal - from students at university through to first-time home owners and people living within limited spaces. We love it!’
Winner’s comment: ‘I wasn’t expecting to win this award. This will really help to kick-start my professional career and it’s great to be recognised by a company like Wilko.’
New Designers Procter & Gamble Award
Prize: Fully paid 9 month design internship at Procter & Gamble’s offices in Geneva
Winner: Graham Friend
University / College: Bournemouth University – Product Design, FP32
Title of work: ‘Skypouch’ - baby support for airline travel
Judges’ citation: ‘Graham has demonstrated a very high level of design leadership and mastery. He identified a very real problem for parents and developed an innovative solution that has been beautifully executed.’
Winner’s comment: ‘I’m overwhelmed and excited about the future of the product and my career in design. I’m really excited to have it recognised outside of the university community. Winning this award has given me the final confidence to take it forward.’
New Designers Hallmark Award
Prize: £500 and a two month paid placement
University / College: Falmouth University – Illustration, VC19
Winner: Samara Hardy
Title of work: Full portfolio
Judges’ citation: ‘We were looking for a diverse portfolio to complement the Hallmark Design studio and Samara’s beautiful work hit the mark 100%
Winner’s comment: ‘I’m really grateful and delighted to have this opportunity. I’m excited about what the future holds and about my chance of embarking on my design career with such a great insight into the industry thanks to a company as prestigious as Hallmark.’
New Designers Mars Award
Prize: £1,000 and a two week placement in the Mars Design Studio
Winner: Elizabeth White
University / College: Brunel University – Industrial Design and Technology, FP36
Title of work: ‘Grow’, a children’s sandal that grows in length and width via a loop system as the child’s foot grows. Straps are detachable to allow for growth and can change colour and style to cater for the child’s changing taste.
Judges’ citation: ‘This design solves a genuine problem through a clear demonstration of design thinking and deeper exploration of potential solutions. There is great potential for this design to go into production, as well as mass customisation.’
Winner’s comment: ‘It was a real pleasure to meet and introduce my work to the judges and to see their enthusiasm for the sandal. To go in and win this award is a real honour – it has made my day.’
New Designers Pentland Award
Prize: A three month internship with a possible 11 month design pool contract
Winner: Matthew McMorran
University / College: Sheffield Hallam University Institute of Arts – Product Design, FP1
Title of work: Alpine ski boot that allows skiers the freedom to move from the ski slope to the après ski areas with ease
Judges’ citation: ‘This is a strong product based on thorough research and consumer insight. Matthew shows a good understanding of the current market place and an understanding of how this product and its USP stand out. This product fuses traditional craftsmanship with forward-thinking cutting-edge technology.’
Winner’s comment: ‘I’m absolutely ecstatic with the opportunity offered via the internship. It’s nice to get recognition after all the hard work I’ve put in – it’s really pleasing as a designer.’
New Designers Sky Award
Prize: £1,000 and four weeks’ work experience at the Sky Creative headquarters
Winner: Ash Henderson
University / College: Plymouth College of Art – Graphic Design, VC22
Title of work: ‘Now you see us, now you don’t’ graphic campaign poster. An interactive, educational experience for children aged 4 to 10 that uses heat-sensitive materials to reveal a hidden message about endangered species.
Judges’ citation: ‘This is a brilliantly simple visual interpretation on the subject of endangered species. Ash’s elegant heat-responsive graphics push the boundaries of the medium.’
Winner’s comment: ‘I’m overwhelmed to have won. It’s a great privilege to win an award with such a huge company and a great way for me to start my professional career.’
New Designers 100% Design Award
Prize: Stand space at 100% Design within the ‘Emerging brands’ section, valued at £1,185
Winner: Douglas Pulman
University / College: Plymouth University - 3D Design, FP28
Title of work: The Brace Furniture Range
Judges’ citation: ‘The focus for this range is in the use of design engineering to create the bracket mechanism. We also felt that the use of contrasting materials led this product to be visually appealing and commercially compelling.’
Winner’s comment: ‘I use a design process that starts with the development of the bracket or brace before naturally developing the furniture piece from there. I use the properties of the materials to their full and am pleased that people can appreciate my approach and relate to the work despite its ‘simplistic’ style.
New Designers One Year On Award
Prize: £500 cash from New Designers, £200 prize from The Design Trust, one year free membership to Design Nation with coaching programmes and the opportunity to exhibit at The National Centre for Craft & Design
Winner: Emilie Osborne
Title of work: ‘In the midst of 3D illusion’, 3D printed forms
Judges’ citation: ‘Innovative and beautifully made with a great deal of care for the display. Over the past 12 months, Emilie has really developed and marketed her work. She shows a good understanding of her business needs and has got big and clear ambitions for her future.’
Winner’s comment: ‘I am shocked and over-whelmed! I feel that both my business and I will benefit from this award as it will give me the drive to push on and keep developing my work.’
New Designers Best Stand Award
Prize: Trophy, framed certificate, two bottles of champagne and publicity by New Designers
Winner: Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, University of Dundee – Product Design and digital interaction design, FP6 & FP7
Judges’ citation: ‘A professionally presented stand with noticeable attention to detail. A lot of effort and thought has gone in to this engaging presentation of product design, which has successfully been translated into their physical space.’
Winner’s comment: ‘This is a great achievement. All the students have worked together to design, build and pay for the stand and this has been a great learning experience for them. The hard work has paid off!’
