For the last 12 years, the New Design Britain Awards has been bringing the best of young design talent to the forefront of the international design industry. Organised in partnership with the May Design Series exhibition and conference which returns to ExCeL London on 17-19th May, the competition has been a springboard for many of the finalists’ careers, some of whom have gone on to become leading talents in the design industry with work stocked in retailers like Heal’s, made.com and Habitat. Returning in 2015 is the Alumni Collective, a showcase of current designs from seven finalists over the last decade – Cristiana Ionescu, Alexander Mueller, Dan Schofield, Liam Treanor, Hannah Stanton, James Harrison and Richard Bell.
Following the success of last year’s alumni gallery, it has become a permanent feature to ensure the continued nurturing of talents who have participated in the programme and illustrate the awards’ potential to open influential doors in the retail industry. The showcase will highlight favourite creations from previous years and reveal some of the designers’ latest product launches that demonstrate how their careers have evolved.
As a first for the New Design Britain Awards, this year’s trophies will be 3D printed. Hobs Studio is supporting the show by producing the gongs according to a concept envisioned by renowned atelier and competition judge, DeadGood. Based upon an organic structure that cannot be constructed by any means other than 3D printing, the shape of each award grows in size from the bottom upwards - a form inspired by the premise of the programme as an acknowledgment of graduates at the start of their careers who will develop and mature following this recognition. This year, one of the shortlisted entries will receive the Alumni’s Choice award as judged by the Alumni Collective.
Also debuting in 2015 is the competition’s own designated bar for networking launched in collaboration with social enterprise Goldfinger Factory, an up-cycling production and learning hub for the training, support and inspiration of London’s most disadvantaged residents to create desirable furnishings and fit-outs for London’s trendsetters with a social conscience. The workshop’s artisans will create a bespoke façade for the bar as well as craft plinths for the award area’s main stand.
Returning to London for its third edition, this year’s May Design Series has been curated for business with 70% of the 500 exhibitors brand new to the show, and 50% international companies from over 25 countries. Complimentary passes can be requested on the May Design Series website. Keep-up with the latest news on Twitter @maydesignseries via hashtag #MayDesign, on Pinterest pinterest.com/maydesignseries and on the May Design Series app.
