Press Releases

NEW DESIGNERS - PART 1 OVERVIEW

New Designers 2010
Showcasing the best of graduate design
From architecture to animation, furniture to fashion, graphics to glass

2010 sees New Designers mark its 25th anniversary and the exhibition is as fresh, inspiring, exciting and directional as when it first launched in 1985. Today it propels literally thousands of incredibly talented creatives into the limelight, capturing the interest of retail buyers, gallery owners, prospective employers and the design-hungry public – all fascinated to discover the next big thing, the latest design stars, and spot new trends that will appear in fashion and homewares, applied arts, new products and visual communications in the coming seasons.

“New Designers is an annual celebration of creative excellence. Every year I really look forward to seeing all the new work on display and I am never disappointed,’ says show director, Isobel Dennis.  ‘New Designers owes its continued success to the quality of the UK’s design education and the universities and colleges’ ability to encourage originality at the highest standards. The show is hugely respected throughout the world, as evidenced by the support it receives from the whole of the design industry. It is unrivalled for its breadth of scale, number of exhibitors, quality of work, and remarkable range of design disciplines under one roof.”

Sophie Conran (designer and writer) opens New Designers Part 1 on 30 June. “I am very much looking forward to opening the show and seeing what Britain's finest students have been creating," she remarked.  (Michael Wolff will be making the presentations for New Designers Part 2 on 7th July.)

PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS
Sophie is presenting the prestigious New Designers Part 1 awards that are sponsored by leading brands and respected organisations including longstanding supporters such as Hallmark Cards Plc, Harlequin, Tigerprint, Sky and Virgin Atlantic Airways and The Goldsmiths Company who offer valuable work placements and mentoring to their winners. This year the BCFA and IDA have joined forces to offer a new award for interior design. Success stories from 2009 included Melissa Selmin, winning a placement with Graham & Brown, which put her wallpaper design into production; whilst no less than 17 designers who were discovered at New Designers are employed in Tigerprint’s studio.  Further Associate prizes are presented on Thursdays. At the VIP Awards, Bombay Sapphire heightens the spirited event with cocktails that add a dash of delight to the occasion. (Details of sponsors and awards are attached.)

The owners of the venue, the Business Design Centre, sponsor the top award – the BDC New Designer of the Year, regarded as the highest accolade at the show.   This year’s panel of judges for Part 1 include Julia Woodmansterne – creative director Woodmansterne Cards; Vanessa Swann, CEO Cockpit Arts; Ceramics artist Barnaby Barford and textile designer Victoria Richards; as well as Jo Hayes-Ward who herself won the BDC New Designer of the Year Award in 2006 and has gone on to build a successful jewellery business.

ONE YEAR ON HIGHLIGHTS PROMISING DESIGN ENTREPRENEURS     P2
40 design entrepreneurs have been selected to display their work within the perennially popular One Year On feature, showing how they have developed since setting up in business in the past 12 months.  One Year On is curated with the experienced direction of design producer Thorsten van Elten.  “The One Year On exhibitors are very talented. I’m working with a professional and motivated group and feel it’s a privilege to pass on my expertise to help them create successful business.” Already ones to watch are Gina Hughes, whose inter-related photography and ceramics have been purchased by Adrian Sassoon; Emma Yeo’s ‘Swift’ hat won the Queen’s Hat Award in the ‘Who Wants to be a Millin-aire’ competition at Royal Ascot; Claire McInally’s textiles take prime position in Oasis summer 2010 collection; Peter Kumarasinhe’s exquisite jewellery won him the Prince Philip Gold Medal of Excellence whilst Imogen Belfield ; Matthew Kavan-Brook’s graphics can be seen in a number of recently refurbished Zizzi restaurants; Paul Cummins’ ceramics featured as a highlight at Chatsworth’s ‘Florabundance’ festival earlier this year.

WHERE ARE YOU NOW CAFÉ
Adding interest to the upper café area in the atrium is the ‘Where Are You Now Café’ – a gallery of 20 designers who launched their careers at New Designers in recent years. As with the One Year On area, all the work is available to purchase or commission. Its fascinating to chart their careers from graduate to successful professional designer.

INSIGHTFUL TALKS AND SEMINARS
Alongside the main exhibition, New Designers hosts a series of talks and seminars. This year the line up is especially strong and there is something of interest for every type of visitor whether seeking advice for future professional development from the Crafts Council, Crafts Central and Design Nation, identifying future trends with Artsthread and Trend Bible, contemplating contemporary issues such as sustainable imperatives with Spongenet or gaining insight into current exhibitions from their creators at the V&A and Contemporary Applied Arts.   New Designers is delighted to welcome contributions from the RSA and the British Council.  The RSA’s design director, Emily Campbell will argue for a new kind of design leadership (9.7.10); Carla Sorrell at the British Council is joined by Basso & Brooke to explain the results of the ‘New Silk Road’ initiative (3.7.10).  (See the complete Talks schedule online at www.newdesigners.com under Features)

SCHOOLS’ VISITS
Friday’s at New Designers are ‘Schools Day’ and provide an invaluable opportunity for prospective design students to gain insight into the different design courses on offer. It’s a unique chance for sixth formers to compare and contrast design courses, and talk directly to graduates about their experiences and expectations.

ARE YOU ‘GIFTED’?
The essence of New Designers is to promote new talent, encouraging commercial and private interest in the value of design. By way of example, Tigerprint has signed a two year deal with New Designers to create a range of branded greeting cards to appear in Marks & Spencer stores across the country and is launching a graduate competition at this year’s event, entitled ‘Gifted’. Competition contenders – exhibitors at New Designers – will compete to create a gift bag for Marks & Spencer that will launched in 2011. To highlight the initiative, Tigerprint has provided special gift bags for the event.

More…
 
As New Designers marks 25 years, it will be intriguing to see who are this year’s emerging stars – following in the footsteps of earlier discoveries such as Thomas Heatherwick (architectural designer), Ella Doran (homewares), Matthew Williamson (fashion designer), Joe Ferry (Head of Design at Virgin Atlantic), Alexander Taylor and Bethan Gray (furniture), Miranda Boulter (graphics).

-ENDS  -

New Designers 2010
Showcasing the best of graduate design
From architecture to animation, furniture to fashion, graphics to glass

EVENT:   New Designers 2010
VENUE:  Business Design Centre,
52 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 0QH
WEBSITE: www.newdesigners.com

DATES:
PART 1: 1-4 July 2010 – Textiles; Fashion & Accessories; contemporary Applied Arts; Ceramics & Glass; Jewellery & Precious Metalwork.

PART 2: 8-11 July 2010 – Product Design; Furniture; Visual Communications (including Graphic Design & Illustration; Spatial Design.

The industry acclaimed New Designer Award and VIP Previews take place on the evenings of Wednesday 30 June, opened by Sophie Conran; and Wednesday 7 July 2010 opened by Michael Wolff.

www.newdesignersonline.co.uk is a portal to a wealth of design talent in every design discipline. The website features individual designers and design businesses who launched their careers at New Designers. Designers’ work is available to purchase direct or to commission for bespoke projects.

For further information please contact:
Articulate Communication
Tel: 020 7420 7738; info@articulate.co.uk
Karoline Newman or Scarlett Evans

30.6.2010