With just a few months left until New Designers 2024, we thought we’d catch up with some of the outstanding award winners from Week 1 of ND23 to see what they’re up to now and how their experience at New Designers has impacted their careers so far. Keep reading to learn more about their journeys entering the design world across textiles, jewellery, surface pattern design and more. Click here to hear from the Week 2 award winners.
Georgia Dunn
Winner of the ROMO Award for Innovation in Design and Colour
‘Exhibiting at New Designers really helped me kick start my career in the textiles industry. I was awarded the Romo award for innovation in design and colour. This came with the opportunity to undertake a 6-month paid internship in the Villa Nova Studio, which has subsequently been extended for a further six months.
The support and guidance from the Romo team have been invaluable. They have nurtured my talent, fostering my growth and instilling confidence in my abilities to contribute meaningfully within my team and the design direction and new product ranges that Romo are working on.
New Designers offered me a priceless opportunity to connect with fellow creatives and industry professionals, helping me gain a deeper understanding of who is active in the industry and aligned with my design style and career ambitions.’
Peace Rodliff
Winner of the Tu Clothing Creative Pattern & Print Award
‘New Designers was an amazing networking opportunity that has given me amazing connections, that have in turn helped me to secure a role a Liberty designing prints, something which was a dream of mine. My work was given exposure that I wouldn’t have had access to otherwise. Thank you!’
Ruby Taglight
Winner of the Stephen Webster Jewellery Designer of the Year Award
‘At New Designers 2023 I was awarded ‘Jewellery Designer of the Year’ by Stephen Webster, in association with Sky Diamond. Having access to a mentorship with Stephen Webster and his team, I gained invaluable insight into the inner workings of a hugely successful jewellery business. This gave me the confidence to hone in on my aesthetic, and expand my knowledge in order to take the leap towards creating larger scale pieces of work, something I have been wanting to explore.
Following this, I will be exhibiting new, large-scale interior pieces with Future Icons, as part of London Craft Week in May. Consisting of adorned furniture, candlesticks, and even framed prints, this show will be my debut into interiors. I have plans to expand this into collectable functional objects, which will be supported by a new collection of mythical jewellery.’
Millie Farley
Winner of the Habitat Future Design Award
‘Winning the New Designers award in 2023 meant I finished my degree on the biggest high I could have. Since receiving the award, I have been on two work placements where I have been able to learn so much about the industry as well as build strong connections with some amazing designers. The New Designers award opened doors for me that gave me the best possible kickstart to my design career.
I am currently working on placement at Habitat as an assistant print designer on their Print and Trend team. In this role I have created trend lead design boards for the teams as well as designed a variety of prints that will go into stores in 2025. This experience has taught me so much about the designing in industry from product design to building versatile art working skills. I am so excited to take everything I have learned with me as I take my next steps in the textile design industry.’
Joe Shevelan
Business Design Centre New Designer of the Year Award: Runner Up
‘After I won runner-up New Designer of the Year at New Designers 2023, I dedicated myself to my craft and my art. Using the money I won, I bought some of the bits of equipment I needed to start running my workshop.
Since then, I’ve worked diligently to make more of a name for myself in the local community and the wider art scene. I’ve kept the focus of my work on the effect of art on mental health and wellbeing, and I’m creating a new body of work called “Blacksmyth” focused on narrative storytelling with each piece in the collection following the journey of a character in a strange world.’
Visit the link below to look back on the New Designers 2023 Awards Programme, and sign up to our mailing list to be the first to hear when ND24 Awards are announced!
EARTH DAY: HOW ARE THE NEXT GENERATION DESIGNING FOR THE PLANET? Earth Day is a global initiative aimed at highlighting the importance of preserving our planet. This year, we are marking the occasion by spotlighting some of the work of
MODERNITY AND SUSTAINABILITY: YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO MILAN DESIGN WEEK 2024 Every year, thousands of tourists flock to Milan Design Week for its iconic installations and must-attend events. The centrepiece in Italy’s undisputed design capital is the Salone del Mobile,
APRIL DESIGN DIARY 2024 This month’s line-up of unmissable design events includes glass, ceramics, game design, fashion, digital art, sustainable design, textiles and more. From international events and blockbuster exhibitions to pop-ups and hidden gems, stay up to date with
