BDC Award Winner Lucy Foakes, University College Falmouth
Last night saw the winners announced for New Designers Part 1. Held at Islington Business Centre, the show celebrates 25 years this edition. The Business Design Centre (BDC) Award went to Lucy Foakes from University College Falmouth for her Contemporary Canopics. Inspired by ancient Egyptian jars, Lucy has updated them in slip cast and coiled ceramic with laser-cut acrylic. Hand-painted modern icons decorate the vessels, and appear as colourful figurative protectors to guard its contents.
The judging panel awarded the top prize to Lucy for her ‘witty combination of ancient symbolism and iconic imagery’. The panel included Julia Woodmansterne, creative director of Woodmansterne Cards; Vaness Swann, CEO Cockpit Arts; ceramics artist Barnaby Barford, textile designer Victoria Richards and BDC New Designer of the Year Award winner from 2006 Jo Hayes-Ward.
BDC Award Runner Up Kate Boccaccini-Meadows, Bath Spa University
Runner-Up for the BDC Award went to Kate Boccaccini-Meadows from Bath Spa University for her collection Air Force that lies between art, craft and design. Kate’s degree is in ceramics, but she likes to work with multitude of materials and enjoys experimenting with the ways they can work together and form a composition. Kate is very interested in the process by which the materials decay and how the object is destroyed or distorted, using photography and film to document the process, with the resultant record then becomes the work.
Pulse Award Winner Nicola Popplewell, Nottingham Trent University
Nicola Popplewell of Nottingham Trent University’s Decorative Arts course won the Pulse Award for her children’s toy boxes made of printed fabric scenes that roll out to become an airstrip or a seaside scene, complete with toys. The seaside features beach huts that open out, a lighthouse decorated with room sets alongside cute stripy boats. Nicola was interested in creating an interactive children’s toy, something that children can pull apart and play with but also can put together and use to carry toys. An interactive board features child-friendly magnetic elements that can be moved around.
Graham & Brown Award Winner Charlotte Williams, De Montfort University
The Graham & Brown Award was won by Charlotte Williams from the Printed Textiles course at De Montfort University for her wonderland-themed printed textiles that incorporate magical hand-drawn elements. Wall hangings and samples focus on placements and the creation of a ‘wonderland.’ Warped frames add to the imaginary feeling. Hummingbirds perch in frames, while spotted origami birds float in space and huge poppies and dandelion clocks provide the floral element.
Walker Greenbank Award winner Anna Jensen, Bath Spa University
Anna Jensen of Bath Spa University’s Textiles course won the Harlequin Award with her vibrantly-coloured floral wallpaper and textiles inspired by Swedish print and pattern. A hand-painted chest of drawers sits alongside cushions and wallpaper.
Tigerprint Award Winner Tom Philips, Staffordshire University
The Tigerprint Award went to Tom Philips of Staffordshire University for his interactive wallpaper. Aimed at the children’s market, the chalkboard wallpaper, inspired by 70s kitsch, combines drawings and quirkily-drawn frames. Tom wanted it to be user-friendly, the frames can be filled by the child with their own photographs and images. Its typography and hand drawn qualities were important to Tom, containing nostalgic elements from his own childhood. Tom wins £1000 and a month’s placement with Tigerprint.
Goldsmiths' Company Award for Silversmithing Winner Michelle Clare, Sheffield Hallam University
Michelle Clare from Sheffield Hallam University won the Goldsmiths’ Company Award for Silversmithing. Michelle’s range consists of a series of Britannia silver vessels that were informed by her research into traditional vessels and then rearranging the forms to explore their purpose. Michelle likes to change the way items are used, to provokes people to think about how they use them. Michelle uses raising to produce her vessels – a flat disc of silver is hammered (raised) into a 3D hollow form. Michelle wins £1000 and a range of extra benefits.
The Goldsmith's Company Award for Jewellery winner Elizabeth Humble, Duncan of Jordanstone College, University of Dundee
The Goldsmiths’ Company Award for Jewellery went to Elizabeth Humble of the University of Dundee with her Fragile Landscape collection. Her work explores the influence of landscape and its transition through drawing to create delicate pieces in precious metals. Sterling silver is combined with sapphires, or agate or pink opals for fragile beautiful necklaces, brooches and rings. Elizabeth wins £1000 and a range of extra benefits.
British Contract Furnishings Award went to Lois Norman of Bucks New University
The British Contract Furnishings Award went to Lois Norman of Bucks New University for her dramatic floral meets abstract prints with a dark elegance. Bucks New University Textiles department also won the New Designers Best Stand Award. The judges described the stand as well-curated with a strong body of work.
New Designers Best Stand Award Winners Bucks New University Textiles
Image credit: photograph of Lucy Foakes by Ed Reeve www.editphoto.net, New Designers photography Natasha Chauhan
New Designers
lucy.j.foakes@googlemail.com
Kate Boccaccini-Meadows
Elizabeth Humble
michelle.clare@googlemail.com
tomphilipsdesigns@hotmail.co.uk
nicola.popplewell@live.co.uk
charlotte_williams@mail.com
loisnorman@gmail.com
