Bamboolarule by James Cadogan
This year’s New Design Britain Awards were recently announced at interiors 2010, Birmingham. 16 product design finalists were selected from the 150 original entries. Applicants were from a range of disciplines from over 80 universities. Award Winners were invited to exhibit by the organisers of New Design Britain and their work was on display in the Thinking Space in Hall 2 of the NEC.
The awards, showcasing some of the ‘Best of British’ design in the UK were sponsored by furniture designers and manufacturers Willis and Gambier. Judges included Damian Walton of House of Fraser, Sally Bendelow from Marks & Spencer and Barbara Chandler, journalist and photographer.
3D Design student from University Falmouth, James Cadogan won the Made in Britain’ Award in the accessories category with his Bamboolarule, whilst Helena Karelson, a Kingston University graduate picked up the Designed in Britain Award in the same category with her Kontour blind.
Kontour by Helena Karelson
Helena Karelson had also picked up the D&AD Best New Blood Award in 2009. Her inspiration for Kontour was drawn from observing how light and shadow are cast and as a designer she is conscious of the negative impact design and manufacture can have on the environment. With this in mind, she has designed Kontour to produce no wastage post manufacture.
Stag Wallpaper by Lynsey Henderson
An Edinburgh University MFA graduate, Lynsey Henderson, showed off her stunning wallpaper and scooped the Made in Britain Award in the Fabrics and Surface Coverings category. Henderson draws her inspiration for her award winning Stag Wallpaper from the Scottish Highlands. She has cleverly combined the skills of hand painted craftsmanship with the beauty of her hand drawn stags nestling amidst the floral and fauna.
Stag Wallpaper by Lynsey Henderson
In the same category Jennifer Jones, a recent graduate from Winchester School of Art, collected the Designed in Britain Award for her stunning collection of hand woven cloths. A real celebration of the British textile industry, Jones uses a combination of home spun cotton yarn, chenille, alpaca, mohair and hand-dyed loop angora depending on the country of origin.
Four Countries Fabric left to right: England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland
Phil Crook, a De Montfort Furniture student not only picked up the Designed in Britain Award in the Furniture Category but has also landed a work placement with the award sponsors Willis and Gambier. His Multi Functional Dining Station offers a clever solution to shifting trends in modern day living where maximising space planning is all important. The scope to offer this high end or as a budget range could be determined by numerous material choices.
Multi Functional Dining Station by Phil Crook
Another Designer/Maker to look out for is Lorna Wilby, winning the Made in Britain Award in the same category, she too has won a placement working with Ercol. Her inspiration for her take on the free standing coat hanger Strange Behaviour was taken from the Master of Surrealism, Salvador Dali.
Strange Behaviour by Lorna Wilby; Double T by Francesca Mancini
Two other designer makers who received Highly Commended recognition for their entries were Francesa Mancini’s for her Double T and Alex Macmaster’s for his Expose Table. Both designers are familiar with exhibiting their work before.
ARTS THREAD features Mancini’s design in the current ARTS THREAD Magazine after spotting her at New Designers 2009 where she exhibited as a FDA graduate. She also exhibited her work at Spazio Espositivo Ex Gil Largo in Rome in December 2009. She is a final year Furniture and Product Design student at London Metropolitan University.
Expose Table in walnut finish by Alex Macmaster
Alex MacMaster, a first class honours graduate from Lincoln University had just flown back from Cologne to exhibit with the finalists. His Expose Table is based on traditional British craftmanship, yet embraces modern contemporary design. He met John Makepiece at the age of 11, after setting up his first workshop. He has boundless enthusiasm as a designer and maker and it will be interesting to see what he does next!
For more information about the New Design Britain Awards, contact Tony Hollier, New Design Britain Award Co-ordinator: ahollyer@o2.co.uk
James Cadogan
Helena Karelson
Lynsey Henderson: lynsey1983@hotmail.com
Jennifer Jones: jennifer@wide-eye-design.co.uk
Phil Crook: phil.crook@live.co.uk
Lorna Wilby: lorn_mower@hotmail.co.uk
Francesca Mancini
Alex Macmaster
