In advance of the show, ARTS THREAD takes a look at the highlights of Object Rotterdam, taking place February 09-12 at the Las Palmas building in the city’s docklands area.

The University of the Arts London unveiled their Future Map 11 exhibition yesterday at the Zabludowicz Collection. Featuring 30 of the most ‘cutting edge’ talent from 2011′s graduates. ARTS THREAD takes a look at a handful of the best creatives on show.

A collective of seven extraordinary jewellery designers and one typewriter artist have taken up temporary residence in London’s Kingly Court. The group of up-and-coming creatives will be selling their latest designs at Pieces of 8, a pop-up shop project which was initially launched at the Clarence Dock in Leeds.

While some of you might have headed to the high street for your Christmas shopping last weekend, ARTS THREAD were scouting for one-of-a-kind handmade gifts at Cockpit Arts’ Christmas Open Studios. Now in it’s 25th year, the award winning Social Enterprise and ‘creative business incubator’ for designer makers opened it’s Holborn studio doors to the public for three days, and will be doing the same at the Deptford studios this weekend.

PSFK’s Top Ten Creatives of the Week chosen from ARTS THREAD’s graduate portfolios: 10 new talents from the world of ceramics, jewellery and glass. Read more

Ten new graduates who scour the hidden nooks and crannies of our everyday environments for inspiration are exhibiting their latest creations in ‘Traces: Rust, Dust & Belly Button Fluff’ at the Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery.

Floral and heart motifs are omnipresent in jewellery design. From the Neoclassical jewellery of the late 1700s through to the Art Nouveau movement straight up to modern day accessories, the romantic connotations of these motifs have proven to be a timeless source of inspiration for both the designer and the wearer. For ‘Freshly Cut’ at Gallery Complete, Tel Aviv, seven jewellery makers have explored the aesthetic possibilities of these themes and produced their own contemporary interpretations.

The final results of Design Platform Limburg’s annual Toegepast program went on display today at the Z33 House for Contemporary Art in Hasselt, Belgium. The five promising designers who took part were given the unique opportunity to be professionally coached by fashion duo Ti + Hann who were on hand to enable their creativity and help them realise a brand new piece of work.

The Midland Autelier, Western Australian’s hub for creativity and design innovation presents Awkward Beauty, an interdisciplinary collaboration between jewellery designer Helen Britton, garment designer Justine McKnight and photographer Michelle Taylor.

ARTS THREAD highlights the student and graduate events on show starting this Saturday at Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven. Our reporter Like van Wijck will be out and about in the city to tell us what’s happening.