ARTS THREAD’s second Q&A with designers from this year’s New Designers One Year On exhibition is with designer-maker Katharina Eisenkoeck. Read on to find out about the inspiration behind her concrete and leather lighting which she will be displaying at the show:

ARTS THREAD starts a new series of Q&As with designers and makers who will be exhibiting at New Designers One Year On this summer. We speak to Grace Hamilton who will be exhibiting her work during Part 1 of New Designers 2013 from the 26 – 29 June.

ARTS THREAD looks at the talent on offer from Spatial Design at New Designers this weekend.

Christopher Hall, a graduate of Ravensbourne, took a new look at retirement homes. ‘To stop elderly being forced to move away from their family, an ecological tower constructed from shipping crates has been designed to allow for low cost housing units to be placed on abandoned or unused sites in cities. The building incorporates underground charging and parking for electric cars to create a completely ecological and sustainable design.’

ARTS THREAD seeks out more highlights from interior product at this week’s New Designers show.

Olivia Gray, a graduate from Northumbria University in Furniture and Product Design, has created a multifunctional collection of kitchen utensils. The aim is to increase longevity and to avoid obsolescence by creating utensils with duality or adaptability.

ARTS THREAD takes a look at the conceptual side of product design at New Designers Part 2.

Andrew Knott from the University of Dundee has a passion for craftsmanship. His project Faber came from his research between the client and the designer.

ARTS THREAD seeks out highlights from Furniture/Interior Product at this week’s New Designers show.

Spyros Kizis, an MA graduate from Edinburgh College of Art, took as his project the ecological problem of oil-derived plastics. The lampshade that Spyros has designed uses a artichoke thistle fibre reinforced plastic, developed from Greek artichoke thistle fibre and biological resin produced from waste cooking oil – making it 100% biodegradable. Spyros has created a unique product that is not only aesthetic but also explores an opportunity for the development of ecological Greek agriculture.

ARTS THREAD takes a look at some highlights from visual communication designers to be found at New Designers this week.

Veronica Settinieri, a graduate in Graphic Design from Swansea Metropolitan University, has designed a thoughtful project challenging the idea of all Sicilians being pro-mafia. She conducted thorough research by interviewing a range of Sicilians about their view on the mafia and how it feels to have this stereotype pointed at them so much when most are against the mafia.

ARTS THREAD seeks out highlights from Product Design at this week’s New Designers show.

Chloe Harwood from Sussex University has created an utterly charming toy; an eight octave ring sectioned into different bright colours. Each section includes a button that creates a different sensory experience. The product is aimed at children with disabilities in sight and hearing, for whom the sensory experience of the toy can give simple enjoyment. The idea is well thought out and includes important social elements that can sometimes be easily overlooked

Craig Foster, Furniture Design graduate from Nottingham Trent University and BDC New Designer of the year, has created an extremely useful collection of home desk lamps.

Read about the winners of the New Designers 100% Award, BCFA Logo Award, Made.com Award, John Lewis Award, Virgin Atlantic Award for Product Design, Sky Award, Virgin Atlantic Award for Graphic Design, Wilkinson Award and Warburton’s Award.