The class of 2012 graduate with flying colours at New Designers show

The class of 2012 graduate with flying colours at New Designers show

New Designers is recognised as the most important graduate design showcase – possibly in the world, thanks to the UK’s world class design education opportunities, and London’s position as the beating heart of design. For 27 years the show has been promoting the UK’s best design graduates as they embark upon their professional careers, freshly minted from the UK’s leading design courses.

Their names may not be familiar today as the New Designers show at the Business Design Centre in Islington opens and launches the careers of some 3500 of this year’s most talented creative graduates...however, give it a few months and these talented newly qualified designers will be making their distinctive voices known across the design spectrum. 200 of the UK’s design courses, covering textiles, jewellery, fashion accessories, silversmithing and metalwork, ceramics and glass and applied arts present the final degree projects by the class of 2012. Flocking to the show to discover the latest ideas and trends will be retail buyers, commissioning agents, gallery curators, prospective employers, major brands, the media and the design conscious public.

NEW DESIGNERS AWARDS – THEO FENNELL MAKES THE PRESENTATIONS

Recognised as a source of inspiration, fresh talent and new ideas, New Designers is supported by major companies and organisations such as Hallmark, Wilkinson, Tigerprint, The Goldsmiths’ Company, Harlequin, 100% Design, with a total of 11 giving valuable awards in Part 1 that offer cash prizes as well as valuable work experience. New Designers is delighted to welcome John Lewis, Made.com and Sanderson as new award sponsors. The jeweller Theo Fennell will be presenting the awards for Part 1.

“Sanderson believes in encouraging new talent and bringing innovation and great design to as wide an audience as possible through their collections. We are delighted to be so closely involved with New Designers this year and are very much looking forward to working with the winner of the Sanderson award.'' said Liz Cann. Sanderson.

The New Designers awards highlight special talent and frequently appear at the beginning of an illustrious design career. Designers such as Thomas Heatherwick, Matthew Williamson, Ella Doran, Bethan Gray, James Harrison, Jethro Macey, need a jeweller, Max Lamb, were all discovered at New Designers.

The BDC New Designer of the Year is presented to one particularly gifted graduate, who wins professional mentoring from specialist IP lawyers Briffa, accountancy advice from Rhodes & Rhodes, and PR consultancy from Articulate Communication as well as a cash prize of £1500. This year the Part 1 judging panel is Kimberley Chandler, Ceramic Review; Ed Hole, Weston Beamor; Alex Monroe, jeweller; Margo Selby, textile designer; Tanja Sharp, Designers Guild; Sheila Teague, Wright & Teague.

SPECIAL TROPHIES FOR 2012

Neil Conley, who won the One Year On award in 2011, has created the unique and beautiful trophies that will be presented to the winners of the New Designers Awards

ONE YEAR ON

The perennially popular One Year On feature this year presents 58 entrepreneurial designers who have set up in business in the past 12 months. Its curator, designer-maker Jethro Macey has selected a diverse range of work that will appeal to every taste and is available to purchase or commission.

NEW DESIGNERS TALKS

Throughout the show from Thursday to Saturday a series of talks and seminars provide advice and guidance for professional career development across the different design disciplines. Former dragon Doug Richard is the guest of the Design Trust, talking about the School for Creative Start-ups; IP issues are addressed by ACID and Creative Barcode; Cockpit Arts discusses Ethical Approaches to Running a Designer Maker Business; major media partner Arts Thread explains the opportunities for online promotion; The Crafts Council promotes its Hothouse scheme to support emerging makers.

THURSDAY ‘LATES’

On Thursday 28 June the prison charity Fine Cell Work is encouraging visitors to try their hand at a little sewing under the guidance of the charity’s expert stitching volunteers. Embroidered fabric carrying messages of hope for prisoners will evolve into a large collage to be displayed at New Designers. www.finecellwork.co.uk

(Next week in Part 2 on 5 July, Secret Walls with Monorex is marking New Designers territory in a thrilling ‘paint-off’ between professional graphic artists and graduate illustrators in the Secret Walls Pro Series. The ink and the drink will be flowing.)

TIGERPRINT ‘GIFTED’ COMPETITION

Longstanding supporter, Tigerprint is Marks & Spencer’s sole supplier for cards and giftwrapping. At New Designers 2012 it continues its ‘Gifted’ initiative – a competition open to all 2012 graduates and undergraduates that invites ‘a design a day’ quite literally from 27 June to 31 July. The winner will receive £500 and a paid placement and the opportunity to see the winning work in Marks & Spencer.

ABSOLUT BLANK

As part of New Designers partnership with ABSOLUT VODKA, there is a brand new competition, exclusive to all exhibitors across both weeks of this year's New Designers. From numerous entries, six graduates (three from Part 1 and another three from Part 2) have been selected to create their own ABSOLUT Blank design on a life size 6ft ABSOLUT BLANK canvas. All of the final pieces will be exhibited in an ABSOLUT BLANK gallery at the entrance to the show. The winners in each week will be announced on Saturday 30 June and Saturday 7 July.

ASSOCIATE PRIZES

A second tier of prizes is awarded on Thursday, with the support of Christy Carpets, The Worshipful Company of Weavers, The Clothworkers Company and the Contemporary Glass Society, helping to create further recognition for young talented individuals.

MADE.COM PROVIDE FURNITURE FOR THE PRESS OFFICE

The New Designers press office has never looked so good thanks to the support from online retailer Made.com. Visitors relaxing in the Jonah Chair may be interested to learn that it was designed by James Harrison, who was discovered at New Designers in 2005.

ISOBEL DENNIS, NEW DESIGNERS DIRECTOR COMMENTS

“I am constantly amazed and delighted by the breadth of work and the extraordinary talent expressed at New Designers. A tough economic climate seems to encourage creativity, as well as fostering great determination to succeed. The judges are unanimous in their admiration for the class of 2012 and have found it very difficult to select their award winners when there is so much talent to choose from. Neil Conley – last year’s winner at One Year On - has designed and made beautiful trophies that will be treasured by the winners. I am particularly delighted that so many partners have devised interactive activities to engage with exhibitors and visitors: Fine Cell Work, Tigerprint and Absolut Blank. And I am grateful to our sponsors from industry and commerce who embody the values of the show, bringing fresh talent and business together. I am sure that a very high proportion of the exhibitors will gain employment and significant opportunities at New Designers and look forward to watching their careers develop.”

- ENDS -

Notes for Editors:

Part 1: 27 to 30 June

Part 2: 4 to 7 July

TIMES: Wednesday 27 June 3.00pm to 6.00pm (VIP and Press and Premium ticket holders)

Wednesday 27 June 6.30pm to 9.00pm (Awards Preview Evening – VIP, Premium and 2-Week Passes only)

Thursday 28 June 10.00am to 8.00pm

Friday 29 June 10.00am to 6.00pm

Saturday 30 June 10.00am to 6.00pm

Sunday 1 July CLOSED

Wednesday 4 July 3.00pm to 6.00pm (VIP and Press and Premium ticket holders)

Wednesday 4 July 6.30pm to 9.00pm (Awards Preview Evening –VIP, Premium and 2-Week Passes only)