A
t Computer Arts, we’re
always keen to check out
new talent. Yet in practice,
it’s nigh-on impossible to check out
every college’s summer show. So
New Designers, which is held
annually at the Business Design
Centre in north London, does a great
service in bringing the freshest and
most innovative graduate work
together under one roof.
The event attracts educators,
recruiters and the general public, and
is a great place to catch the best work
by newly emerging talent. And in June
and July this year, that was certainly
not in short supply.
Running over two weeks, New
Designers featured work by anastonishing 3,000 creatives, hand-
picked from over 170 courses from the
UK and beyond. In short, this was the
mother of all grad shows.
Highlights included a chair
designed to prevent manspreading by
the University of Brighton’s Laila Laurel;
a touchdown storage space for
everyday essentials during rushed
morning routines, created by Kieren
Macdonald of Sheffield Hallam
University; vibrant and colourful
packaging for a menstrual subscription
service by Amy Ottley of Plymouth
College of Art; a home ecosystem
designed to prevent smartphone
addiction by Tom Bryant of
Loughborough University; and the
fashion fabrics inspired by Brexit,designed by Ellie-mae Barr of
Falmouth University.
New Designers was divided into
two parts, with week one (26 to 29
June), focusing on disciplines such as
textile design and contemporary
design crafts, and week two (3 to 6
July) and covering the likes of graphic
design, illustration and animation.
As well as the usual suspects, 15
courses were exhibiting for the first
time this year, including Space and
Identity Design from Strate School of
Design in Paris; Fashion Design from
Bath Spa and London College of
Fashion; and Performance Costume
from Edinburgh College of Art. At an
event that’s been running for 34 years- and potentially in danger of resting
tomorrow’s talent today
New Designers 2019 overflowed with ideas from this year’s design graduates, says Tom May
EVENT REPORTCOMPUTERARTS.CREATIVEBLOQ.COMKEY INFO:
Location
Business Design
Centre, Upper
Street, LondonWhen
26 June-6 JulyExhibitors
3,Universities
170Edition
34thPartners
Sainsbury’s, Argos
Home, The Design
Trust, AOI, Cockpit
Arts, the Crafts
CouncilCULTURE AUGUST 2019