Design Graduates Demonstrate Ingenuity at New Designers 2009
July 18, 2009 | Levent OZLER
New Designers 2009 underlined its reputation as the foremost showcase for graduate design as this year's brightest, freshest and most talented graduates presented a remarkable range of new products, inventive furniture, architecture and spatial design schemes, alongside visual communication incorporating graphics and illustrations. Billed as the place to "discover the creative energy of the next generation" New Designers 2009 Part 2 has exceeded all expectations.
Architect Amanda Levete opened Part 2 of New Designers addressing guests drawn from across the design profession at the Awards Preview Evening on 15th July. An advocate for creativity, and its value to the economy, she said, "there is a financial crisis, but there is not a creative crisis. It is an incredibly exciting moment, the moment to be bold, to think big and to think diagonally because hand in hand with creativity goes entrepreneurship... Your trump card is your creativity. Creativity is what sets you apart from others; gives you edge; drives you and fulfils you. The big challenge is how to use it to your advantage and to the advantage of the society you live in... I have never really understood why you can't have it all and this is, I suppose, what this call to arms is about. It's about having a belief and confidence that you can weave a path through a present we do not fully understand and create a better and more exciting future."
Ten New Designers awards were presented from the supporters of the event, which included leading brands and organisations Gleeds, Habitat, Hallmark Cards Plc, Sky Creative, Virgin Atlantic, and 100% Design. They awarded prizes including coveted work placements, prize money, exhibition opportunities that will help the winning designers to establish themselves and capture widespread attention. The awards culminated with the presentation of the BDC New Designer of the Year which went to Nicola Morgan, a fashion graduate from Northumbria University.
The prestigious accolade - THE BDC NEW DESIGNER OF THE YEAR title was awarded to NICOLA MORGAN from Northumbria University for her "Alterpretations Collection" which is a cross over between design and fashion. The judges, who included Ms Ruth Aram; Ms Hilary French; Mr Dominic Jones; Ms Lesley Morris; Mr David Nichols and Mr Tom Lloyd, lauded the "extraordinary innovation combining production processes, aesthetic appearance and delivery to the end user. It is truly original."
Product designer, Matthew Kavan Brooks who studied at Nottingham Trent won THE BDC NEW DESIGNER OF THE YEAR - RUNNER UP award. The judges commented on his 'entrepreneurial spirit, ability and willingness to apply himself to a diverse range of disciplines that captured the imagination. His ability to analyse a concept and communicate it clearly is excellent.'
Summing up Part 2 of New Designers, the show's director Isobel Dennis was delighted with the overall standard and the unanimously enthusiastic response of judges, graduates, professional and public visitors, "The beauty of this event is its content is completely new and fresh every year - and the class of 2009 is no different. The judges selected some very strong candidates for the awards making the final decisions very tough. It's an excellent graduating year. I would encourage anyone interested in design to visit the show."
396 impressions - 45,426 clicks
