BA (Hons) Textile & Surface Design 2022 graduate Emma Tucker has been shortlisted for the Artsthread Global Graduate Design Show 2022 in collaboration with International Fashion House Gucci!

The Global Design Graduate Show 2022 in collaboration with GUCCI is the third edition of this initiative and was open to all art & design students graduating in the year 2021-22 (undergraduate, graduate & postgraduate) in any related creative discipline, located anywhere in the world.

After uploading her work to artsthread.com as a part of her final year of study and to get it out there to a wider audience she was contacted about the shortlisting;

“I uploaded my graduate collection to ARTSTHREAD to present my work online to a wider audience. I wanted to show the journey of my final major project, including where I found my inspiration, my drawings and how this led to the final design. I received an email the last week of September explaining that I had been shortlisted for the Global Design Graduate Show 2022 in collaboration with Gucci. I was so shocked, I couldn’t believe it as ARTSTHREAD show creatives talent from all over the world. For my work to be seen and chosen to be shortlisted is a real honour.”

Her graduate collection is inspired by memories captured in photographs  “The main focal point in my designs are florals, animals, and beautiful architecture from various places around the world, that myself or family members have captured. I loved combining these photos with my varied drawing style to create my final collection.”

The printed pieces includes 90cm x 90cm scarves aimed to the high-end fashion market. “This collection includes digital designs and some hand printed scarves using my favourite techniques, devoré, discharge printing and hand painting. My scarves are printed onto silk twill, silk satin and devoré satin for a luxurious look, feel and drape.”

Textiles senior lecturer Jayne Hemmins commented, “We are absolutely delighted that Emma has been shortlisted for the ArtsThread/Gucci Graduate design awards 2022, from over 5000 graduates worldwide. Emma’s print and digital design skills have been utilised to create a beautiful, illustrative scarf collection aimed at the top end of the fashion accessories market, and her work is sensitively produced with beautiful drawing at the heart of her practice. Emma was a highly committed, hard working student during her time on the BA (Hons) Textiles & Surface Design programme, and she has a bright future. We wish Emma every success both in the competition and within her future design career.”

Emma has been proactive in gaining support and opportunities, after entering a studentship programme in her third year of study she was sponsored by Madeira UK. “This sponsorship allowed me to develop my free motion machine embroidery skills using their high quality threads. I am incredibly proud of this achievement.”

Speaking of her experience at The Northern School of Art Emma said “The Northern School of Art had great facilities including an open access print room and dye lab, which is where I spent a large part of my time hand printing my silk scarf collection. Also, having my own work space was important to me. The university was small and friendly. I was grateful to the staff who offered support when I needed it.”

The competition is live on Artsthread.com now and people can still vote on each category. To vote for Emma’s work click here.  To keep up to date with her work head to her instagram @emmalili.designs and LinkedIn or visit her website.

If you are interested in studying textiles we offer and established and dynamic course that has given graduates the skills needed to succeed in this exciting industry. Find out more here!