BA (Hons) Textiles & Surface Design graduates featured at this years New Designers exhibition in London! Championing the future of design since 1985 New Designers works to give students a platform “We believe that great design shapes the human experience. New Designers provides a unique platform for fresh design talent to connect with design educators, professionals and consumers, for creative exchange and collaboration”Senior Lecturer Jayne Hemmins, “We are absolutely delighted to be exhibiting at New Designers, at the Business Design Centre, in Islington, London. The exhibition brings together the very best graduate design talent from the UK and Europe and is the place to be to showcase our amazing 2022 graduates. This year our textiles and surface design cohort are working with surface design in dynamic, diverse and innovative ways. We are exhibiting paper, fabric, recycled concrete, wood and collections of final designs for fashion, interiors and gift.

Conceptually the students have explored wellbeing, diversity, personal nostalgia and sustainability and have produced repeat patterns, placement prints and products. We are showing in week 1 (Thursday 30^th June to Saturday 2^nd July) on stand T33, and are hoping to continue our award winning run after Daniel Embleton won the Liberty Fabrics award in 2021.”The graduates featured at this years exhibition include:

Donna Auchterlounie, Chloe Boyd, Kira Bradford, Olivia Hood, Sarah Howitt, Kieran Malbon, Grace Potter, Estelle Ronald, Linda Rose, Millie Shaw, Lydia Thompson, Billie Joe Trowsdale and Leigha Webster.

Donna Auchterlounie, who exhibited her FMP collection ‘Room for Everyone’ an inclusive and interactive children’s interiors and play products range said “I am so grateful for the opportunity to exhibit at such a prestigious show and meet so many like-minded creatives.I feel that the in-depth skills taught and learnt during my time at The Northern School of Art enabled me to produce a solid body of work that was recognised by the company Habitat and I was given a recognition award during  ND which I am beyond grateful and overwhelmed by.

I am proud to say where I have studied, and industry know we have the skills necessary to be ready to go out there and take our place in the creative sector.”Students had the opportunity to book portfolio reviews with international brands, such as final year student Estelle Ronald who met with Hallmark “I booked a portfolio review with Hallmark with the loveliest ladies. I can’t remember their names but in no way does that take away how kind they were to me. I was very upfront and told them how nervous I was the second they walked in and they were so quick to comfort and reassure me. They gave me some amazing pointers on next steps to take to make me the best designer I can be – and how to make my small business ‘Estelle Lily’ (Digital Design for Gift) stand out from the rest.”Speaking about her experience at New Designers Estelle said, “It was such an incredible experience getting to exhibit at New Designers. I felt very honored to have been chosen by my tutors as I had worked so hard on my FMP and poured so much into it – it very much felt like the cherry on the top, bringing the last 3 years to a close… I had some lovely conversations with some lovely people – industry, the public and other exhibitors. Although we are technically each other’s competition, it was really nice to look around and see everyone else’s work and to know we are all in the same boat and stepping out into the industry together in some way.”

Graduate Olivia Hood won a recognition award for her designs commenting “It’s been a privilege to have been chosen to exhibit at New Designers. It has been an amazing, eye-opening experience where I got to meet other talented creatives and interact with industry to gain contacts. I was lucky enough to win an award of recognition for my scarf designs. This whole experience being a potential stepping stone to my career which I am hugely appreciative of.”Speaking about her experience on the BA (Hons ) Textiles & Surface Design degree she praised the support she received “Studying Textiles at The Northen School of Art has been everything I’d hoped and more when joining this course in 2019. The School is so welcoming, and I felt comfortable instantly. The tutors and technicians are so supportive and have so much experience and knowledge, in which I have learnt a lot from. A huge thank you to everyone at The Northern School of Art.

If you are interested in studying textiles our BA (Hons) Textiles & Surface Design degree is well established with a track record of providing students with the skills needed for an exciting career in the textiles and design industries.