- Textile Designer, Nina Butler, named New Designer of the Year Award
- Nina is the second GSA Textile Designer to win the award in three years following Olivia Qi in 2015
- Emma Boyd-Madsen (Textile Design) wins New Designers John Lewis Award for Design and
Innovation - Andrew
Fleming wins Goldsmiths Silversmithing Award - Miki
Asai wins Goldsmiths Jewellery Award - Nina
Butler (Knit) and Kate Connell (Print) have been selected to exhibit at Premiere
Vision Paris.
Images: Nina
Butler, Emma Boyd-Madsen, Andrew Fleming and Miki Asai
Butler, Emma Boyd-Madsen, Andrew Fleming and Miki Asai
winners of prestigious
New Designers Awards.
New Designers Awards.
Textile Design and Silversmithing &
Jewellery graduates from The Glasgow School of Art were big winners at the 2017
New Designers Awards, which were announced in London last night (28 June 2017).
Jewellery graduates from The Glasgow School of Art were big winners at the 2017
New Designers Awards, which were announced in London last night (28 June 2017).
New Designers Awards
recognise the design world’s rising stars and are presented annually to the
most talented design graduates. The first set of awards are for work in the
fields of textiles, fashion, costume design, jewellery, precious metalwork and
contemporary design crafts, with the prizes including professional advice and
paid work placements of up to one year offering graduates vital support as they
embark on their professional careers
recognise the design world’s rising stars and are presented annually to the
most talented design graduates. The first set of awards are for work in the
fields of textiles, fashion, costume design, jewellery, precious metalwork and
contemporary design crafts, with the prizes including professional advice and
paid work placements of up to one year offering graduates vital support as they
embark on their professional careers
Sarah Monk, Director of New
Designers, said: “There’s such a
wealth of brilliant ideas at this year’s New Designers that our judges have
been spoilt for choice. We are delighted
to recognise these talented individuals and provide them with such fantastic
opportunities as they take the first steps into their creative careers.”
Designers, said: “There’s such a
wealth of brilliant ideas at this year’s New Designers that our judges have
been spoilt for choice. We are delighted
to recognise these talented individuals and provide them with such fantastic
opportunities as they take the first steps into their creative careers.”
“Innovation and creativity are at the heart of The Glasgow School of
Art,” says Prof Tom Inns, Director of The Glasgow School
of Art. “We are delighted to see these
qualities in our graduates work have been recognised in these prestigious
awards. The New Designers Awards are valuable as a showcase for rising design
stars, but equally importantly they also offer the winners vital professional
support to help develop their careers in the creative industries.”
Art,” says Prof Tom Inns, Director of The Glasgow School
of Art. “We are delighted to see these
qualities in our graduates work have been recognised in these prestigious
awards. The New Designers Awards are valuable as a showcase for rising design
stars, but equally importantly they also offer the winners vital professional
support to help develop their careers in the creative industries.”
Textile Design graduate, 21-year old Nina
Butler from Leeds, was named New Designer of The Year. This is the second time
in three years that the supreme award has been won by a GSA Textile Design
graduate. Olivia Qi won the award in 2015.
Butler from Leeds, was named New Designer of The Year. This is the second time
in three years that the supreme award has been won by a GSA Textile Design
graduate. Olivia Qi won the award in 2015.
Nina’s Degree
Show collection, Offset, featured
tactile, reversible, innovative sports textile designs, which were inspired by
Olympic architecture, including Zaha Hadid’s Aquatics Centre in London and the
Estadi Olímpic in Barcelona. The collection uses the bonding techniques and
padded foam channels, which are more usually seen in sports footwear, to create
distinctive modern fabrics.
Show collection, Offset, featured
tactile, reversible, innovative sports textile designs, which were inspired by
Olympic architecture, including Zaha Hadid’s Aquatics Centre in London and the
Estadi Olímpic in Barcelona. The collection uses the bonding techniques and
padded foam channels, which are more usually seen in sports footwear, to create
distinctive modern fabrics.
“Nina’s thought process is mature and her work is ready to go,”
said the Award judges. “She has designed
a product that has taken a traditional discipline into the 21st century with
inspiration from sports architecture to sportswear.”
said the Award judges. “She has designed
a product that has taken a traditional discipline into the 21st century with
inspiration from sports architecture to sportswear.”
“I’m really shocked and surprised,” says Nina “I’ve had the best day.”
“I’d love to work for the knit innovation section of a sports footwear
company. This award will enable me to move to London and find a placement that
will help me on that path. I love to learn, so look forward to the various
consulting sessions that come with the award.”
company. This award will enable me to move to London and find a placement that
will help me on that path. I love to learn, so look forward to the various
consulting sessions that come with the award.”
The New Designers John
Lewis Award for Design and Innovation was won by GSA Textile Design graduate Emma
Boyd-Madsen. Her Degree Show collection Cirkel features sculptural knitted pieces inspired by a summer spent
in Copenhagen, and by organic contemporary architecture. Circular shapes were
produced using unusual objects like hair rings, curtain rings and copper tubing.
Lewis Award for Design and Innovation was won by GSA Textile Design graduate Emma
Boyd-Madsen. Her Degree Show collection Cirkel features sculptural knitted pieces inspired by a summer spent
in Copenhagen, and by organic contemporary architecture. Circular shapes were
produced using unusual objects like hair rings, curtain rings and copper tubing.
Commenting on her
collection the judges said: “Emma’s
knitted structures explore the typical use of textiles in interiors. Skillfully
made with a sound understanding of colour, this work is full of potential and
we look forward to seeing where it will go next.”
collection the judges said: “Emma’s
knitted structures explore the typical use of textiles in interiors. Skillfully
made with a sound understanding of colour, this work is full of potential and
we look forward to seeing where it will go next.”
Emma added “This award gives me a head start in
producing my fabrics and getting a footing in the design world. I want to start
making contacts and learning about manufacturing my pieces.”
producing my fabrics and getting a footing in the design world. I want to start
making contacts and learning about manufacturing my pieces.”
“This is a great result for The Glasgow school of art Fashion and Textiles
department, and especially for knit having two winners,” says
Leigh Bagley, Subject Leader, Knit at the GSA. “Both Nina and Emma have shown great creativity and accomplishment
within their specialism.”
department, and especially for knit having two winners,” says
Leigh Bagley, Subject Leader, Knit at the GSA. “Both Nina and Emma have shown great creativity and accomplishment
within their specialism.”
It was also announced that Textile Design graduates Nina
Butler (Knit) and Kate Connell
(Print) have been selected to exhibit at Premiere Vision Paris.
Butler (Knit) and Kate Connell
(Print) have been selected to exhibit at Premiere Vision Paris.
GSA graduates also won both
of The New Design Goldsmiths’ Company Awards this year.
of The New Design Goldsmiths’ Company Awards this year.
The Silversmithing Award
was won by Andrew Fleming for his Degree Show Colllection – Construct – functional
and decorative silverware inspired by architecture and the process of building.
“I’m really proud to have won an award that
in our community is so prestigious,” says Andrew. “The Goldsmiths’ Company represent the best of silversmithing in the UK
and it’s great to be associated with them.”
was won by Andrew Fleming for his Degree Show Colllection – Construct – functional
and decorative silverware inspired by architecture and the process of building.
“I’m really proud to have won an award that
in our community is so prestigious,” says Andrew. “The Goldsmiths’ Company represent the best of silversmithing in the UK
and it’s great to be associated with them.”
Meanwhile, the Jewellery Award
was won by Miki Asai for Preserved Moments – a gold broach incorporating
nearly 200 hand-wound 18 carat gold springs and gold discs which vibrate to
catch the light, giving a twinkling effect. Miki’s Degree Show collection was
inspired by intangible and fleeting phenomena, and the Japanese aesthetic of
finding beauty in impermanence and imperfection. “It took a long time and lots of work to make the collection so I am
happy to see that people like my work,” says Miki. “I will now be more confident, I hope it will help me to be more
professional and I will definitely keep making.”
was won by Miki Asai for Preserved Moments – a gold broach incorporating
nearly 200 hand-wound 18 carat gold springs and gold discs which vibrate to
catch the light, giving a twinkling effect. Miki’s Degree Show collection was
inspired by intangible and fleeting phenomena, and the Japanese aesthetic of
finding beauty in impermanence and imperfection. “It took a long time and lots of work to make the collection so I am
happy to see that people like my work,” says Miki. “I will now be more confident, I hope it will help me to be more
professional and I will definitely keep making.”
“New Designers is a
fantastic national platform for our graduates,” says Anna Gordon Head of Silversmithing and Jewellery
at the GSA. “It is wonderful to see their
hard work and dedication recognised at this level.”
fantastic national platform for our graduates,” says Anna Gordon Head of Silversmithing and Jewellery
at the GSA. “It is wonderful to see their
hard work and dedication recognised at this level.”
“Both Andrew and Miki
demonstrate an originality and attention which was particularly commended by
the judging panel.”
demonstrate an originality and attention which was particularly commended by
the judging panel.”
New Designers 2017 Part 1
runs until Saturday 1 July at the Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street London N1
0QH. Further information: http://www.newdesigners.com
runs until Saturday 1 July at the Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street London N1
0QH. Further information: http://www.newdesigners.com
Ends
Further information and
images
images
Lesley Booth
0779 941 4474
@GSofAMedia