Joint press release from
The Glasgow School of Art, University of Dundee,
Edinburgh College of Art, and Herriot-Watt University.
The Glasgow School of Art, University of Dundee,
Edinburgh College of Art, and Herriot-Watt University.
Six of the thirteen prestigious
New Designers Awards and half the Associate Prizes won by graduates from
Scotland’s HE institutions
New Designers Awards and half the Associate Prizes won by graduates from
Scotland’s HE institutions
Winners and presenters of the the New Designer Awards
Scotland’s role in the
forefront of innovation and creativity has been underlined by the news that almost half of
the prestigious New Design awards, including the top award: New Designer of the
Year, were won by recent graduates of its HE institutions. The awards are made
annually at the opening of each of two New Designers exhibitions in London which
showcase the very best in recent graduate work.
forefront of innovation and creativity has been underlined by the news that almost half of
the prestigious New Design awards, including the top award: New Designer of the
Year, were won by recent graduates of its HE institutions. The awards are made
annually at the opening of each of two New Designers exhibitions in London which
showcase the very best in recent graduate work.
Five of the awards went to
graduates from the specialist Art and Design Schools. Graduates of The GlasgowSchool of Art won three awards, including two from the Goldsmiths Company
(Jewellery Award, Ieva
Mikutaite and Silversmithing Award, Karen Westland), and the overall New Designer of the Year, which went to
Textile designer, Olivia Qi.
graduates from the specialist Art and Design Schools. Graduates of The GlasgowSchool of Art won three awards, including two from the Goldsmiths Company
(Jewellery Award, Ieva
Mikutaite and Silversmithing Award, Karen Westland), and the overall New Designer of the Year, which went to
Textile designer, Olivia Qi.
The New
Designers Weston Beamor Award went to Alexandra Von Trapp from Edinburgh College of
Art (University of Edinburgh). This award, which has only been running for
three years, has been won by a graduate from a Scottish HE institution for each
of the three years.
Designers Weston Beamor Award went to Alexandra Von Trapp from Edinburgh College of
Art (University of Edinburgh). This award, which has only been running for
three years, has been won by a graduate from a Scottish HE institution for each
of the three years.
Meanwhile, the New Designers Harlequin Award went to Calum Wilson, a graduate of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art
and Design at the University of Dundee.
and Design at the University of Dundee.
A sixth award secured by a
graduate of a Scottish HE Institution, the John
Lewis Award for Design & Innovation was won by Herriot Watt graduate Anja Alexandersdottir who was based in the institution’s creative campus in Galashiels.
graduate of a Scottish HE Institution, the John
Lewis Award for Design & Innovation was won by Herriot Watt graduate Anja Alexandersdottir who was based in the institution’s creative campus in Galashiels.
Half of the Associate Prizes
were also scooped by graduates from Scottish HE institutions: Robin Crawford of
Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh (New Designers Contemporary Glass Society Associate Prize); Emma McCluskey of
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design at the University of Dundee (New Designers Clothworkers Company Associate Prize)
and Louise Jenkins of Herriot Watt. (New Designers Worshipful Company of Weavers Associate
Prize)
were also scooped by graduates from Scottish HE institutions: Robin Crawford of
Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh (New Designers Contemporary Glass Society Associate Prize); Emma McCluskey of
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design at the University of Dundee (New Designers Clothworkers Company Associate Prize)
and Louise Jenkins of Herriot Watt. (New Designers Worshipful Company of Weavers Associate
Prize)
Isobel
Dennis, Director of New Designers:
Dennis, Director of New Designers:
New Designers showcases and represents the very best graduates from all
over the UK. The Awards presented on the opening night at New Designers
are independently judged and it was fantastic to see how incredibly strong the
graduates are from this year’s Scottish cohort. Having walked away with 6
Awards of the 13 presented on June 24th it gives me great
pleasure to congratulate all the winners and commend the passion and commitment
of the teaching staff at our exhibiting Scottish universities.”
over the UK. The Awards presented on the opening night at New Designers
are independently judged and it was fantastic to see how incredibly strong the
graduates are from this year’s Scottish cohort. Having walked away with 6
Awards of the 13 presented on June 24th it gives me great
pleasure to congratulate all the winners and commend the passion and commitment
of the teaching staff at our exhibiting Scottish universities.”
Ed Hole, Head of CAD Design & 3D
Printing at Weston Beamor added:
Printing at Weston Beamor added:
“We are always impressed with the quality of
students work from Scottish institutions exhibited at New Designers. They
demonstrate a real aptitude for the practical side of jewellery making in both
traditional skills and new technologies, along with buckets of creativity. Well
done!”
students work from Scottish institutions exhibited at New Designers. They
demonstrate a real aptitude for the practical side of jewellery making in both
traditional skills and new technologies, along with buckets of creativity. Well
done!”
Anna Gordon, Head of
Silversmithing & Jewellery at The Glasgow School of Art said:
Silversmithing & Jewellery at The Glasgow School of Art said:
“The success
of Scottish graduates has much to do with the system of education in Scotland .
At GSA we have a four year specialism with a heavy emphasis on studio
culture. Dedicated work space and one to
one teaching also allows academic engagement at a personal level and our
students are encouraged to explore their own areas of interest. Knowing your student and engaging with them
at this level cannot be underestimated and fosters a culture of creative dialogue.
of Scottish graduates has much to do with the system of education in Scotland .
At GSA we have a four year specialism with a heavy emphasis on studio
culture. Dedicated work space and one to
one teaching also allows academic engagement at a personal level and our
students are encouraged to explore their own areas of interest. Knowing your student and engaging with them
at this level cannot be underestimated and fosters a culture of creative dialogue.
“We do also
encourage students to engage with industrial processes and new materials. What we find is that students are curious and
engage with these technologies in new and interesting ways and are constantly
surprising us with their innovative thinking.
Design as part of the Art school creates a unique environment where
ideas are not prescriptive and boundaries are blurred. This is where the magic happens.”
encourage students to engage with industrial processes and new materials. What we find is that students are curious and
engage with these technologies in new and interesting ways and are constantly
surprising us with their innovative thinking.
Design as part of the Art school creates a unique environment where
ideas are not prescriptive and boundaries are blurred. This is where the magic happens.”
Chris
Breward, principal of Edinburgh College of Art: “Scotland’s Art and Design Colleges, with their distinctive
traditions and complementary approaches, have proved once again that our
contribution to the creative ecology of the twenty-first century is without
parallel. Our students consistently produce ground breaking work with
international impact.”
Breward, principal of Edinburgh College of Art: “Scotland’s Art and Design Colleges, with their distinctive
traditions and complementary approaches, have proved once again that our
contribution to the creative ecology of the twenty-first century is without
parallel. Our students consistently produce ground breaking work with
international impact.”
Professor
Paul Harris, Dean of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, said, “These results show that Scotland is
producing some of the best young design talent to be found anywhere in the
world. All winners and exhibitors should be congratulated on their contribution
to an exceptional show that highlights the strength of emerging Scottish
design, which will be vital to the country’s economy and wellbeing in years to
come.”
Paul Harris, Dean of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, said, “These results show that Scotland is
producing some of the best young design talent to be found anywhere in the
world. All winners and exhibitors should be congratulated on their contribution
to an exceptional show that highlights the strength of emerging Scottish
design, which will be vital to the country’s economy and wellbeing in years to
come.”
“From a personal point of view, I am thrilled to hear
of Callum’s achievements and all of the other successes recorded by our Dundee
graduates. We have an excellent record at New Designers over the years and it
is a source of pride for me to see this continue in such a successful way.”
of Callum’s achievements and all of the other successes recorded by our Dundee
graduates. We have an excellent record at New Designers over the years and it
is a source of pride for me to see this continue in such a successful way.”
Mark
Parker, Lecturer at Herriot-Watt University’s School of Textiles and Design,
said, “ I am absolutely delighted that
the work from he textile design programme at Heriot – Watt has been recognised
amongst the other awards received by other Scottish Institutions. To have
acclaim from a company on the scale of John Lewis to recognise the design
excellence of Anja Alexandersdottirs fabrics is amazing and I am equally
impressed that the Worshipful Company of Weavers have once again recognised a
Heriot – Watt University student by rewarding the high quality of design and
making skills within Louise Jenkins textiles”
Parker, Lecturer at Herriot-Watt University’s School of Textiles and Design,
said, “ I am absolutely delighted that
the work from he textile design programme at Heriot – Watt has been recognised
amongst the other awards received by other Scottish Institutions. To have
acclaim from a company on the scale of John Lewis to recognise the design
excellence of Anja Alexandersdottirs fabrics is amazing and I am equally
impressed that the Worshipful Company of Weavers have once again recognised a
Heriot – Watt University student by rewarding the high quality of design and
making skills within Louise Jenkins textiles”
A second tranche of New
Designers awards will be announced at the beginning of July.
Designers awards will be announced at the beginning of July.
Ends
Further information:
The Glasgow School of
Art:
Art:
Lesley Booth,
0779 941 4474
press@gsa.ac.uk
Edinburgh University:
Ed McCracken
(0)131
651 4400
651 4400
edd.mccracken@ed.ac.uk
DJCAD, University of Dundee:
Grant Hill
01382 384768
g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
Heriot-Watt:
Caroline Dempster
0131 451 3443