One Year In with Jim Biddulph

Whilst New Designers celebrates those who have very recently graduated from their creative degree course, the show also houses One Year In; an exhibition of some of last years highlights and one’s to watch.

This year the event, which is split across both weeks of the show, is curated by Emily Skinner of Evan James Design. Emily’s own practice encapsulates a sensitive yet inquisitive approach to materials, colour, shape and form and years of experience teaching on creative courses at universities across the country make her the ideal candidate to select and guide early career designers. As Emily herself explains, the event is a great opportunity for those in the A&D community looking for hot new talent or to purchase original work to source promising young designers:

“There is exceptional talent at the very start of their journeys to come and poach. The concepts, craftsmanship and creativity to be seen across the two weeks offers something for everyone. You have the opportunity to be one of the first to spot it.”

There is an exciting array of work spanning every corner of the creative industries. Matt Canham creates work that challenges our perception of objects through the use of material and form. His personal health monitoring devices are made from sumptuously shaped ceramic and carry the form of domestic objects not usually expected of such technologies.

AdeleWDesign embraces minimalist forms in creating Scandinavian inspired homeware products from Jesmonite. Fflur Owen’s crafted forms bring materials together with cut leather discs fused to ceramic and wooden vessels and objects. Another highlight is the work of Janine Partington who combines mark-making with hand carving to create abstract landscapes from leather hides.

Refreshingly, much of the work selected has been created with a consideration for its legacy in a sustainable context as Emily explains once again:

“It’s a fantastic achievement that sustainable design is becoming an inherent component rather than a USP. There is definitely a trend in materiality and provenance to the materials used; reimagining food waste, cultivating, rearing and sourcing locally to create the most beautiful products.”

And Emily also offers sage words of advice to all of those visiting graduates who may be considering applying for next year’s One Year In:

“Firstly, come and visit this year’s show. Get a taste for what is on offer, talk to the current exhibitors about their experience and amazing opportunities they will have gained. Secondly, spend time reviewing your practice, what is the essence of your brand through the products you produce and your mission statement. Use this to put together a focused application, present what you want to be known for.”

Once again Dulux Akznobel are sponsoring the show with colours from Dulux’s Colour Futures 2019 palettes utlised by exhibitors and creating a current of colour across both weeks.

New Designers ran between June 26-29 and July 3-6.