New Designers 2022 Preview
After a two-year hiatus, the UK’s largest graduate design event New Designers welcomes visitors back to the Business Design Centre in Islington this week. Finally, visitors can experience the show’s fresh ideas and bold visions in person again. Week 1 (June 29th – July 2nd) features new talent in contemporary craft, textiles, fashion, jewellery, ceramics and glass; while Week 2 (July 6th – July 9th) showcases furniture, product and graphic design, including illustration, animation and digital arts. Here are some highlights, and visit the show for many more inspiring exhibits and fascinating talks
Lily Jacobs Design
Week 1: June 29th – July 2nd
The playful patterns of Jacobs’ series of tufted interior pieces are reminiscent of her local landscape, the dramatic shapes of the Jurassic coast. Combining both her screen printing and tufting expertise, she has developed a personal style that is rich in texture while bringing a joyful lightness to her colourful home designs.
Jenny Chan
Week 1: June 29th – July 2nd
Channelling the loneliness of lockdown into her creative force, Jenny Chan has crafted ceramic sculptures as reflective expressions of that topical time. The detail in her artworks is influenced also by her Chinese roots. Each sculpture tells a tender story, evoking integral human values of vitality, healing and peace.
Aamana Nawaz
Week 2 July 6th – July 9th
Born out of a need for more space on her small desk, Aamana Nawaz designed the Vlamp, cleverly combining the purpose of a vase with a lamp. Yet the benefits of this fun and friendly product go beyond the two-in-one functionality of the removable glass tube and rechargeable lamp, which makes it portable. Bringing both light and nature into the home is Nawaz’s deliberate design solution to improving mental wellbeing indoors.
Olivia Ricketts
Week 2 July 6th – July 9th
Newcomer Olivia Ricketts designed the Snug Chair to last for life. The soft felt pads add cosy curves to the wooden base to convey a comforting embrace. Her design thinking was led by visualising the aging process of the chair. As the pads flatten over time, the chair communicates the individual memories of its use that continue to grow in meaning and sentiment. Ricketts’ tag line “embracing the beauty of imperfection” emphasises the depth of this keepsake piece.
