Manchester School of Art students take home multiple prizes at New Designers

Over the last fortnight, a number of Textiles in Practice, Craft and Product Design BA students headed to London to attend New Designers, an exhibition for up-and-coming designers that has been running since 1985. At the event, over 2,500 students have the opportunity to network with industry professionals and potential employers; attend talks and workshops on cutting-edge techniques, technologies and best practices in the field and display their work. The exhibition also gives out awards for various disciplines - awards which multiple Manchester School of Art students took home.

The Textiles in Practice course won big at the exhibition with three different students from it taking home prizes: Ruby Webster won a £500 prize as Runner Up for the Business Design Centre New Designer of the Year Award, one of the event’s most significant awards, being given to outstanding individuals who are shaping the future of design. In addition to this, Martha Lawton won a six-month paid internship at the fabric supplier Camira Fabrics after taking home the Camira Circular Design Prize, which celebrates innovation in responsible textile design. Making a hat-trick for the course, Cecile Driver received a £1,000 prize for winning the Weaver’s Company Design Award, which is given to the most outstanding designer of woven fabric exhibiting at New Designers. 

The hard work of students on other courses was also recognised: Product Design and Craft students Catherine Quinsee and Astrid David were awarded the ‘Talent Spot’ by Association Contemporary Jewellery, while Product Design and Craft student Isaac Heath received an honourable mention from Associazione Gioiello Contemporaneo. Product Design and Craft student Amandine N’Doye and Fine Art graduate Eloise Forsyth were also chosen as ‘Selected’ New Designers. 

In addition to this, Ceramics student Lil Sanderson won the Ruuf & Form Emerging Ceramic Award for work inspired by her hometown Sunderland and its little known crafting history. Not only did she take home a £250 prize, but her winning artwork will form part of Ruup and Form’s permanent collection in their gallery in London.

“Winning was a total shock to the system!” Webster said. While she had attended the event proud of her work, which celebrates slow processes and hand making, she felt sure it wouldn’t be interesting to the industry or the design world in general. “To have received this acknowledgment that this way of creating and making is celebrated is an incredible validation. It’s given me such a boost to keep making and not to stop!” 

Lawton, whose winning project ‘At the river’ grapples with waterway pollution through a series of woven woollen paintings, said “It feels incredibly special to have won this award and to be recognized for my efforts in creating sustainable textiles. Spending the week at New Designers was an amazing experience and such a great way to end my four years at Manchester Metropolitan University. It is a rare opportunity to be able to exhibit in London for a week for free and it has taught me a lot.” 

Walker seconded this, saying how useful it was to meet a range of people in the industry, as well as exploring options for after graduation. Walker, whose project ‘Three-Layer Sandwich’ developed a series of samples exploring 2D and 3D woven fabrics, said “A particular highlight for me was speaking to course leaders from MA courses and to hear that not only the world of work lies ahead but further exploration of my craft.”