New Designers 2009

mydeco had exclusive press coverage of the New Designers exhibition and awards ceremony on 8 July. The event was packed with brilliantly innovative and inspirational products from the next generation of designers. Read on for the who's who of the next generation of designers and reviews of their creations:

Part 1 of the New Designers show is open to the public from 9 - 12 July. It showcases exceptional design talent from across the UK but, like everything, there could only be one winner.

Paul Roden, from the Glasgow Scool of Art, won the BDC New Designer of the Year Award with his seventies fabric swatches. The shocked winner told mydeco that his swatches were 'influenced from tacky seventies paterns from when I was a kid'. His stand showcased several colourful, boldy patterned fabric swatches with photos of beautifully upholstered chairs and sofas. They looked professional and certainly stood out from the surrounding competition of more neutral tones.

Throughout the exhibition, the winners of various categories were announced amid excited applause and squeals of congratulations. All the winners received prizes worth thousands of pounds in the form of business advice, design software, work placements and cash prizes too. Full details of the winners, their awards and the whole exhibition can be found on the New Designers 2009 website.

The Glasgow School of Art are turning out a lot of promising talent as a thrilled Francesca Martin joined Paul in the winner’s circle with two awards. She won the New Designers Harlequin Award as well as the Tigerprint Award. The judges seem to be favouring textiles but her prints focus on floral prints and natural shapes.

The Graham and Green Award went to Melissa Selmin from the Cardiff School of Art and Design. Her wallpaper prints feature colourful floral patterns and her upholstered books are on sale too.

Hannah Livingstone and Lee Simmons both won a Goldsmiths’ Company Award. The judges said that Hannah, from the University of Dundee, won The Goldsmiths' Company Jewellery Award for her tactile and interactive antiquarian gold locket necklace. The ornate locket is shaped like a chest which opens to reveal a personal note and a hidden compartment beneath can contain a small keepsake.

Lee, from Sheffield Hallam University, won the Silversmithing Award for his enclosed jug. It features symmetrical titanium fins that curve around to enclose the cylindrical sterling silver jug. Still surprised by the award, he said how he hadn’t expected it at all and added: ‘The inspiration for my work was to incite a brief moment of reflection.'

Emma Tiplady won the Pulse Award for her tactile and interactive glass holders. Silicone encases the glass and is filled with flour, sand, salt and even couscous. This allows you to squeeze the casing into different shapes. Emma, from Brighton University, said she now wants to extend the range to include mug and cup holders.

From One Year On, an exhibition of work from fledgling designers, the judges favoured the work of Ruth Ashton. Her framed embroidered cartoon monster illustrations also feature in a huge embroidered book with accompanying stories about the monsters’ shenanigans. Very different from the other displays!

All the products and creations on display are enviously awe–inspiring and look extremely professional yet unique. Part two of the show will begin 16 July and mydeco will have full coverage of the event, awards and winners.

However, there's no need to wait until then for design inspiration from up and coming British artists. Discover something unique with mydeco's independent design boutique which features the best of emerging hot, home–grown new talent.