Championing emerging talent is core to Design-Nation’s ethos, which was founded by Peta Levi MBE. Peta previously founded New Designers in the 1980s, the UK’s leading showcase for design graduates. This long association continues as every year the Design-Nation team take great pleasure in co-judging the winners of New Designers’ One Year In feature, a celebration of celebrates design entrepreneurs who have recently launched their businesses. The winners of this feature over Weeks One and Two win a year’s free membership of our portfolio, amongst other great prizes from New Designers and The Design Trust.
Every year One Year In showcases some fantastic emerging talent and 2019 is no exception. Week One was won by jeweller Zara Schofield, whose “wearable collages” celebrate her travels. Week Two’s winner was illustrator Katie Putt with exceptional detailed drawings representing traditional motifs in a contemporary context, encapsulating memory and narratives. Alongside these two talented winners we also awarded Highly Commended status to Mac Collins for his innovative furniture designs.
We are looking forward to working with these fantastic designers. First up will be a showcase of Zara and Katie’s works at our sister gallery, The National Centre for Craft & Design, from 19 October 2019 to 5 January 2020. More information about this exhibition will be available soon.