As leaves fall from the trees, temperatures drop and the nights draw in, we welcome to the warmth of the Design-Nation hearth yet another lovely group of designer-makers as new members. These twenty-eight talents are established and emerging, recent graduates and long established, with a wealth of experience and inspiration to charm craft enthusiasts everywhere.
PROFESSIONALS
We welcome three textile designers: Berni Raeside of Detta Knitwear in Lincolnshire, a very welcome returning member whose designs revitalise traditional knitting; Gina Pipet of Pipet Designs with striking geometrics, and Kas Williams in Hampshire who makes vibrant, lyrically layered artworks. Also, in Bristol Tom Moy makes furniture and other wooden products in sustainable and mindful ways. Glasgow-based Julia Parry-Jones brings fine art training to her narrative based jewellery practice.
These five are joined by half a dozen very different makers in ceramic: Deborah Harwood in West Sussex who makes modern elegant forms; London-based Lena Krivenkova’s characterful work as Not Yet Ceramics; Modern Ceramic by Steve Cook in Surrey, inspired by architecture, brutalism and notions of utopia; Moira Goodall who brings her observations of the Essex salt marshes into her hand-built smoke-fired vessels; Bath-based Sally MacDonell whose figurative pieces speak of human connection; and Ying Zheng‘s extraordinary and multi-coloured “gloop” glazed work which reflects on humanity.
GRADUATES
There are over a dozen new Graduate members, including our most recent Design-Nation Green Grad winner, Robert Radcliffe. We were delighted to yet again partner with our favourite design champion Barbara Chandler whose Green Grads initiative continues to lift so many sustainable and innovative designers. The award was made at Great Northern Events’ annual GNCCF Manchester event in the splendid Victoria Baths. Robert’s pieces have won multiple awards and are characterised by his materials-based approach, embracing contrast, texture and individuality.
Other new Graduate members include Amber Jones whose ceramic forms are inspired by family, friends and remembered landscapes; Becca Burns in Nottingham, making geometric raku fired ceramics; Emma Cooke, whose Hello Ditto ceramics brand is research led; Emma-Jayne Sargent in East Sussex using sgraffito and ethical printing processes; Gwyneth Melling, a hand embroiderer living in Cumbria; Jenny Thomas in Nottinghamshire whose ceramics explore notions of perfection; Jess Skelton in Surrey, looking location and decay; Katie Smith in London, using traditional hand building to create ornate surface patterns on her work; Lily Abbott, a designer of eclectic and often witty knitwear in Suffolk and trading as Lily Does Knit; Leeds-based Millie Hird whose ceramics capture fleeting moments in nature; Bristol-based Salman Salad, a product designer exploring culture, identity, and narrative; and Samantha Georgia Cannaby, making motion-inspired ceramics in Nottingham.
ASSOCIATES
Our latest Associate joiners are Claire Williams, whose Aire Studio in Lancashire produces surface designs on botanical themes; Matt Reeves, a newly established furniture maker in Norfolk who honours traditional crafts; Shirley Nelson, a jeweller in London whose sustainable practice prioritises texture, colour and form; and Sophie Durandet, another London maker who hand throws ceramic vessels that play with perceptions of pattern.
The Design-Nation team is delighted to welcome everyone to our family.
