25 for 25: Design-Nation is pleased to welcome 22 new talented designer-makers to our network and to celebrate three existing members as they move up to Professional level. Our panel were impressed with the high standards and tremendous richness in the variety of craft and design practices presented for review.
Celebrating Other and Diverse Practice
The spring intake of talents is distinguished by many who are really innovating in their materials practice, often diverting from traditional categories of craft, combining media in new and unusual ways. These nine designers embrace a fabulous diversity of practice.
First up, joining as a Professional member, we have the well established Bonner Studio, the brand of Jeremy Bonner, who creates beautiful leather accessories in Gloucestershire with the support of his partner Carla. They are joined by Valerie Bernardini who moves up from Graduate, and who intriguingly combines ceramic, glass and neon in her London studio. Three recent Graduates in “Other” are EE Chan, the brand of jeweller Xinyi Chen in Merseyside who uses an array of recycled manufacturing components in her CAD-created works; emerging and award-making wooden furniture maker Jacob Marks in London; and Tracy Caldah who works with mixed media in Hereford.
We also have four new Associates who are “Other”. Alexandra Waylett mixes her media in Essex, as her sewing machine brings together stitch, metal, paper and found objects. In Lincolnshire Rachel Roe’s mixed media practice incorporates elements of wearable art.
Roberta Mason has a scientific background and honed her glass skills at the Royal College of Art; in her studio in Wales she focuses on sustainable glass making. And in Gloucestershire, Sofia Karakatsanis is a wood carver whose organic forms take deep inspiration from nature.
Textiles and Fibre Arts
Textiles have always been strong elements of the Design-Nation portfolio. This cohort are no exception with four new Professionals in this field, and two others. In Devon artist Nancy Nicholson creates bold geometric rugs, handwoven with care and a sense of the dramatic, no doubt informed by her training in theatre design. Saima Kaur‘s colourful pieces are hand embroidered by her in West Yorkshire, playful re-imaginings referencing Phulkari, tradional Punjabi folk embroideries.
In Nottingham Suzy Ager has moved up from Graduate membership, developing her delicate thread sketches of closely observed nature, especially birds. Tamasyn Gambell is a print-based artist in London, making sustainably produced textiles for interiors that embrace her love of bold colour and pattern. New Graduate member and recent doctorate Marcia Michael’s brand is Morogmi Studio in London, where she draw on her Afro-Carribbean heritage to designs vibrant prints for homewares. New Associate Helen Foot‘s colourful and finely woven scarves and throws are handwoven in her Shrewsbury atelier using cashmere, lambswool & mohair yarns.
Ceramics
In recent times our membership has been known for striking and original Ceramics. The portfolio’s reputation will surely grow with these ten talents. Two new Professional members working in clay are Anna Smyth in Northern Ireland who carefully adorns her procelain forms with skilfully applied crystalline glazes; and Glenice Hoffman in East Sussex whose strong and simple geometries are driven by her love of art history.
There are three new Graduates working in ceramics. “Green Grad”Aneliya Stoyanova recently completed her MA, is based in Stoke-on-Trent the heart of British ceramics, and trades as Digital Coiling, using newer technologies like CAD and Virtual Reality. In London fellow “Green Grad” Esme MacGregor is experimenting with recycled “grog”, mixing materials and challenging tradional concepts of perfection. Zillah Puri in Berkshire graduated with distinction from UCA’s MA course last year and is pursuing notions around intuition, strength and creation, through studies of the female form.
We have five new ceramicist Associates. In Wales Arzu Doyle trades as aKjan ceramics and is pursung materials-based exploration with wild clays and recovered glazing materials such as iron oxide. York-based Kate Buckley‘s sculptural forms celebrate her love of repetition and rhythm. Lia Believa is a maker and sculptor with a background in psychology and has studied with private tutors across Europe. She is based in Aberdeen.
Our last two Associates in this cohort are both based in London. Monika Laskowska has adopted the studio name MOIA Ceramica and creates decorative tableware with restrained oat white and pastel hued glazes. Susan Swales is process-driven and crafts non-functional sculptural wares from porcelain.
The Design-Nation team is delighted to have such a fabulous range of talent join our portfolio and we look forward to working with everyone.
