News

New Sponsors to support New Designers

Leading companies and organisations will be sponsoring a number of prestigious design graduate Awards and Associate Prizes at this year’s New Designers exhibition.  This support represents an amazing cross section of the industry all of whom recognise that investment in fresh and new design talent is an investment in the future of their businesses and commercial success.  

 

The show takes place in two parts at the Business Design Centre, London, from 29 June – 2 July and from 6 July -9 July presenting applied arts, fashion, jewellery, glass, ceramics, architecture and interiors, graphics and interactive design, furniture and product innovation.

 

26 New Designers Awards

The organisers, Upper Street Events, are delighted to announce the support of first time sponsors Wilkinson, as well as the InterContinental Hotels Group and to welcome back Habitat. The Interior Design Association (IDA) is also lending its full weight to the event.   In all, a total of 26 awards will be presented across the Awards Preview Evenings on Wednesdays 29th June and 6Th July when New Designers brings together the very best of this year’s graduate design in one great exhibition. 

 

HABITAT

Habitat is putting a major marketing effort behind their support for New Designers, which will include a window display at the Tottenham Court Road flagship store featuring designs developed by Habitat, created by designers who have exhibited at New Designers, such as Naoko Kanehira. There will also be POS promotion and flyers distributed to Habitat customers. 

 

WILKINSON

As a first time sponsor Wilkinson will be presenting Awards in Part 1 and Part 2. The high street retailer will be giving away two awards, one for a commercial and trend led fabric design or surface pattern which could translate into a range of home interior products on the high street, and the second for a product design which strikes great balance between being useful, useable and desirable. Wilkinsons recognise the importance of New Designers as a unique resource for fresh ideas, talent and emerging trends; “As a family run business Wilkinsons are extremely keen to support emerging talent and design education. Both are an integral part of the future of our business and play a key part in the broad range available to customers in our stores.” says Liz Davies, Trend Manager at Wilkinsons.

 

ABSOLUT

New Designers is also delighted to announce Absolut Vodka as a new partner.  As a cutting edge brand, Absolut is excited about being a part of the event and will be providing the cocktails for the Awards Preview Evenings on each Wednesday as well as having a presence throughout the show.

 

TIGERPRINT

In 2010, sponsors Tigerprint launched their ‘Gifted’ competition in association with New Designers, inviting graduates to submit design entries from all disciplines for gift bags for any occasion for Marks & Spencer.  The entries were very exciting and the eight winning designs have now been put into production as part of the New Designers Collection in Marks & Spencer.  Tigerprint is now calling for entries for this year’s Gifted competition which is themed around Christmas.  Winning entries from the 2011 competition will go also go into production creating something magical and original for the M&S Christmas 2012 Collection.

 

‘Tigerprint has been a sponsor of New Designers for 14 years and as a result has a unique, dynamic and very talented studio of designers. New Designers has become a huge part of our resource development and given us the opportunity to fuse strong working relationships with many colleges and universities,’ explains Janine Burrows, Tigerprint’s Arts Development Manager.

 

For 2011, Virgin Atlantic  has increased its support and this year it is presenting two awards in Part 2 – for product design and graphic design.

 

Long term sponsors associated with New Designers for a number of years include; Hallmark Cards PLC; Tigerprint; Sky Creative; Harlequin; Graham & Brown, institutions such as The Goldsmiths’ Company, the BCFA (British Contract Furnishing Association) plus 100% Design and Pulse exhibitions;. Winners of these awards have benefitted from work placements, professional mentoring and, in some cases, seeing their products and projects come to fruition as real commercial propositions. 

 

ASSOCIATE PRIZES

In addition to the New Designers Awards, a series of Associate Prizes are presented on the first open days of each Part of the show.  This is another opportunity for promising graduates to be recognised for exceptional work and projects.  New this year, we are delighted to announce as an Associate Prize supporter,  Designersblock.   Fans of emerging contemporary design talent will recognise the value of the Designersblock Associate Prize which offers exhibition space at their London and Milan shows, as well as mentoring and office space at its Shoreditch HQ. 

 

Loyal supporters of the New Designers Associate Prizes include Christy Carpets, Cyber-Duck; Contemporary Glass Society and livery companies, The Worshipful Company of Weavers and the  Worshipful Company of Clothworkers.

 

Isobel Dennis, Director of New Designers says;

‘New Designers has often been described as a graduate’s rite of passage as they leave university and head out to start their careers.  New Designers works with some amazing sponsors and it is the people from these companies and organisations who drive the passion to support the emerging talent they discover at the show.  The leadership they demonstrate in recognising the importance of bringing fresh blood into their teams or providing the funds to develop a graduate’s work makes our sponsors integral to the show in fulfilling our aim to introduce young talent into the commercial world’