HALF of this year’s New Design Awards, the UK’s biggest showcase for young designers, were won by graduates of Scottish higher education institutions.
Six of the thirteen main awards and half the associate prizes presented were won by graduates from Scotland’s art schools and universities.
Glasgow School of Art graduates won three awards, including two from the Goldsmiths Company (Jewellery Award, Ieva Mikutaite and Silversmithing Award, Karen Westland), and the overall New Designer of the Year, which went to Olivia Qi.
The New Designers Weston Beamor Award was won by Alexandra Von Trapp from Edinburgh College of Art. This award, which has only been running for three years, has been won by a graduate from a Scottish HE institution for each of the three years.
A sixth award secured by a graduate of a Scottish HE Institution, the John Lewis Award for Design & Innovation was won by Herriot-Watt graduate Anja Alexandersdottir who was based in the institution’s creative campus in Galashiels.
Professor Paul Harris, Dean of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, said: “These results show that Scotland is producing some of the best young design talent to be found anywhere in the world.
“All winners and exhibitors should be congratulated on their contribution to an exceptional show that highlights the strength of emerging Scottish design, which will be vital to the country’s economy and wellbeing in years to come.”
The awards are made annually at the opening of each of two New Designers exhibitions in London which showcases the very best in recent graduate work.
A second set of New Designers awards will be announced early this month.
