BDC names New Designer winners

Interior design and furniture graduate Laura Rowland, from the University of Plymouth, has been named the Business Design Centre New Designer of the Year.

Judges praised her illuminated sculptural piece based on London’s De Beauvoir Tower as ‘convincing and socially aware’.

Andrew Millar, product design graduate from the University of East London came runner-up for his sustainable packaging project. The One Year On Award went to Camilla Meijer for her fabrics and wallpapers.

The Audi Design Foundation, meanwhile, has awarded its £10 000 anniversary bursary to product and furniture design graduate Ines Sanches Calatrava, from Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication, for a variety of designs, including her design to recycle used bath water, and children’s magnetic toys.

‘Our judges picked her because, she was a true designer. She came to London as a waitress with no experience of design. One of our guests, the president of the Art Center in Pasadena, now wants her to go and attend its international conference in Barcelona later this year,’ says ADF director Rebecca Edge.

Organisers and judges have reported traditional graphic design as ‘strong’, while furniture has been highlighted as ‘interesting’. Winners have also shown exemplary understanding of sustainability – according to the event’s director, Isobel Dennis, this year has been the first that such a large number of graduates have used sustainability themes throughout their work.

Other winners were Lauren Wakefield, graphic designer from Nottingham Trent, who won both the New Designers Argos Award and the New Designers Tigerprint Award.

New Designers runs until 15 July at the Business Design Centre, London N1.

A full list of winners can be found at www.newdesigners.com