New Designers 2013 Part 1 winners announced

The awards were judged by a panel including Lucy Wood, head of community, notonthehighstreet.com; Saskia Boersma, brand manager, London Transport;
Becky Harle, gallery manager, Contemporary Applied Arts; Michelle Alger, head of home, Heal’s; Victoria Richards, director, Victoria Richards Textiles and Melanie Eddy, director, Melanie Eddy Jewellery.

The overall New Designers of the year award was given to Kate Turton of De Montfort University, for her range of fabrics. Turton receives a £1,000 cash prize, advice from intellectual property lawyers Briffa including membership to their DesignProtect insurance service, accounting and taxation advice from Rhodes & Rhodes and a marketing and PR workshop.

The judges say, ‘[Turton’s] use of colour, shape, mark and negative space is sophisticated and well considered. Her breadth of experimentation on a wide range of fabrics show she has a vision for its uses.’

The runner-up prize of £500 was awarded to Georgina Leung, for her silver and copper cookware vessel range, Uprooted.

The judges say, ‘Georgina’s work embodies the concepts around her thinking to do with family and ritual. There is an honesty about her making, with a very considered approach to her use of materials.’

New Designers Part 1 will be on show until the end of 29 June, with Part 2 opening on 3 July. Read our preview here