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New Designers
- ripleygosling11
- 16 hours ago
- 3 min read
Our final degree show as BA Illustration students took us to New Designers at the Business Design Centre in Islington, our third and biggest showcase yet. Organised by our tutors, Jayde Perkin and Till Lukat, and brought to life by a dedicated team of fellow students, it marked the end of our degree and the beginning of something new.
Highlights from the Week in London
Day 1 – Arrival & Art:
I arrived in London and eased into the week with a visit to the Royal Drawing School exhibition, which celebrated drawing in all its forms and included work from Anthony Gormly, Alicia Biala, David Hockney the King and more. There was also a drawing workshop where me and Connor drew each other's portraits. A calm and inspiring start before the madness kicked in.
Connor and I also wandered around exploring the impressive architecture of both ancient and modern buildings. Below are some images from our adventures.
Day 2 – Set-Up Day:
The space came to life as we built up our exhibition stands and prepared for the show. Lots of hammering, hanging, and last-minute tweaks. New Designers featured the best of UK graduate work, but it was clear that product and graphic design took centre stage, quite literally. The ground floor was packed with sleek prototypes and packaging design, while illustration was tucked up on the second-floor. Most of the awards, workshops, and industry talks were aimed at product and graphic design, leaving just two awards open to illustrators. This made networking with visitors even more vital. With fewer formal opportunities directed at us, it was up to us to step forward and represent ourselves. So I fluffed up my feathers and introduced my work to anyone who stopped by.
Day 3 – Opening Day:
A whirlwind of a day. We had the official launch of the show in the day and celebration in the evening. It was buzzing. On the downside, my poor Slug sculpture got broken in an unfortunate accident, and I had a tough but honest moment when a publishing rep said my style doesn’t really suit children’s picture books. Not easy to hear, but part of the journey.
Day 4 – Paper Prize & Possibilities:
To my complete surprise, I was honoured with the GF Smith Award for Best Technical Application of Paper for my project Colours of the Silk Road. The piece explores pigment history through layered paper mechanics and intricate cutting, and I’m truly grateful that it resonated with the judges. There were so many beautifully executed paper-based works on display, so to be recognised in that company meant a lot. As part of the prize, I received a £100 voucher for GF Smith paper and a beautiful bag of their samples (which I’m already dreaming up new projects for).
I also spoke with a member from creative conscience about my book, Adrift possibly being in a tour of sustainability focussed projects at new designers. I even had a few promising chats with agents and publishing reps.
Day 5 – Workshop Woes & Portfolio Wins:
This day didn’t go quite to plan. Our scheduled workshop wasn’t advertised, and no one turned up. Unfortunately the organisers did not notify us so we ended up setting it up anyway and eventually invited random passersby to join in. It clashed with the AOI talk, so turnout was thin, especially when the zine workshop next door was full to the brim. Still, we made the best of it.
Later, I had a portfolio review. The feedback was very positive and she said my physical portfolio made a more memorable impression than online or digital portfolios. She works on food magazines and took my card. A small win that might grow into something.
Day 6 – Creative Conscience & Farewells: Eddy Altmann’s Creative Conscience talk was a highlight. He discussed the importance of visual storytelling in science communication and how creatives can collaborate with researchers. He even mentioned my project Adrift as one of his favourites in the show! He spoke about opportunities like Instagram takeovers, LinkedIn collaborations, and blog features, which I’ll definitely find out more about. We wrapped the trip with a visit to the Illustration Fair at King’s Cross, then packed up and headed home.
Looking Back
New Designers felt like a fitting end to our degree: messy, exciting, humbling, and full of potential. It wasn’t always smooth sailing, there were broken sculptures, empty workshops, and tough feedback, but there were also awards, encouragement, and glimpses of what might come next. I left feeling inspired, challenged, and more ready than ever to keep growing as a creative.
Below are some images of the show!
See images for artist's details.
:)
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