On octet of New Designers alumini, including Elliot Brook, Benjamin Hubert and Margo Selby, have united to mark the graduate design show’s 40th anniversary.
The eight are made up of graduates who took part in each of New Designers four decades: Hubert, Layer founder (2006, Industrial Design and Technology, Loughborough University); Darren Appiagyei, wood artist (2016, 3D Design, Camberwell College of Arts); Brook, Deadgood co-founder (2003, Furniture Design, Northumbria University); Hannah Martin, jewellery designer (2005, Jewellery, Central St Martins); Ikuko Iwamoto, artist and ceramicist (2004, Ceramics, Camberwell College of Art and 2006, Ceramic and Glass, Royal College of Art); Jo Barnard, Morrama founder (2014, Product Design, Brunel University of London) Margo Selby, textile artist and designer (1999, Woven Textiles, Chelsea College of Art) and Peter Ting, former ceramicist (1988, Ceramics, Cardiff University).
The show returns at Business Design Centre, London – its home for every edition – from 2 – 5 and 9 – 12 July.
‘I had the great privilege of winning a New Designers award when I exhibited almost 20 years ago and the even greater privilege of opening the show more recently. Showing as a graduate at New Designers really kickstarted my career. These days my team at Layer visits New Designers to look out for potential new talent to join our studio,’ says Hubert.
‘One of the first times we ever presented Deadgood to an audience was at One Year On [now ND Selects] and it really acted as a springboard into the industry, giving us contacts, momentum and the motivation to pursue our ambitions. Creativity, collaboration and purpose was instilled in us as a company at New Designers and we have taken that through into the business to this day, helping other young creatives in their careers along the way. For me, New Designers stands for nurturing the next generation of creative thinkers,’ says Brook.
‘New Designers was so exciting when you’re a graduate, because all of a sudden you’re meeting all these industry professionals, and you’ve got people interested in your work. I actually sold a design to Missoni, which was really wonderful. I think my fondest memory of New Designers, when I was exhibiting, was just the excitement and the buzz when the show opened,’ says Selby.
‘We’re thrilled to welcome back some of our most celebrated alumni – each of whom has built an incredible career in their own right – to the Business Design Centre, where their journeys began. This year is particularly meaningful, and we’re so excited to have them return to mark this important milestone with us,’ says Sally Bent, New Designers event director.
‘It’s amazing to see how far they’ve come and to know that, whether in a big or small way, New Designers helped play a part in their stories. Year after year, New Designers proves its vital role in the design community – not just in showcasing graduate work, but in creating opportunities for connection between new talent and industry professionals. Many collaborations, careers and partnerships have been born here.
‘We’re confident that this year’s graduating cohort will continue the legacy, just as those before them have. Our show is more than just an exhibition: it’s a launchpad for future
careers. Here’s to the next 40 years!’
This year, New Designer will once again bring together 2,500 design graduates from over 100 university courses across two weeks, covering the following disciplines: Week 1 (2 – 5 July) : Fashion and Costume; Contemporary Design Crafts; Textiles; Ceramics; Glass; Jewellery and Metalwork; Week 2 (9 – 12 July 2025): Furniture; Product Design; Industrial and Spatial Design; Graphic Design; Illustration and Animation; Motion and Digital Arts and Game Design.
This year’s sponsor’s are: Affinity; Cole & Son; DCA; DS Smith; Dinny Hall; GF Smith; Habitat; Hallmark; Hannah Martin; John Lewis; Joseph Joseph; Kenwood; Laura Ashley; Native Design; Priestmangoode; Romo; Sage Automotive Interior; Sanderson Design; Seymourpowell; Stannah; The Conran Shop and Tom Faulkner.
