A Return to New Designers – Looking Forward by Looking Back
- Fiona Wyse
- Jul 3
- 3 min read
Yesterday I visited New Designers in Islington. It has been many years since I last attended— probably not since my time working in the Design Promotion Department at the British Council.
My first thought?
Everyone looked so young!
There's nothing quite like revisiting a graduate show to hold a mirror up to your younger self. You see hundreds of emerging designers at the very beginning of their creative journeys, full of ambition, optimism and ideas. It's both inspiring and a harsh reminder of just how quickly time passes!!
The format has changed since I last visited. What was once a two-week event, with disciplines split across different weeks, is now condensed into four days, so if you're planning to go, you'll need to be quick.
As a graduate in Constructed Textiles from Duncan of Jordanstone, that was naturally my first destination. It's always a pleasure to see my old art school represented, and once again Duncan of Jordanstone had a strong presence in textiles and jewellery.
Two graduates especially caught my attention.
The first was Oscar Nicol-Schwarz from Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen. Tucked away in a corner on the top floor, his installation of animatronic lights quietly breathed as visitors approached. Although only two of the nine sculptures were on display—understandable given the logistics of travelling from the north of Scotland—the work still managed to stop people in their tracks. A QR code linked to a video showing the complete installation, soon to be exhibited at The End of the Road Festival. Personally, I think a screen playing the film alongside the work would have given visitors a greater appreciation of the installation's scale and movement.
The second designer I discovered was Jo Gurr, who had organised his own display after his university chose not to exhibit. That alone deserves recognition. His work explored innovative sustainable materials, particularly coconut leather—a material I hadn't encountered before. After chatting to him about its durability, sustainability and suitability for products such as lighting, I came away genuinely impressed. His interests extended beyond product design into material innovation itself, and I'm excited to see where that curiosity leads.
After exploring the exhibition, I attended a talk hosted by two friends from the Society of Designer Craftsmen, Kayley Holderness and Dan Maier, alongside Louise Rains from QEST.
Their discussion, SDC x QEST: Collaboration & Community, was packed with practical advice for graduates beginning their careers. A few points particularly resonated with me:
Build genuine connections—opportunities often come through people rather than applications.
Not every opportunity is the right one. It's perfectly acceptable to say, "I'll come back to you," giving yourself time to consider before committing.
Rather than trying to sell your work, ask retailers for advice. Inviting their opinion creates a conversation, and people are often far more invested in something they've helped shape.
Share the stories behind your work. In an age of digital reproduction, people increasingly value connection, authenticity and the narrative behind the objects they choose to live with.
Dan finished with one final piece of advice that I suspect everyone in the audience will remember:
"Don't email. Pick up the phone. Opportunities come from conversations, not correspondence."
It was a fitting way to end the day.
If you're interested in seeing the breadth of creativity emerging from UK art schools, New Designers offers an inspiring snapshot of the next generation of makers and designers. If you're a recent graduate, it's also an excellent opportunity to begin building the connections that will support your creative career long after art school.
Days like this remind me why I enjoy visiting design shows—you never know where the next inspiring conversation will begin or what new innovative materials you will discover.
I'll certainly be returning sooner than I left it this time.
Useful links:
New Designers https://www.newdesigners.com/
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design https://www.dundee.ac.uk/djcad
Society of Designer Craftsmen https://societyofdesignercraftsmen.org.uk
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