News

Thursday 10 August 2006

Top awards for student designers

Innovative designs by Nottingham Trent University students stole the show at the national New Designers event as the institution scooped a brilliant five awards. Hosted by television presenter and designer Kevin McCloud at the Business Design Centre in London, this is one of the foremost events in graduate design, showcasing the work, energy and talent of 4,000 young people.

BA (Hons) Furniture and Product Design student Louise Jones took two prizes and a runner-up at the event for her inspired Branch Shelving System bookcase. The bookcase, which is shaped like the trunk and branches of a tree, won the Allemuir Award for Furniture and Manufacture, worth £1,500.

The design also earned Louise the 100% Design Award, meaning she will exhibit her work at the prestigious 100% Design Show in London in September. Louise’s runner-up prize was for the Peter Walker Award for Innovation in Furniture, worth £1,000.

BA (Hons) Graphic Design students David Cochran and Edward Morgan won the Tigerprint Award and GFSmith Award respectively.

David’s designs, which included a seasonal vegetable calendar and a booklet about the decline of the British apple, earned him £1,500 and a four-week placement with Tigerprint. Edward’s designs centred on the use of typography and included a book on environmental poetry. He received £1,000 and a placement with SEA Design (London).

Senior Lecturer in Product Design, Steve Rutherford, said: “It was an incredible night for Nottingham Trent University and a fantastic night for the design industry. We have demonstrated that we are at the forefront in providing the right teaching and encouragement for the next generation of designers to make a huge impact in this competitive industry.”

 ENDS

For more information please contact:

Dave Rogers, Press Officer, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8782, or via email: dave.rogers@ntu.ac.uk.

Or Therese Easom, Press and Media Relations Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8774, or via email: therese.easom@ntu.ac.uk.