Decorative Arts student scoops New Designers National Trust Artisan & Craft Prize

Mia Parkinson won the coveted associate prize at this year’s emerging talent showcase for her striking jesmonite and resin vases

Mia Parkinson at New Designers 2019

A student on our BA (Hons) Decorative Arts course has been named the winner of one of the biggest awards at New Designers this year. As the leading showcase of graduate design talent in the UK, New Designers is annually attended by hundreds of creative industry professionals, all on the lookout for the talent of tomorrow.

Mia Parkinson, who will soon graduate, caught the attention of the National Trust judges with her large-scale vases crafted from jesmonite and resin. She was subsequently named overall winner of their Artisan & Craft Associate Prize. Mia will now have the opportunity to create a product range exclusively for the National Trust Artisan & Craft Collection, to be stocked in their stores for one year as their ‘New Designers award winning Maker of the Year’.

Mia will additionally benefit from mentoring, helping her to adjust to working with larger retailers. She will have the opportunity to work closely with the National Trust teams to bring her product range to store and to promote her story as a young maker.

The judges for the New Designers National Trust Artisan & Craft Associate Prize were looking for work that is both contemporary and representative of British craftsmanship, whilst celebrating heritage craft skills. They were also looking for a maker with the capacity to take inspiration from National Trust properties and places, and to have real commercial appeal.

The National Trust judges commented: “We awarded this to Mia for her use of environmentally friendly and found materials. We were struck by her bold colourways and how she took inspiration from the environment.”

BA (Hons) Decorative Arts senior lecturer Jude Wensley added: "Mia’s work is innovative in its mixed use of materials. The National Trust award will give her to opportunity to explore new forms and products. We look forward to see her products in place within National Trust stores."

Find out more about our BA (Hons) Decorative Arts course.

Published on 28 June 2019