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Success for NTU at i-Dott Surface Pattern Design Competition 2021

Art & Design students scooped prizes for their wallpaper and textile designs.

    i-Dott Surface Design Competition

    Four BA (Hons) Textile Design students have won five awards at the Surface Pattern Design Competition, as well as 33 of 58 submissions being shortlisted, marking 2021 as NTU’s most successful year since the University began entering the i-Dott awards in 2015.

    The annual competition features a choice of design briefs pitched by industry professionals, which students must then creatively answer in their submissions.

    Second year, India Hesketh, secured the Masterpiece Prize; graduate, Beth Aldred, was awarded first place in the Beyond the Wall brief; with second year Lotti Sudbury Smith and graduate Hannah Balshaw placing second and third place, respectively. Hannah Balshaw also picked up the prestigious AVA training package prize.

    Beth Aldred's Design 2
    Beth's winning design

    Beth Aldred spoke on the competition experience: “I entered the Beyond the Wall category sponsored by Graham & Brown. The brief for this competition category was to create a 3D optical illusion design tile for wallpapers, using 2D artwork, with initial inspiration from the Trompe L'oeil style.

    “It feels incredible to have won this competition sponsored by such a well-known and inspirational company such as Graham & Brown”, Beth said of her win.

    “The experience of winning the competition will show future employers that I can follow a brief and understand what they are aiming for, in their collections or projects. It will also give me confidence when starting to gain employment in the creative design world.

    “I am very proud of myself in the way I have grown as a person and as a creator, the continued support from the university has played a huge part in this.”

    As well as winning £500 for placing first in her category, Beth’s work will be published in i-Dott’s 2021 Yearbook Winning designs. The winning designs will also be displayed at the charity’s yearly Gala, which, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, won’t take place until October 2022.

    Beth Aldred's design 1
    Beth's winning design

    Acting course leader for Textile Design, Georgie Worker, commented on the success of this year’s entrants: “Each year the i-Dott Surface Pattern Design Competition provides students excellent exposure to the fantastic industry of wallcoverings and surface pattern.

    “Creating opportunities to network and gain essential experience, this year the sponsors of the categories included Graham & Brown, Anstey, i-Dott, AVA CAD/ CAM and IGI The Global wallcoverings association.

    “A huge congratulations to our winning Textile Design students who won! In current times, we appreciate these opportunities for our students more than ever, and we look forward to celebrating their success at the gala industry event in October 2022.”

    Bridging the gap between industry and academia since it was founded in 2013, i-Dott is a charity that supports surface design students by connecting them with the decision-makers of the wallpaper and interior textiles industries and providing them with experience of how they might work in future careers.

    Published on 22 July 2021
    • Subject area: Art and design
    • Category: Current students; School of Art & Design