NTU students enjoy success at New Designers 2025
Product Design students from Nottingham Trent University have been recognised for their work at this year's New Designers showcase.
By Jon Duckworth | Published on 21 July 2025
New Designers is an annual London showcase of the UK’s most innovative emerging design talent. The event, held at London's Business Design Centre, enables over 2,500 graduating students each year to present their work to industry professionals and the public.
Once again, NTU students studying BSc (Hons) Product Design, BA (Hons) Product Design, and BA (Hons) Furniture and Product Design enjoyed extraordinary success at the exhibition, picking up prestigious awards and "Likes and Loves" from leading companies such as Habitat, Conran Shop, Sylva, and John Lewis.
Jake Inglis picked up awards for his innovative orthopaedic cast design.
Among the prize-winners was Jake Inglis (BSc Product Design) whose design for a fully customisable, injection-moulded lattice forearm cast named Morphopaedics enables patients to shower and manage hygeine more effectively following a fracture. He said:
"Exhibiting at New Designers 2025 was an unforgettable experience. It was incredible to share Morphopaedics with such a wide audience and connect with other passionate designers and industry professionals. I was honoured to receive the Business Design Centre New Designer of the Year Award and the Design Innovation in Plastics Award for Most Innovative Use of Plastics. The recognition has been a huge boost and has given me real momentum as I continue developing the project.
"One of the most valuable aspects of the week was the chance to speak directly with industry experts, who offered insightful feedback and advice. It was also great to chat with prospective students. Sharing experiences and encouraging the next wave of designers made the whole event even more rewarding."
NTU was one of over 100 universities at the event.
Among the designs on display were Zaki Razak's 'Structra' - a vital sign monitor (VSM) trolley with the point of care testing (POCT) trolley that has the potential to improve hospital efficiency - which also recently won its creator this year's Design Truth award.
BA Product Design course leader Emily Brook-Roberts said:
"This year’s success at New Designers highlights the creativity, innovation, and social awareness that defines our course. The recognition from leading industry names and the range of awards received reflect not only the high calibre of work but also our students’ commitment to tackling urgent global issues through design. It’s inspiring to see their ideas resonate so strongly with both professionals and the public, and it reinforces our belief in design as a powerful tool for positive change."
BA Furniture and Product Design student Ola Bielak attracted industry attention for 'Drape n Drop'.
Her colleague Dr Joseph Stewart (BSc Product Design Final Year Lead) echoed this:
"It is particularly pleasing to see that students are tackling pivotal issues, such as inclusive design and sustainability - winning awards from esteemed organisations like PriestmanGoode, Keyshot, Design Innovation in Plastics, and the Business Design Centre in the process. In addition to four major awards, including New Design of the Year, several students also received industry recognition through 'loves' and 'likes' from Joseph Joseph, DCA, Allermuir, and PriestmanGoode."
For the students themselves, New Designers represents an opportunity to gain invaluable exposure. "New Designers was an unforgettable week," said BSc Product Design student Zak Boardman. "It was also one where I felt particularly proud to be part of NTU. During the week I was fortunate enough to win two awards, along with other recognition. The week also provided countless networking opportunities with industry professionals, and chances to engage with the wider product design community. From this, I'm confident that I'll be able to springboard into a career in the design industry."
By the end of this year's showcase, NTU Product Design students had won a grand total of six awards, a runner-up prize, plus 31 'loves' and 'likes' from industry representatives, making New Designers 2025 another successful showcase for our students.
Congratulations to all who took part.
List of student awards:
New Designers Winners
- PriestmanGoode New Designers Award - Zak Boardman (BSc Product Design)
- The Habitat Future Design Award – Furniture, Product, Industrial and Spatial Design - Daniel Davis (BA Furniture and Product Design
- Business Design Centre New Designer Of The Year Award - Jake Inglis (BSc Product Design)
- Future Native Award - Zaki Razak (BA Product Design)
New Designers Associate Prize Winners & Runner Up
- The KeyShot Award for Exceptional Design and Visual Communication - Winner: Zak Boardman (BSc Product Design)
- The Design Innovation in Plastics Award for the Most Innovative Use of Plastics - Winner: Jake Inglis (BSc Product Design)
- Cambridge Consultants Associate Prize for Breakthrough Design - Runner-up: Zaki Razak (BA Product Design)
New Designers Loves & Likes
BA Furniture and Product Design
- Azriel Fernandes - ND Selects
- Megan Joyce - Conran Shop
- Sam Budd - ND Selects
- Jonty Haddon - Habitat, Tom Faulkner, ND Selects
- Aaron Jackson - Habitat
- Megan Joyce - Sylva, Opus Magnum, Habitat
- Tsz Hin Nikolai Lam - 4am Selected
- Sam Budd - John Lewis, ND Selects, Conran Shop
- Miles Hardy - Sylva, John Lewis
- Ola Bielak - Sylva, Habitat
BA Product Design
- Jess Copeland - Allermuir
- Oscar Marshall - Joseph & Joseph, Seymour Powell, KeyShot, PriestmanGoode, Nothing
- Angela Yu - Kenwood
- Zaki Razak - Allermuir
- Georgia O’Neill - KeyShot
- Ishita Arora - Seymour Powell
BSc Product Design
- Katie Smith - PriestmanGoode
- Zak Boardman – PriestmanGoode, DCA
Learn more about their designs by visiting the New Designers website.