Royal Selangor and Nottingham Trent University celebrate cross border design mentorship
Global industrial heritage meets next-generation design as Royal Selangor recognises students shortlisted for its design mentorship programme at its flagship London store.
By Jon Duckworth | Published on 6 March 2026
On 26 February 2026, a new chapter in international design education began at Battersea Power Station, London, as Royal Selangor celebrated the shortlisting of three exceptional students from Nottingham Trent University (NTU) for its design mentorship programme.
The ceremony, held at Royal Selangor’s flagship London store, saw Kitty Lowe, Rishikesh Puthukudy and Kimberley Hau awarded certificates and bespoke prototypes of their own designs. The awards were presented by Dato’ Yong Yoon Li, Managing Director of Royal Selangor International, in the presence of His Excellency Dato’ Zakri Jaafar, High Commissioner of Malaysia to the United Kingdom.
Also in attendance were Jazreel Goh, Director, British Council Malaysia; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Hanafi Ahmad Damanhuri, Minister of Education at Education Malaysia London, and senior leadership from NTU: Stephen Williams, Director, NTU Global; Prof Richard Bull, Deputy Dean, School of Architecture, Design & the Built Environment and Grant Baker, Senior Lecturer, Product Design.
Constraint, a design brief
The collaboration stems from NTU’s ‘Design for Production’ project, a core element within the BA Product Design course that has been challenging students to integrate manufacturing constraints into the creative process for over a decade. Tailored to produce professionals who understand that innovation cannot exist in a vacuum, the course advocates a constraint-led approach that bridges the gap between blue-sky thinking and industrial reality.
The shortlist
In October 2025, three students were shortlisted by Richard de Lancey, Royal Selangor’s Head of Design and Development, during a review of projects of some 43 students. The three projects represent a sophisticated understanding of pewter – a material that has defined Royal Selangor for over 140 years – applied to contemporary lifestyles:
Kitty Lowe: An expressive, sculptural candle holder that balances play with purpose. The design features a figure gently cradling the candle, with the head serving a dual role: completing the sculptural silhouette when at rest and acting as an intuitive snuffer to safely extinguish the flame
Rishikesh Puthukudy: A cocktail shaker inspired by the organic symmetry of the Tudor rose. The design merges heritage craftsmanship with ergonomic precision for the discerning contemporary consumer.
Kimberley Hau: The glass appears as though it has been dropped into liquid metal, with the resulting ‘splash’ forming the intricate, drip-like details that define the base and handle.
Throughout the ideation and development phases, de Lancey provided vital project critiques whilst the students worked alongside Royal Selangor’s digital sculpting team.
NTU senior lecturer in Product Design, Grant Baker believes the partnership with Royal Selangor emphasises the vital importance of heritage metals:
“Heritage materials are typically aligned with traditional production techniques and rich manufacturing narratives. Exposing the students to these is incredibly valuable.
“Engaging with this project allowed students not only to master the technical nuances of pewter manufacturing but also to understand how to create objects with lasting value and soul, qualities that Royal Selangor has championed for over 140 years.”
The collaboration was initiated in 2025 when the British Council selected NTU’s Product Design courses to participate in the Pop-Up UK event in Malaysia. It was during this exhibition that Goh, of the British Council, facilitated the introduction between the university and Royal Selangor. Reflecting on the partnership, Associate Director at NTU Global, Tee Dymond who was instrumental in bringing the project together, said: "This was a unique opportunity to work with a company of such profound industrial heritage. We are delighted to have been able to give our students this opportunity at the same time as strengthening our collaboration."
The event perpetuates the long-standing tradition of knowledge exchange and mentorship in product design between the UK and Malaysia. Such initiatives aim to ensure that the exchange of expertise in product and pewter design between the UK and Malaysia continues to foster both commercial opportunities and cultural understanding. Commenting on the mentorship programme, Dato’ Yong Yoon Li, Managing Director, Royal Selangor International, said:
"Whilst we often view innovation as the future, these designers have proven that forward-thinking emerges from a deep respect for the past. In an era of digitisation, pewter offers tactile permanence and circular sustainability. By merging traditional sculpting with new technologies such as 3D modelling, these students aren’t just creating objects made for lifestyle consumption. They have shown that overcoming limitations and obstacles is the foundation of true creativity."
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