Success at Nottingham Young Creatives for NTU student Aylla
BSc Product Design student Aylla Gill has been crowned the winner of the Design & Architecture Category in this year's awards.
By Jon Duckworth | Published on 22 May 2026
A Nottingham Trent University (NTU) student picked up an award at the Nottingham Young Creative Awards 2026, held on 20 May 2026 at the Nottingham Playhouse.
BSc Product Design student Aylla Gill won in the Maber-sponsored Design & Architecture Category (19-24 year olds) for her "BLOOM" lampshade. The piece was praised by the competition judges as being a "Victorian inspired light that shows imaginative material manipulation, using only paper and cardboard to form a variety of textures", adding: "She imbues the work with a captivating level of depth in its play with light and shadow."
The student, who completed the project in her first year studying at NTU, says:
"This project was my first project of the year and truly cemented my passion for design. As I began exploring the creative process with the guidance of my exceptional tutors, I loved the challenge of infusing my concepts with my own vision and personal style while still staying true to the client’s aesthetic."
Aylla Gill at the Young Creative Awards. Picture credit: Luke Siena.
Dr Luke Siena, a senior lecturer in Product Design at NTU, said:
"Aylla’s success in winning at the Nottingham Young Creative Awards reflects her outstanding combination of creativity, precision, and critical design thinking. Her BLOOM light demonstrates exceptional attention to detail, thoughtfully integrating sustainable considerations with an imaginative and technically assured approach. Her BLOOM light also showcases distinctive creative flair, particularly in the considered use of photography and composition to communicate its concept and visual impact. As a course team and department we are immensely proud of Aylla's achievement and excited to see how she continues to develop, embracing new design opportunities and shaping a promising future within the discipline."
In order to submit her entry to the Young Creative Awards, Aylla turned to photographer Julian Hughes (who also lectures at NTU).
"Working alongside Julian not only taught me more about photography, but he also managed to perfectly capture my vision, the mood, craftsmanship, detail etc. behind this labour of love."
Aylla told us:
"I am incredibly grateful to my tutors for encouraging me to put myself out there - and I'm honoured to receive this award. I'm so excited to now call myself an award-winning designer!"
About the project
"BLOOM" by Aylla Gill. Image credit: Julian Hughes.
The brief challenged Aylla to design a lighting piece made entirely from paper and cardboard and was created for a local Nottingham bar (Pepper Rocks) known for its eclectic interior design.
"I wanted to design something that could sit comfortably within that environment while still offering its own moment of softness," Aylla said.
Victorian lampshade styles were an influence on her design.
"I was drawn by how theatrical they are: the scalloped silhouettes, layered fabrics, beaded trims and fringes that turn a simple light source into something indulgent and expressive."
For more information about Product Design courses at NTU, visit our website.