Another successful year for NTU Product Design students at annual showcase of graduate talent
The work of Nottingham Trent University (NTU) students was recognised at New Designers 2026, the UK's most established graduate design showcase.
By Jon Duckworth | Published on 14 July 2026
Graduating students from NTU's undergraduate courses in Product Design joined over 2,500 exhibitors at this year's New Designers showcase - the annual event that aims to bring together the best graduate design talent from across the UK.
Held at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London, over four days, the event connects graduate designers with the public aimed as well as professionals in the design industry, enabling them to showcase their design skills and expand their network of industry contacts.
Becca Panter with her commercial project Re:Frame, engaging with an attendee at New Designers 2026.
BA (Hons) Furniture and Product Design student Becca Panter was among the many NTU students whose work caught the eye of industry representatives, winning The Conran Shop Design Award, as well as a New Designers Rising Star award, and recognition from Allermuir and Ocee & Four. Speaking at the event, she said:
"I'm extremely grateful for the recognition. It's nice to know that four years of hard work have really paid off and to have a great brand recognise the work that's gone into it."
The Conran Shop judges remarked that Becca's work stood out "for the maturity of her design thinking and the clarity with which she articulated her work" and, in addition, that her ReFrame flatpack wardrobe and Lorca chair demonstrated "a considered commitment to circularity, longevity, and responsive design". She has won a three-month paid internship within The Conran Shop Furniture and Lighting team.
Fellow Furniture and Product Design student James Murphy also took home one of the sponsored awards - The Habitat Future Design Award - for Casul transformable chair and play-set for children.
"James presented a thoroughly considered project that consistently put the end user first," said Habitat head of buying Georgina Dawson, speaking to architecture, interiors and design magazine Dezeen. "We were particularly impressed by the way he balanced playfulness with functionality."
James Murphy's Casul is designed to provide an interactive, analogue play experience for young children.
James became interested in children's design during his work placement at Lego.
"Designing products for children is just really fun and rewarding," he explained. "And for my major project in my final year I wanted to marry my background in furniture with this newfound area of design."
Posting on LinkedIn, James said: "I am honoured to have won the Habitat Future Design Award. It was surreal hearing my name announced over the tannoy and I can’t thank the team enough for their interest and support for my project, Casul."
In addition to winning the Habitat prize, James was also shortlisted for the John Lewis Award for Design & Innovation.
Well done to Becca, James and their fellow NTU exhibitors for putting on another terrific display at New Designers.
Congratulations
Sponsor Awards
The Habitat Future Design Award - James Murphy (Furniture and Product Design)
The Conran Shop Design Award - Becca Panter (Furniture and Product Design)
Loves/Likes
MADE (Materials and Design Exchange) - Eloise Pegg (BSc Product Design)
Cadbury - Tom Evans (BSc Product Design)
Kenwood - Davina Chauhan (BSc Product Design)
Kenwood - Ganesh Suresh (BA Product Design)
Decorex - Reece Morgan (BA Product Desgin)
Oliver Bonas - Luke Black (BA Product Design)
Design Council - Gabriel Dale (BA Product Design) (Runner Up)
John Lewis - James Murphy (Furniture and Product Design)
Shoreditch Design Week - Harry Tompkins (Furniture and Product Design)
Native - Adam Gardner (Furniture and Product Design)
John Lewis - Adam Gardner (Furniture and Product Design)
Shoreditch Design Week - Adam Gardner (Furniture and Product Design)
Sage Automotive Interiors - Harry Tompkins (Furniture and Product Design)
Conran Shop - Izzy Burrell (Furniture and Product Design)
Conran Shop - Becca Panter (Furniture and Product Design)
Ocee & Four - Becca Panter (Furniture and Product Design)
Allermuir - Hattie Ayers (Furniture and Product Design)
Find A Maker - Hattie Ayres (Furniture and Product Design)
Find A Maker - Ethan Howard (Furniture and Product Design)