The competition
Bend Fold Crease is an exciting competition led by Grant Baker, Senior Lecturer in Product Design at Nottingham Trent University and Director of International Design Studio (IDS), an initiative that brings together students from around the world through collaborative projects. Grant is also Design Director at Process of Making, and has a wealth of experience and knowledge of careers within the design sector.
In this competition, you are asked to design a new desk lamp for the homeware market. You must use flat-bed production methods such as water cutting, laser cutting, stamping, or die cutting to make your design.
The finished item will be displayed at an exhibition upon completion. Student’s will be encouraged to explore their innovation, passion, and processes within the design field – with some very exciting prizes on offer for winners of the competition!
Timelines of the project
October – Introduction and Discover Phase (Online)
This online workshop will explain the competition and give you tools to help you explore, research, and find good design ideas. By the end of the session, you should feel inspired, have a topic to focus on, and have some early ideas to research further.
November – Define / Develop (In Person)
This full-day workshop will help you understand how to use visual research and develop ideas. You will learn how to observe carefully and use what you see to come up with creative ideas. You will work in both 2D (flat drawings) and 3D (models). By the end of the session, you will have better observation skills, some useful techniques, and a set of strong ideas to develop further.
December – Develop / Inspire (Online)
This online session is about reviewing your design ideas. In small groups, you will meet with a tutor who will help you look at your design carefully and check if it matches the goals of the competition. You will get advice and feedback to help you improve your design.
January – Project Submission (Online)
Final submissions are due on 30 January 2026. In addition to submitting your entry for the competition, participants may also choose to submit a portfolio. This optional submission will be reviewed by one of our academics from the product design team, who will provide tips and feedback to help you enhance your document if you’re considering a university application.
February – Night Light Exhibition
Selected projects will be prototyped and exhibited at Nottingham Trent University as part of the Light Night festival 2026.
More information
We will be holding an online introductory information session for you to find out more information. The details are still TBC.
You can find more detailed information on the Bend Fold Crease competition below: