BARBARA CHANDLER
H&G’S design correspondent uncovers the future stars of design for whom an education in the arts has been vital
The government’s intention to take art and design off the curriculum was a hot topic at New Designers, newdesigners.com, the 31st edition of the showcase of graduates, which was held in Islington earlier this year. A poll here revealed that for more than half of the exhibitors, it was GCSE art or design that inspired their entry into the field. This year’s One Year On section demonstrated the worth of a career in design. It featured 65 designers who have set up in business over the past two years.
Despite the prevalence of digital technologies, craft was a strong presence. For example, textile graduate Rachel Howarth, rachelhowarth.co.uk, hand-dyes and screenprints cloth for exquisite cushions and Rowenna Mason, rowennamason.co.uk, hand-weaves natural wool to create neatly piped geometric cushions. Ceramicists demonstrated the diversity of making by hand. In West Sussex, Hannah Tounsend, hannah tounsend.co.uk, softens her vessels with abstract coastal motifs, while Oscar Copping, oscarcopping.com, uses kiln fire to pattern his pots. Trading as Forest + Found, forest-and-found.com, Max Bainbridge and Abigail Booth make all their work by hand. He turns vessels, carves spoons and so on from wood off-cuts or found timber; she hand-stitches naturally dyed quilts.
Not forgetting the influence of digital design, Charles Dedman, charlesdedman.co.uk, describes his furniture as “craft tech”. His techniques combine computerised machinery with wood-turning, steam-bending and marquetry, and his range for Sitting Firm, sittingfirm. co.uk, is going into batch production.