U.K. Graduates Draw Attention To Global Issues With Purpose-Driven Designs

This year’s New Designers Graduate Exhibition in London brought an array of thought-provoking work to both challenge and question global issues we face today. With a focus on environmental and social topics, advances in material innovation and conversational design took precedence across the event. 

Concepts with a strong purpose stood out and it was encouraging to see fresh minds using design as a platform to address these conversations. With this mutual mindset, the graduates looked for solutions to address concerns around subjects including climate change and social wellbeing.

Each year, the show brings together a selection of graduates garnered from universities all across the U.K., connecting them directly with the industry. Abundant with new innovation, the last two years have seen a strong emphasis around sustainability. Last years Belmond Designer of the Year, Toni Packham, focused on recycling plastic into homeware items and has gone on to design cutlery made from ocean waste for the newly refurbished Belmond Cadogan Hotel in London.

At this years event, UWE Bristol graduate, Sarah Batchelor, also focused on the throwaway culture of today. Her design, the Paper Denim Chair, is created using a material made from waste paper and denim which is then combined with Jesmonite to create a composite form. Looking to bring a beautiful aesthetic to her objects, she uses discarded materials in an effort to draw attention to the negative impact of excessive consumption. For her innovations, she was awarded the Hallmark New Designers Award which offers her a four week placement within the studio.

Linda Scerpella, a graduate of Brunel University, again looked to raise awareness around the plastic crisis which plagues our planet today. Utilizing motion graphics she produced a campaign titled “Invisible Plastics,” which visually brought a beauty to this waste material while simultaenously highlighting its negative impact on our oceans. For this she was presented the New Designers Pentland Brands Award.

Benjamin Stanton, turned his focus toward to the waste issues in the fashion and textile industry. A graduate of the Sheffield Hallam University, he presented a selection of boards made from denim waste compressed with bio resin to create a bespoke shelving units. His passion to harness waste to reduce rising landfill levels impressed the industry, earning him the New Designers 100% Design Award. Although the material was presented in the form of shelving, its versatility is undeniable and could be utilized in a variety of forms in the future.

The coveted Business Design Centre New Designer of the Year Award went to Rimal Bhatt who created FEBA (Fire Evacuation Breathing Apparatus) in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy which occurred in London in 2017. From the University of Hertfordshire, he designed a mask which, when coupled with radio frequency technology, can be tracked to monitor when people enter and exit a building, effectively logging the number of people still inside. This innovation drew a positive response with it addressing a highly relevant need.

This years Belmond Designer of the Year, Laila Laurel, explores feminism and the social issues around the topic. Titled “Feminism in the Third Dimension,” her final part of the project was a playful design to curb “manspreading” and to start discussions around sexist issues which take place within our society. “A Solution for Manspreading” is a set of chairs that forces users to spread their legs and sit with their legs together. “I want my work to be interactive and fun, but also to serve a wider role, beyond the aesthetic,” states the University of Brighton graduate. “The experience of men and women in the course of every-day life can differ greatly in subtle but impactful ways.”

As Joe Ferry, Art and Design Director at Belmond, says, “Her designs have a clear narrative and highlight how furniture and objects can powerfully affect how we feel. This is something that resonates with our brand, which is all about creating exceptional experiences for our guests through genuine service and thoughtful, thought-provoking design.” Laila’s design certainly has provoked a response with many reviewers already discussing the social implications around the issue.

Another designer looking at impacting a social issue is University of Dundee graduate Jenna Maudlin. Attempting to tackle the rising obesity levels in children, her interactive playsuit links to an app to encourage increased activity for children when wearing the outfit. Parents can also use the app to monitor development and set goals and rewards for the child.

With these examples just a snapshot of over 3,000 projects shown, it highlights the increase in purpose-driven design and how young designers wish to be at the forefront of change by raising awareness around these topics. With many global issues facing us today, the part that designers can play is as crucial as ever. It is reassuring to see the industry being used as a forum, allowing conversations to grow and messages to reach a wider audience in a concerted bid to create a positive and more fulfilling future.