Its that time of year when a fresh batch of graduates leap out into the real world. After years of focusing on the final degree show; that’s it. Its over.  Done. Time to figure out what the heck to do next. Do you set up on your own or will you be plucked from the thousands of other graduates for a dream job. New Designers held at the Business Design Centre in Islington North London is a showcase for this years graduates from colleges across the UK. Its great opportunity for this years batch of graduates to showcase their work; make new contacts and find out from last years graduates, over in the One Year On section, just how hard it is out there in the big wide world.

Week 1 focuses on Textiles, Fashion & Accessories, Ceramics & Glass Contemporary Applied Arts.

Week 2 its over to Product & Furniture Design Visual Communications ans Spatial Design.

I can’t honestly say I looked at every aspect – its just too vast; but here is a taste of what caught my eye.

Eva Joly’s Textile designs transform mundane household items into amusing contemporary patterns (1st image and below).  Using a dolls house scale to present the images of domesticity added to the sense of fun her design have. But aside from the fun;  its a commercially viable design and I’d love to see her work in various textile and paper forms.

Another textile designer whose work I admired was Anna Jensen from Bath Spa University. I’m afraid I can’t show you any images of her work they’ve been bought up- she’s done so well she won the Harlequin award which means they now own her work. A version of her work shown at New Designers will be produced but….  Well, hopefully it will see the light of day and not get chewed up and spat out in some watered down version.  That is the thing about graduate shows you just worry for them – or I do.

Bulrushi Ercol Marita Szkutnik is a rather happy result of a project set between Ercol and Bucks New University. Marita’s wooden bench has wood dowels with flocked “bulrush” tops that can act as a coat stand. They don’t look sturdy but are surprisingly strong and when you brush your hand across them they wave about in a very pleasing natural way.  I think ; actually I know this was my favourite of the two shows. The picture doesn’t do it justice, but then it is a tactile piece. Marita is off to Rotterdam next, on a work placement – which is fantastic, shame I can’t remember with whom!

The stand (pictured above) for the Northumbria University 3 Dimensional Design was incredibly impressive. I guess I was stuck by the graphic on the back wall and overall presentation of the stand. Any manufacturer would be proud of it never mind a University on a budget. But it was not only the presentation that was outstanding, it was the quality and craftsmanship of the work. It was all really beautifully made.

I particularly liked the work of Ellen Thomas (above),she showed her MILK stools, created as a response to a brief on value and what makes things valuable. Her response it a humourous mix of traditional craft techniques and contemporary aesthetics. Each piece has a etched pattern on the underside and one leg harks back to more humble milking stools.

Over on the Brighton University stand the work of Adi Chambers from caught my eye.  I loved her beautiful Chippendale cabinet made from laser cut cardboard. Just as in the 18th Century apprentices made samples in minature, this piece was the same – but you could see exactly how it could be impressively transformed to life sized.

She also showed and inventive piece using discarded draws mounted onto a metal frame.

This sample of New Designers is just a snippet of what was on show; and strangely I’ve selected an all female cast of high lights. This is in no means deliberate. But I would like to think that; particularly in 3D design where there has been a traditional male dominance; this is a thing of the past and we’re looking at an area of equality now.

There was so much more to explore at New Designers do take a look over on their website  http://www.newdesignersonline.co.uk/

Studio Job: Beautiful setting, a sanctuary from the rest of the busy venues.

African artists created furniture, furnishings and installations curated by Patrizia Moroso

Piet Hein Eek’s installation at Spazio Rossana Orlandi

 Jaime Hayon’s work for Baccarat at Spazio Rossana Orlandi

Dedon goes plaid.

Happy Easter!

Heres a great pic courtesy of the Wooster Collective

http://www.woostercollective.com/

New exponents of traditional crafts are bringing a level of artistry that is refreshing in its approach; and the humour and wit that comes across in their work is something that we don’t associate with these traditional methods. I think when you say craft to someone it can conjure up all sorts of truly terrible images of bad taste. I’m not saying all new craft is great  – you only have to peep into Etsy to see the amount of rubbish there still is out there. I  just think that our changes in buying habits have given opportunities to a whole range of talented individuals who have successfully found a way of reviving traditional skills with new technology.

I think this trend works for a number of reasons. The means of production satisfies our desire for good quality handmade products with little or low enviromental  impact. It also fits in with our desire to reuse and recycle materials, many of these new crafters use vintage materials in their work. We feel we are supporting an artist, the little company over the big corp. We also feel we’re getting something unique in a time where every high street looks the same and sells the same. We can also learn something, its in the craft tradition to pass on your skills and many of these crafters have produced kits for you to have a go yourself.

 Whitney Lee’s work mixes latch hooking – a traditional rug technique, with images of pornography to produce some really cool work.  ” I was more interested in placing medium against subject in order to point out the dichotomous relationship between a crafty, “motherly” type woman and a sexually confident “slutty” woman. In  our society it is nearly impossible for a woman to be both types, when really the two should be able to coexist. My work was successful largely because of the giggly irony of seeing a sex-pot image in a medium that you associate with your grandmother” 

Have a look at more of Whitney’s wonderful work at www.madewithsweetlove.com

There’s also a couple of designers playing with cross stitch. Fuldesign in Sweden and Urban Cross Stitch in the UK both offer kits in the way traditional cross stitch companies do its just their contents are a little more subversive.  

Fuldesign produce a range of embroidery wallhang kits that are a cheeky update of the old proverbs and sayings of grandma’s era. Inspired by everything from hangovers to gay porn you can either buy a kit or download a freebie pattern if you’re a little more familiar with embroidery.

Urban Cross Stitch use images of graffiti, naughty little phrases and retro video games in their kits. They also run events where you can swap tips and ideas over cup cakes and cocktails. See, craft ain’t what it used to be…

Have a look at their full ranges   www.fuldesign.se  www.urban-cross-stitch.com

If you’ve ever come across crochet it was probably through some lovely relative who made you a tank top or poncho in some pretty loud colours. Well crochet is not all poncho’s and tank tops anymore. Last year the Hayward Gallery showed the work of The Institute for Figuring. They’d created a whole coral reef from all sorts of materials. Have a look here at their amazing work. http://www.theiff.org/reef/index.html

Another contemporary take on crochet is  Amigurumi the Japanese art of crocheting cute creatures. Narumi Ogawa is the creator of her own little character Mr Funky. Shes written a lovely book showing you how to create a whole range of creatures - although you do need a bit of experience to work out the patterns. Here’s a link to her work and her book

http://www.misterfunky.com/index.html

The great thing about these crafts is that if ever you get stuck you can always go into any yarn shop - yes they do still exsist or failing that John Lewis and you’ll alway find someone who will be willing to help – might raise a few eyebrows if you pop along with one of Whitney Lee’s porn rugs though…..

If you’re in Manchester in the next few weeks check out the UK Craft Mafia at Manchester’s Craft & Design Centre. Heres their link www.ukdiycraft.blogspot.com