Discover talks, workshops and Habitat's 60th anniversary collection at New Designers 2024 

Week 1: 26 – 29 June 2024 | Week 2: 3 – 6 July 2024 

Address: Business Design Centre, London N1 0QH 

Press previews: 26 June from 12pm (Week 1); 3 July from 12pm (Week 2)

 

From 26 – 29 June and 3 – 6 July 2024, New Designers returns to the Business Design Centre in London for its 39th edition (tickets available now). Celebrating the UK's finest emerging talent, the event features over 3,000 design graduates from more than 100 university courses across various disciplines. ​ 

As a double award sponsor this year, Habitat will be presenting a celebratory display of its 60th anniversary collection in a dedicated showcase at the event. Visitors can view and shop an edit of the "60 Years of Design" collection, featuring furniture and home accessories that reflect the brand’s past, present and future. Guest collaborators Simone Brewster (also the presenter for Week 1’s ND Awards), Sebastian Conran, Felix Conran, Margo Selby, Tord Boontje, Silvia Kamodyova and Planq, along with Habitat's in-house designers – many of whom were New Designers alumni, including its Head of Design Andrew Tanner – have reimagined classics from the brand's archives and created new pieces representing future collectibles. ​ 

Former New Designers graduates Callum Hall and Guy Selwood-Miller have also been invited to join the anniversary collective, highlighting Habitat’s long-standing relationship with the show. 

Above (from left): Alice Kettle; Amechi Mandi

Meanwhile, a key part of New Designers each year is the extensive programme of talks and workshops curated by alumna Hannah Payne, designed to prepare graduates for future employment. ND Educates offers opportunities to hear from leading brands, designers and industry experts as they share valuable insights into the latest trends and discuss prominent sector themes. Among the line-up confirmed to date, highlights include: 

  • A journey through Laura Ashley's evolution from humble beginnings to a global brand; 
  • Habitat offering practical advice for new creatives and sharing the personal career journeys of their designers; 
  • The Tu clothing design team discussing the process of bringing fashion and textile design ideas to fruition; 
  • An interactive session from PriestmanGoode on the importance of diversity in design and overlooked career opportunities in colour, material and finish (CMF); 
  • Seymourpowell discussing its approach to design and innovation; 
  • A panel discussion on the impact of AI on the future of design featuring designer Jason Bruges and Professor Nick Bryan-Kinns
  • The British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) exploring how thoughtful interior design benefits both the planet and its occupants – led by Anna Burles of Run For The Hills; 
  • Textile artist Alice Kettle and designer Amechi Mandi sharing their experiences and highlights in their respective crafts; 
  • Disegno hosting a panel on neurodivergence in design; and 
  • Dezeen offering insights on how designers can attract media attention, featuring experts from Elle Decoration, Friends & Co and more. 

Above (from left): Andrew Tanner, Head of Design at Habitat; Max Fraser, Editorial Director of Dezeen 

 

Above (from left): Arts University Bournemouth, BA Product and Engineering Design – A Reusable World; Northumbria University, Design For Industry – Introduction to Model Making (Image: Jooho Chang); Loughborough University, BA Textile Design – Cook, Combine and Reclaim Bioplastics 

 

ND Futures, part of the Schools Days, provides workshops for A-Level, GCSE and BTEC students seeking advice about design courses to pursue at the degree level. These workshops are free to attend and available exclusively to 15-18-year-old students attending New Designers as part of a group booking organised by their school. Some of the workshops include: 

  • A workshop on how to cook, combine and reclaim bioplastics led by the BA Textile Design Programme Leader from Loughborough University (27 June, 14:30 – 15:30); 
  • Drop-in stitching workshops hosted by the Royal School of Needlework graduates (27 – 28 June, anytime); 
  • Scarf design workshops by the BA Surface Pattern and Textiles cohort at Swansea College of Art, UWTSD (27 – 28 June, anytime); 
  • Card model making exercise to enhance individuals’ overall attention to detail, dimensional accuracy, neatness and grasp of scale – led by the Design for Industry Programme Leader at Northumbria University (4 July, 10:30 – 11:30); and 
  • A workshop where students will brainstorm, design and build prototypes of reusable products aimed at reducing single-use plastic and packaging (4 July, 14:30 – 15:30). 

 

Click here to view the current programme. Last but not least, new exhibitors have just been announced for ND Selects, including Christophe Ceramics and Studio Patty van den Elshout, joining an already exciting line-up featuring Fiona McTaggart, Belinda King Glass, Masao Rong and Iara Talledo Violani. ​ 


New Designers (newdesigners.com) runs from 26 – 29 June and 3 – 6 July 2024 at the Business Design Centre, London, N1 0QH. Click here to register for tickets and here for opening times.   


For the latest news, follow New Designers on: Instagram @NewDesigners; X @NewDesigners; Facebook @NewDesignersEvent 


PRESS CONTACT 

For press information and images, or to request interviews, please contact Belinda Fisher and Jeffrey Cheung at Friends & Co. 

E: belinda@friendsandco.co.uk | jeffrey@friendsandco.co.uk ​ ​ 

 ​ 

 

Press previews: 

Week 1 – 26 June from 12pm | Week 2 – 3 July from 12pm 

Click here to register for press passes. 

 ​ 

NOTES TO EDITORS 

Ticket prices: 

  • General admission – from £20 until 23 June, and from £27 from 24 June and on the door 
  • Trade pass – free entry until midnight 23 June ​ 
  • School group booking – From £100 for group of 10 students, 2x tutors go free 

 ​ 

About New Designers: 

New Designers is an annual showcase of the UK’s most innovative emerging design talent. Since its inception 39 years ago, New Designers has provided a platform for over 3,000 graduates to present their visionary ideas to industry professionals and the public every year. The event takes place over two weeks, with different disciplines highlighted in Week 1 and Week 2, spanning fashion, textiles, furniture, product design, illustration, and more. With a focus on creativity, innovation, and sustainability, New Designers is a must-attend event for anyone interested in the future of design. Whether you’re a design enthusiast, a student, or a professional in the industry, there’s something for everyone at New Designers. 

 

New Designers Sponsors: 

Disney Home  

 

www.instagram.com/disneyhome  

About Disney Home Disney Home brings the magic of Disney into people’s homes through expansive furnishings, textiles and décor ranges. Influenced by over 100 years of Disney storytelling, the ranges are produced by Disney’s licensees and retailers and complement every room and personal style, including aspirational furniture, as well as bespoke designs and one-off collaborations. Launched in April 2022, Disney Home brings these stories together with lines that are thoughtfully designed, including trend-driven pieces alongside timeless classics, bringing the joy and escapism of Disney into the homes of families and fans across Europe. Disney Home products are available from Disney’s licensees to purchase in the UK & EMEA from select retailers. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ©Disney 

Habitat 

 

https://www.habitat.co.uk/ ​ 

About Habitat Since its revolutionary beginnings in 1964, Habitat has made outstanding design for the home accessible to all by bringing thoughtful, inventive and affordable furniture and homewares to the UK. This year, Habitat celebrates its 60th anniversary and today customers can find Habitat’s high quality, affordable home products online at Sainsbury’s, Argos and Habitat, as well as in selected Sainsbury’s and Argos stores. Habitat is led by Product Director Hannah Mallett and is proud to fly the flag of British design with a talented in house-design studio comprising over 20 experts in their own fields from ceramicists and illustrators, to upholstery specialists and print designers. 

STOCKISTS Habitat is widely available online at Habitat, Argos and Sainsbury's as well as in selected Argos and Sainsbury’s stores. Habitat's new Digital Showroom in Milton Keynes, features almost 300 top-requested home and furniture products, offers an immersive experience through 'Go In-Store' technology, allowing customers to explore and receive expert advice via video or chat services on Argos and Habitat. 

Hallmark 

 

https://www.hallmark.co.uk/ ​ 

 

About Hallmark Hallmark helps you live a caring connected life full of meaningful moments. ​ 

Our History ​ 

A family owned business, our story began over 100 years ago when 18 year old JC Hall started our company, with nothing but two shoeboxes full of picture postcards and an unwavering entrepreneurial spirit. ​ 

His passion lives on today in everything we do and just like the young JC Hall we never forget that we’re here to help people, connect, enhance the special moments in their lives and to put our stamp on the world. ​ 

Our Creative Collaborators ​ 

We are proud to work with an amazing and varied collective of talented and innovative creators. We collaborate with up-and-coming artists, designers and writers as well as with iconic global brands and exciting independent labels. ​ 

Our Planet ​ 

As a paper-based company, we couldn’t do what we do without the resources provided by our amazing forests. We recognise our impact on the planet and are committed to leading our industry in environmental excellence. 

 

PriestmanGoode 

 https://www.priestmangoode.com/ 

 

About PriestmanGoode PriestmanGoode is an employee-owned, multidisciplinary design consultancy. Our purpose lies in designing a better, more sustainable future. People-centric to the core, we have been improving and transforming everyday experiences for people around the world for over thirty years. Known as one of the leading consultancies in transport, product and experience design, our international team of over 70 designers, includes some of the world’s most talented designers in their field. With headquarters in London, an office in China and clients across 30 countries, we use future thinking and our global viewpoint to deliver solutions that place brands on the world stage. 

 

  • Affinity ​ 
  • Business Design Centre ​ 
  • Cole & Son 
  • DCA ​ 
  • Dinny Hall 
  • Hannah Martin Jewellery 
  • Joseph Joseph ​ 
  • Kenwood 
  • Sanderson ​ 
  • Stannah 
  • TU 
  • MADE 
  • Unilever ​ 
  • Tom Faulkner ​ 
  • SeymourPowell ​ 
  • Landor 
  • Laura Ashley ​ 

 

 

 

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About Friends & Co

Friends & Co is a strategic PR and marketing agency headquartered in London with an office in Toronto that promotes global brands with design at their core. We fuse creative concepts, collaborations and product development with many years of media relations experience to ensure our clients’ stories are told and heard.

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