New Designers Celebrates 40 Years of Nurturing UK Creative Talent (Week 1: 2 – 5 July 2025 | Week 2: 9 – 12 July 2025)
Location: Business Design Centre, London, N1 0QH
May 12, 2025
Above image (from left): New Designers’ alumni – Ikuko Iwamoto, Benjamin Hubert, Jo Barnard, Hannah Martin, Elliot Brook, Margo Selby, Darren Appiagyei and Peter Ting (Credit: Mark Cocksedge)
- New Designers marks a major milestone in 2025, celebrating 40 years of emerging creative talent with a special alumni group featuring established artists, designers and makers from across all four decades, including Benjamin Hubert, Hannah Martin, Margo Selby, Jo Barnard, Peter Ting and Ikuko Iwamoto.
- The 40th edition also launches a bold new creative campaign developed by London-based TM Studio, featuring a playful, balloon-inspired backdrop.
- The popular ND Selects returns, showcasing and selling over 20 emerging independent designers and makers across the two-week exhibition.
New Designers is proud to unveil a special anniversary campaign celebrating four decades of championing emerging creative talent, as it returns to London’s Business Design Centre for the 40th time – from 2 – 5 July (Week 1) and 9 – 12 July (Week 2) 2025. Tickets are available now.
At the heart of this year’s celebrations is a star-studded lineup of alumni, some of the UK’s most exciting names in the creative industries, who began their industry journeys by exhibiting projects at New Designers as part of their university graduating cohort. The alumni gathered together at the Business Design Centre, the show’s home for the past 40 years, to reflect on their design career stories coming full circle. Many of these designers have revisited and participated in the event since originally exhibiting, and some will be returning to this year’s show to take part in a series of talks, podcasts and more.
Alumni featured include (alphabetically):
- Benjamin Hubert – Founder of LAYER (2006, Industrial Design and Technology at Loughborough University)
- Darren Appiagyei – Wood artist (2016, 3-D Design at Camberwell College of Arts)
- Elliot Brook – Co-founder of Deadgood (2003, Furniture Design at Northumbria University)
- Hannah Martin – Jewellery designer (2005, Jewellery at Central St Martins)
- Ikuko Iwamoto – Artist and ceramicist (2004, Ceramics at Camberwell College of Art; 2006, Ceramic and Glass at Royal College of Art)
- Jo Barnard – Industrial designer and founder of Morrama (2014, Product Design at Brunel University of London)
- Margo Selby – Textile artist and designer (1999, Woven Textiles at Chelsea College of Art)
- Peter Ting – Former ceramicist (1988, Ceramics at Cardiff University)
Benjamin Hubert says, “I had the great privilege of winning a New Designers award when I exhibited almost 20 years ago and the even greater privilege of opening the show more recently. Showing as a graduate at New Designers really kickstarted my career. These days my team at LAYER visits New Designers to look out for potential new talent to join our studio.”
Jo Barnard says, “When we come and visit the show now, it’s amazing to see the focus on sustainability and projects designed to meet the needs of underserved markets and audiences. We also come to find the next generation of talent.”
Elliot Brook says, “One of the first times we ever presented Deadgood to an audience was at ‘One Year On’ [now known as ‘ND Selects’] and it really acted as a springboard into the industry, giving us contacts, momentum and the motivation to pursue our ambitions. Creativity, collaboration and purpose was instilled in us as a company at New Designers and we have taken that through into the business to this day, helping other young creatives in their careers along the way. For me, New Designers stands for nurturing the next generation of creative thinkers.”
Margo Selby says, “New Designers was so exciting when you’re a graduate, because all of a sudden you’re meeting all these industry professionals, and you’ve got people interested in your work. I actually sold a design to Missoni, which was really wonderful. I think my fondest memory of New Designers, when I was exhibiting, was just the excitement and the buzz when the show opened.”
Ikuko Iwamoto says, “New Designers helped me with my career by giving me confidence, and even now it inspires me with my work in clay. I first exhibited through Camberwell College of Art, then again through the Royal College of Art, and then was delighted to be asked to come back again, a year into my career for the commercial area ‘One Year On’ [now known as ND Selects].”
"We're thrilled to welcome back some of our most celebrated alumni – each of whom has built an incredible career in their own right – to the Business Design Centre, where their journeys began. This year is particularly meaningful, and we’re so excited to have them return to mark this important milestone with us," says Sally Bent, Event Director of New Designers. "It’s amazing to see how far they've come and to know that, whether in a big or small way, New Designers helped play a part in their stories."
"Year after year, New Designers proves its vital role in the design community – not just in showcasing graduate work, but in creating opportunities for connection between new talent and industry professionals. Many collaborations, careers and partnerships have been born here."
Sally continues, "We’re confident that this year’s graduating cohort will continue the legacy, just as those before them have. Our show is more than just an exhibition – it’s a launchpad for future careers. Here's to the next 40 years!"
A new creative campaign
To commemorate the 40th edition, TM Studio – founded by Johnny Tsevdos and Danny McNeil – was commissioned to create a fresh new campaign. After reviewing previous campaigns, the team crafted a simple yet powerful visual identity: a superimposed '40' floating in an abstract, balloon-like landscape. Moving away from a singular focal point, the design creates a layered, adaptive visual language that invites interpretation and sparks intrigue – connecting with both newly graduated students and the wider industry.
2025 dates and disciplines
This year, New Designer will once again bring together 2,500 design graduates from over 100 university courses across two weeks, covering the following disciplines:
- Week 1 (2 – 5 July 2025): Fashion and Costume; Contemporary Design Crafts; Textiles; Ceramics; Glass; Jewellery and Metalwork
- Week 2 (9 – 12 July 2025): Furniture; Product Design; Industrial and Spatial Design; Graphic Design; Illustration and Animation; Motion and Digital Arts; Game Design
New Designers offers graduates a crucial platform to showcase the fruits of years of hard work and creativity, while giving industry professionals and visitors a glimpse into the future of design.
ND Selects: spotlighting young creative businesses
A show highlight, ND Selects spotlights businesses founded within the last three years. Visitors can discover and purchase unique, one-of-a-kind pieces directly from the makers. Curated by New Designers alumna Louisa Pacifico, alongside a panel of industry experts – including Beatrice Larkin (woven textile designer), Jessica Jue (silversmith and jeweller), Helen Johannessen (ceramic artist), Dan Maier (multidisciplinary artist) and Blake Joshua (designer and maker) – ND Selects features 23 designers and makers for 2025: 15 in Week 1 and 8 in Week 2.
Expect playful ceramicware from 4AM Studio, Chaeeun Kim, Parita Thanyasirin and Prieta.mx; 3D plant-inspired designs by Chloe Johnson; sculpture-furniture by Helena Lacy and Studio EASTxEAST; African art-influenced jewellery by Makila Nsika; interactive jewellery pieces by Xuan Xu; and innovative concepts like chair chess by Haoran Bie and Jingnyu Wang. You'll also discover bespoke furniture by Mora, JOSI and Tom Moy Studio, and vibrant illustrations by Emily Kate Henshall. Click HERE for the full list of 2025 exhibitors.
ND Awards: celebrating rising stars
Each year, the ND Awards recognise outstanding graduate talent, with over 30 awards celebrating creativity, innovation and design excellence across key contemporary themes such as sustainability, wellbeing, personal identity, and diversity and inclusion. This year’s sponsors include John Lewis, Hallmark (celebrating 30 years at New Designers), The Conran Shop, Laura Ashley, Joseph Joseph, PriestmanGoode, Romo, Sanderson Design, Cole and Son, Seymourpowell, Native Design, Hannah Martin, Dinny Hall and Tom Faulkner, among others. Click HERE for the full list of award sponsors.
ND Educates: learn from the experts
Another standout feature of New Designers is its extensive programme of talks and workshops, designed to help graduates prepare for future careers. ND Educates will return in 2025, offering graduates and trade visitors the opportunity to hear from leading brands, designers and professional experts as they share insights into emerging trends, discuss key sector themes and offer practical advice on launching a career in design.
Each day will be split into two parts: mornings will feature panel discussions with industry leaders on current topics – from sustainability in design to future trends in colour, materials and innovation – while afternoons will focus on education and career development, including portfolio reviews, drop-in sessions and one-to-one careers advice with experts. Stay tuned for the full 2025 programme – curated once again by New Designers alumna Hannah Payne – to be announced soon.
Other key features include:
- ND Connects – Exclusive portfolio review sessions for the New Designers Class of 2025, where established brands provide graduates with one-to-one feedback for their portfolios, either in person or virtually.
- ND Futures – Offering guidance to 15-18-year-olds as part of the show’s Schools Days, this series of talks and workshops, also curated by Hannah Payne, enables design-inspired A-Level, GCSE and BTEC students to seek career and education advice about potential courses to pursue at a degree level.
New Designers (newdesigners.com) runs from 2 – 5 July 2025 (Week 1) and 9 – 12 July 2025 (Week 2) 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; LinkedIn new-designers
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ND25_40th Anniversary Announcement.pdf
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PRESS CONTACT
For press information and images, or to request interviews, please contact Belinda Fisher and Jeffrey Cheung at Friends & Co: belinda@friendsandco.co.uk | jeffrey@friendsandco.co.uk
Press previews:
Week 1: 2 July from 12pm | Week 2: 9 July from 12pm
Click HERE to register for press passes.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Ticket prices:
- General admission – Tier 1 Early Bird sold out; Tier 2 Prices From £15.20; Tier 3 Prices From £20; Tier 4 Prices From £23.80
- Trade pass – free entry (must register by 25 June 2025)
- School group booking – From £10 per ticket; 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 40 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.