The design world is buzzing with fresh talent as the annual New Designers exhibition showcases the crème de la crème of UK graduate design talent. Held at the Business Design Centre in Islington, this year’s event brought together over 2,500 graduates from more than 100 courses, presenting a vibrant tapestry of innovation across various disciplines.
From product design to textilesceramicsinteriorsUX design and socially engaged practices the exhibition highlighted the interdisciplinary approach that is increasingly defining the design landscape. These emerging designers are not just pushing boundaries; they are redefining them, combining different materials, methods, and perspectives to explore new ways of making and thinking.
Spotlight on Sustainable and Community-Focused Design
This year’s top picks from New Designers 2026 share a common focus on local materialscircularityeducation and community. These designers demonstrate the power of design to interrogate established systems and propose critical, imaginative responses to today’s social and environmental challenges.
NO JAGAE SOBAN by Jungwoon Lim – Nottingham Trent University
Jungwoon Lim from Nottingham Trent University presented NO JAGAE SOBAN a project that reinterprets the traditional Korean craft of Najeonchilgi which involves decorating lacquered furniture with mother-of-pearl. This craft, once highly valued, has seen a decline due to changing lifestyles and mass production. Lim’s project explores how the material qualities, craftsmanship, and visual identity of Najeonchilgi can evolve within contemporary furniture.
Inspired by the shared origin of mother-of-pearl and marine plastic from the sea, Lim uses recycled plastic waste collected from coastlines as an alternative decorative material. The project reinterprets the layered surfaces, refined detailing, and craftsmanship of Najeonchilgi through sustainable materials and contemporary forms, blending Korean craft heritage with recycled marine plastic in a new material language.
The result is a lightweight, folding table designed for flexible everyday living. Its portable structure encourages long-term use while adapting to changing lifestyles. By combining traditional craftsmanship with recycled materials, Lim’s project demonstrates how cultural heritage can remain relevant through sustainable design and contemporary innovation.
The Tree Table by Stan Miles Abbott – University of Brighton
Stan Miles Abbott from the University of Brighton introduced The Tree Table a piece designed to foster connection and interaction. The table serves a primary function of interaction and a secondary function of engagement, leveraging intrigue and curiosity to invite people to sit, engage, chat, and wonder.
During the research for this project, Abbott explored how to platform connection through production on a large scale. The production became a collaborative effort between Abbott and his volunteers, who spent a long weekend working, crafting, and cooking together. Each volunteer shaped a leg for the bench and made a chair for themselves to take away.
Abbott reflects, “During this process, the object itself became irrelevant; it became a conduit to something else—connection.” The Tree Table exemplifies how design can bring people together, fostering a sense of community and shared experience.
Embedding Craft into the Curriculum by Anna-Maria Stavreva – University of Brighton
Anna-Maria Stavreva from the University of Brighton presented Embedding Craft into the Curriculum a project that addresses the tension between a curriculum aiming to be a world-leader in sustainability education by 2030 and an increasingly abstract knowledge hierarchy. Stavreva proposes an ‘embedded craft’ curriculum for Key Stage 3, embodying climate-positive practices such as resourcefulness and material literacy alongside education about abstract and concrete concepts.
Her research has three outcomes: the Maths bench, which aims to sneak material literacy under the cover of Maths; the Material Literacy chair, which explores overlooked materials; and the Christmas tree collection, which delves into one waste stream pervasive in the local urban environment. This approach to education uproots conventional epistemological thinking, allowing students to connect to their environment through embodied and tangible material practice.
By giving agency through making to the future generation, Stavreva’s project prepares students to tackle increasingly difficult living conditions on our planet.
Second Sheet Project by Eli Tinapp – University of Sussex
Eli Tinapp from the University of Sussex tackled the overlooked challenge of paper waste in lower education with the Second Sheet Project. While students are encouraged to recycle, they rarely gain a meaningful understanding of where their waste goes and how it’s being used beyond being thrown away. Tinapp’s project proposes a hands-on approach that enables students to transform discarded paper into papier-mache, combining old techniques with newer forms of prototyping in an interactive and educational system.
By embedding circular practices, the project aims to make sustainability tangible, memorable, and engaging. Tinapp’s work demonstrates how schools can become more active in the circular economy by rethinking the journey paper takes within the classroom.
Our Grandchildren’s World by Henry Chantler – Northumbria University
Henry Chantler from Northumbria University posed a thought-provoking question with his project Our Grandchildren’s World“What if we designed for our grandchildren’s world?” How would it reframe our expectations and help us consider our impact?
Chantler’s project challenges designers to think beyond immediate needs and consider the long-term implications of their work. By designing with future generations in mind, Chantler aims to inspire a shift in perspective that prioritizes sustainability and responsible design practices.
CSVPA Students Shine at New Designers 2026
The Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts (CSVPA) made a significant impact at New Designers 2026, with final year BA (Hons) Graphics & Illustration students presenting their graduate projects to leading creative professionals. The event, held from the 1st to 4th July at the Business Design Centre in London, provided an invaluable platform for aspiring creatives to showcase their talent and build meaningful networks.
Among the standout exhibitors was BA (Hons) Graphics & Illustration student Uliana, who works under the brand SHUBA. Uliana was awarded the Affinity Digital Design Award for her project Parallel, an innovative concept that reimagines the gym environment by creating an active, engaging space for children alongside their parents. Addressing the challenges of early parenthood through thoughtful, human-centred design, Parallel demonstrates how design can strengthen wellbeing, community, and connection.
Fellow student Shiam was named runner-up for the prestigious BDC New Designer of the Year Award for her beautifully illustrated graphic novel Noor. Drawing on her own experiences of growing up in Libya and later settling in the UK, Noor tells the moving story of a young girl and her family’s journey as they flee conflict in search of safety and a new beginning. Through compelling visual storytelling, the project explores themes of displacement, identity, and belonging with remarkable sensitivity and emotional depth.
Further recognition came for Illustration students Jia and Ania, who were both nominated for the People of Print Award. The award celebrates exceptional achievement in print, mark-making, and visual craftsmanship, recognizing creatives who combine technical excellence with a distinctive artistic voice.
Notable Projects from New Designers 2026
New Designers 2026 showcased a diverse range of projects that stood out for their creativity and innovation. Molly Junetta from Bath Spa impressed with her humorous and playful prints themed around the pub, while Mario Gibbs from Birmingham City presented a sophisticated dress using sliced and pleated polka dot printed net. Loughborough University’s textile course highlighted a strong environmental theme, with Freya Holmes showcasing fully biodegradable outdoor fabric ideas using natural forms.
Aya Al Shalal from Central St Martins made a dramatic statement with her bold jewellery designs, and Anan Mohamed from Birmingham City presented multipurpose furniture that caught the attention of Habitat. These projects exemplify the creativity and originality that define the next generation of designers.
