New Designers Exhibition welcomes students from UWTSD’s BA Design Crafts for first time

Students from courses BA Design Crafts and BA Glass at University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s Swansea College of Art made their debut at New Designers in London with their Made In… showcase last week.

The show was an eclectic mix of work by new, exciting makers and the first real-life exhibition for the Design Crafts programme, which is still in its infancy, giving it special significance after several years of online showcases due to the pandemic.

The students worked hard to bring a professional gallery showcase full of experimental ceramics, mixed media, textiles, glass, metal and enamel to the general public and industry professionals who attended the exhibition. 

On both programmes, students can choose their own direction and have the freedom to create work that can be conceptual or material led, and utilise strong design and aesthetic sensibilities. All work celebrates the love of making and materiality. 

At New Designers this year, examples of UWTSD students’ work range from Emma Martin’s impossibly delicate sugar glass sculptures to Sophia Henry’s innovative glow-in-the-dark, hand-painted glass discs to raise awareness of endangered species.

The public had the chance to view Bethany Coram’s dark and curious vessels which contain a range of phobias, to Carwyn Llewelyn’s playful, brightly coloured, ceramic and thread alien artefacts.

There was a textile chain on a room-size scale by Sam Mathias which explored obsession and multiples through hundreds of links evoking jewellery for giants, showing painstaking patience in this labour-intensive work. Kate Scale’s vessels were taken from images of groups of people as she explored notions of inclusion and coming together. 

The story continues with Megan Jamieson, who dedicated her show to the farm she grew up on in a beautiful celebration of place and memory. Meg works with sustainable materials and dug her own clay from the farm to create textured vessels, which make a poignant link between the pieces and place.  

Anna Lewis, lecturer on UWTSD’s Design Crafts programme says: “New Designers is a wonderful platform for our graduates. Kate Scale was shortlisted for the Creative Conscience award for best social impact, and others were busy meeting with galleries, Press and design companies to secure future opportunities.

“The experience of meeting other graduates from all over the UK to network and support each other is also invaluable. We are all excited to see what next steps our graduates will take."

For more information and images of student work please email Anna.lewis@utwsd.ac.uk, and the show can be viewed online over the summer.

A second exhibition of work by UWTSD students will be opening at New Designers this week, 6-9^th July, and will feature students from Graphics, Illustration, Product Design and Furniture Design courses.

Further Information

Ella Staden

Swyddog y Wasg a'r Cyfryngau

Press and Media Officer

Cyfathrebu Corfforaethol a Chysylltiadau Cyhoeddus

Corporate Communications and PR

E-bost | Email : ella.staden@uwtsd.ac.uk

Ffôn | Phone : 07384467078