School of Design and Creative Arts celebrates huge success as six graduands crowned winners at New Designers

More than 30 students from the School of Design and Creative Arts attended the event, spanning different specialisms such as textiles and industrial design.

Six Loughborough students were recognised for their outstanding talent, and more details about their winning projects and the prizes they won can be read below.

As part of Week 1, the Sanderson Design Group Award was looking for a collection which demonstrated creativity, innovation and commercial understanding through strong use of colour and iconic designs which felt new and inspiring.

The winner of the award was Catherine Owen-Milsom, a final year student in Textiles, with her final project, Grow Together. The collection is a celebration of community gardening, highlighting the importance of outside space and connection with others. Her prize is a 12-month paid internship with Sanderson Design Group, with the opportunity to work across any of their six brands in their Design Studio.

The judges commented: "Catherine's work demonstrates a strong, confident and joyful use of colour and pattern that culminated in a very impactful display. Her work takes a layered approach to design considering different applications and end uses within interiors."

Peace Rodliff, who is also a final-year Textiles student, was named the winner of the Tu Clothing Creative Pattern and Print Award for Home is not a place, a project which explored the effect of migration on print design, fashion, and society. The judging panel were seeking a collection of designs that were suited to their customers, which also shared their passion for design, sustainability and innovation.

The judges said: "We were really impressed with Peace's ability to take about her product, we loved her work, variety of print techniques and her hand drawing was incredible."

As a result of winning the prize, Peace has been offered a one-year paid placement as well as mentoring from the Clothing Design Print team at Tu to gain invaluable industry experience.

In Week 2 of the New Designers event, an additional four students won prizes, one of whom was also named runner-up for the prestigious 'Business Design Centre New Designer of the Year Award'.

That individual in question was Ellen Callaghan, who was awarded the Anglepoise Abandon Darkness Award, an accolade that looked for a product where sustainability was at its heart.

Rae is an at-home cervical screening device to combat feelings of embarrassment or fear of pain by allowing the user to conduct the screening in the privacy of their own home. The judges described it as a 'great solution to a widespread problem' and awarded Ellen with a £500 cash prize plus mentoring and an Anglepoise lamp.

Imogen Baggs was given £1,000 as a result of winning the Joseph Stannah Award, a prize which focused on inclusive designs that promote independent living and address real-life problems.

Helo - an aftercare device for ear piercing - helps to provide touch-free cleaning of piercings, helping users to build a consistent habit of cleaning to reduce bacteria which can cause infection and complications. The judges acknowledged the great path of product design Imogen had gone through to develop Helo.

Leia Milburn was awarded the Seymourpowell Innovation Award, where she'll receive five hours of mentorship from Seymourpowell designers as well as a £500 cash prize. Her winning product, Warmi, is a wearable self-heating device designed for elderly people to help regulate their body temperature, which can also help to reduce gas and electric bills during colder months.

The CMS Future Design Star Prize went to Jess Gardner, who developed Pip - a portable and reusable device that aims women through the injection process of IVF via a combination of pain relief and reducing the anxiety around performing injections.

The judges commented that Pip provides a 'real-world solution to pain and discomfort of IVF injections, also having other uses beyond IVF'.

The full list of award winners at the New Designers Show can be viewed on the dedicated website.