Dezeen School Shows: a fashion collection informed by Scottish–Malaysian heritage is among student projects from New Designers.
Also featured is an illustration project celebrating queer culture and a photography series documenting vintage metal objects to honour the craft of metalsmithing.
New Designers
School: New Designers
School statement:
“New Designers is an annual exhibition that brings together the best graduate design talent from across the UK. Our event is aimed at professionals in the design industry, as well as general consumers who are interested in seeing the latest trends in design.
“New Designers also welcomes hundreds of school students each year, inspiring the next generation of designers. Over two weeks, we showcase the work of over 2,500 talented graduates in a range of disciplines, including textiles, graphics, product design and more.”
Edwards Chair by Lewis Parry
“In collaboration with Westminster Abbey, the Edwards Chair blends mid-century contemporary aesthetics with Gothic grandeur creating a harmonious fusion of heritage and modernity.”
Student: Lewis Parry
School: Swansea College of Art, UWTSD
Course: BA Product and Furniture Design
Predictable Beauty, Unpredictable Truth by Rachael Gay
“This body of work explores the theme of order and control within the everyday life of an autistic individual. It reframes structure and routine as sources of beauty, strength and emotional grounding.
“Often misunderstood, routine plays a vital role in providing safety and predictability in a world that can feel chaotic or overwhelming. Rather than portraying this as restrictive, the artist presents it as a deeply meaningful system of navigating life.
“The visual language combines precise geometric patterns with softer organic forms, symbolising the intersection of structure and emotional expression.
“Geometric elements represent regularity, repetition and logic, while the organic shapes introduce fluidity and human warmth, highlighting the emotional richness within order.
“Bright, saturated colours challenge conventional narratives that focus solely on difficulty and difference. Instead, the palette is deliberately joyful and celebratory, inviting viewers to see neurodiversity in a new light.
“A key part of the process involves the use of tape to create clean, controlled lines – echoing the care, intent and focus that maintaining routine often requires.
“The work invites the viewer to reconsider perceptions of autism, and to recognise the beauty and power in systems of order that bring clarity and calm.”
Student: Rachael Gay
School: University of Hertfordshire
Course: BA Design Crafts
Unplugged by Lily Wolstenholme
“Wolstenholme designed a preseason bootcamp for professional esports players, focused on improving mental and physical health by promoting work-life balance and time away from screens.
“Unplugged explores the contrast between ‘plugged-in’ and ‘unplugged’ states – encouraging players to disconnect from the digital realm and engage in restorative activities.
“The design uses a circuit board metaphor, with the performance floor acting as the board and the gaming arena as the CPU.
“At designated times, the CPU physically lifts to the ceiling, ‘unplugging’ the space and shutting down the performance zone – prompting players to transition into unplugged areas like the gym, spa or social zones.”
Student: Lily Wolstenholme
School: Falmouth University
Course: BA(Hons) Interior Design
Mrs by Olga Turkovskaia
“Olga Turkovskaia is a traditionally trained Russian Goldsmith who’s original degree work was kept by the National Museum of Russia to showcase new talent.
“Turkovskaia’s work shows years of dedication to her craft electing to finish her second degree with a BA (Hons) Design for Industry.
“Turkovskaia hand fabricates and delicately solders each piece of perfectly formed wire into an outer cadded casing that she has mounted, set and polished herself.
“She looks to open her own studios where she can pass on over a decade’s worth of fine jewellery knowledge alongside her job as a Goldsmith at one of Europe’s largest jewellery manufacturers, Domino.”
Student: Olga Turkovskaia
School: Birmingham City University
Course: Jewellery, Fashion and Textiles
Shedding Skin, Sun Kissed by Mila Goodall
“This project explores the unique properties, aesthetics and cultural significance of latex materials in design. Latex evokes a strong sensory and visual contrast, with its smooth, high-gloss finish and elastic nature.
“Through this exploration, Mila Goodall intends to push the boundaries of what latex can represent in fashion, moving beyond its established associations to create innovative, thought-provoking designs that resonate with contemporary sensibilities.
“Goodall’s exploration of snakeskin-imprinted latex sheets to craft high-fashion silhouettes is a fusion of texture and form, pushing the boundaries of traditional latex applications.
“This approach aligns with a growing movement in fashion where designers reimagine latex beyond its conventional associations.
“Wearing the latex garment was designed to evoke the sensation of unveiling a new skin with a reptilian essence. It envelops the wearer in a transformative layer, akin to the shedding of skin that signifies growth and renewal in reptiles.
“Her goal when designing these garments was to transcend traditional gender norms, ensuring that every individual feels seen, comfortable and confident in their attire.
“The project consists of crafted tops that emulate the supportive feel of binders, offering a sense of affirmation without compromising on comfort to recognise the needs of non-binary individuals.
“These designs aim to celebrate individuality and provide a versatile fit for all body types, fostering a sense of belonging and self-expression through fashion.”
Student: Mila Goodall
School: London Metropolitan University
Course: BA (Hons) Textiles and Fashion Textiles
Create Something That Lasts by Innes Gourley-Noor
“Innes Gourley-Noor’s graduate collection is a commentary on the cultural richness and importance of textiles, looking into the heritage of both Scottish and Malaysian textiles and the rich industries of craft that have existed in the past.
“Initially inspired by the cityscapes of Edinburgh and Kuala Lumpur – the cities Gourley-Noor calls home – these hand screen-printed textiles aim to delve into the symmetrical Georgian architecture of Edinburgh and the compressed food and night markets of Kuala Lumpur.
“With the medium of textiles, she looks to start a conversation around where east meets west and where they contrast and complement each other. Using personal experience of being mixed race, the project intends to create a conversation around the merging of culture.
“Growing up in Scotland, Gourley-Noor struggled to find other mixed children that had the same experience growing up in a mainly white country. It was only once she became a teenager that she got more exposure to content from people that had experienced the same feeling of never belonging.
“With the ever-vast access to the internet our world has never been smaller and the fast pace of manufacture, craftsmanship and quality are dying out. Create Something That Lasts was designed with longevity in mind, which will outlive fast fashion trends. Interweaving identity into cloth.
“Through the use of plisse and hand screen printing, Gourley-Noor intends to combine and develop the idea of the Scottish kilt and South-east Asian sarong, by modernising these garments for utility and ease of movement and layering.”
Student: Innes Gourley-Noor
School: DJCAD, University of Dundee
Course: BDes Hons Textile Design
Friday Street by Carmen Rachel Alexander
“Friday Street explores the interplay between metalsmithing, analogue photography and storytelling.
“Fascinated by the past lives of objects, this body of work is inspired by weekly trips to Friday Street, a car boot sale in Suffolk and the objects Carmen Rachel Alexander has collected along the way.
“By reflecting on the stories and histories that these everyday trinkets hold, this collection explores a personal connection and the joys of discovering something new in the old.
“The photography offers a deeper narrative beyond physical tactility, exploring sentimental landscapes that aim to blur the line between reality and memory.
“Through use of photo etching and enamel decals, Alexander reimagines these everyday relics, turning them into objects with both personal and universal appeal.”
Student: Carmen Rachel Alexander
School: Edinburgh College of Art
Course: BA (Hons) Jewellery and Silversmithing
Pansy Pockets by Kizzy-Mai Lightburn-Jones
“Pansy Pockets is a love letter to queer culture and community, with references to the secret visual language and code words used by queer people.
“Lightburn-Jones enjoys making highly detailed work with lots of hidden messages. This piece intended to be the amalgamation of that.
“Her illustrations are made to make queer people smile, feel seen and celebrated.”
Student: Kizzy-Mai Lightburn-Jones
School: UWE Bristol
Course: BA (Hons) Illustration
Partnership content
This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and New Designers. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.
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