2 July 2009

Exceptional year for jewellery graduates

The Jewellery & Metal Design department at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design is celebrating one of its most successful years ever, with students picking up a string of awards, and a record amount of first class honours degrees being awarded.

The College, part of the University of Dundee, has established a strong reputation for generating individual and innovative new designers and this year is no exception.

In total, five students graduated with first class honours in 2009, while the department can boast success in no fewer than 17 local and national awards won by students over the past year.

Sarah Spalding was the overall winner in the V & A/Ancestors Costume Jewellery competition, while four of her classmates also picked up awards in the same competition.

Other notable successes saw Laura Christie secure a silver award in the Goldsmiths Craftsmanship and Design awards, Kimberley Waterhouse win the Lorraine Law Young Jeweller of the Year award, and Amy Mackay’s exqusite nest structures in fine silver wire and electroformed organic material land her two gallery awards.

Jewellery & Metal Design programme director Dr Sandra Wilson praised the work of the Class of 2009, saying that it will serve to inspire students at Duncan of Jordanstone for years to come.

'This years graduates have raised the bar,' she said. 'They have created a truly international body of work that will propel them into an exciting future. Not only that, but they are an inspiration to the students in first, second and third year, showing what can be achieved with hard work.'

Fourteen graduates from the course will head down to London next week to take part - alongside Textile Design, and Product Design from Duncan of Jordanstone - in the prestigious New Designers exhibition.

The diverse body of work ranges from Jane Gowans’ conceptual collection that explores the place of touch in our society, to Hannah Livingston’s finely crafted silver box necklaces with hidden compartments that recognises the love of sentimental objects.

For 24 years, New Designers has been bringing together the very best in UK graduate design, showcasing the work, energy and talent of the next generation of designers in the freshest and most vibrant show of its kind.

Its long-standing reputation continually attracts a prestigious audience of over 18,000 professionals, public, media and education. New Designers runs for two weeks and is divided into two parts incorporating nine exciting design zones. Two prestigious awards evenings form an integral part of the event.

Creativity across every major design discipline from jewellery to animation, furniture to fashion, graphics to glass is displayed at the exhibition.

Earlier this year, the students presented their work at the annual Dundee Degree Show, which saw them receive further acclaim for their creativity and craft. Their work was also displayed at a special VIP evening hosted by model Erin O’Connor that featured a catwalk show.

The University of Dundee has been a driving force in the 'V&A Dundee - Making It Happen’ project which aims to attract the Victoria & Albert Museum to establish a presence in the city.

Erin is a trustee of the Victoria and Albert Museum and it was therefore fitting that V&A national design competition winner Sarah Spalding presented her with one of her architecturally inspired brooches to thank her for supporting the Dundee event.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk