4 July 2012

Fourth Goldsmiths' Award success for DJCAD jewellery graduates

The UK's top award for young jewellery designers has been won by a graduate of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD) for the fourth year in succession.

Mairi Johnstone has won the 2012 New Designers Goldsmiths' Company Jewellery Award. She follows in the footsteps of the other DJCAD graduates to have won the prestigious prize - Hannah Livingston (2009), Elizabeth Humble (2010) and Filipa Oliveira (2011).

Mairi (26), originally from Crieff, won £1000 and a 10-year registration at the Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office. She is one of seventeen graduates from the Jewellery & Metal Design programme at DJCAD who were among the 3500 exhibitors taking part in the New Designers exhibition in London.

Her winning design was for a collapsible peep-show ring, which the judges praised as being "a considered collection of work that blends craftsmanship and playfulness."

Mairi said she was "shocked but delighted" to have won the Goldsmiths' Award, and that the prize money will be used to help her take the next step in her career.

"This is an amazing honour, and it's not really sunk in yet to be honest," she said. "I hadn't even thought about winning the award - I just went down to New Designers to speak to people, show my work and look at how my work compared to the other exhibits.

"I'm hoping to set up my own workshop, so the money will come in very handy for that. I'm going to take my time and make sure it's used properly so I'll have a think about how I can make the most of this fantastic opportunity.

"It's a great honour for the college as well, and seeing people in the years above you doing well and being recognised definitely spurs you on. It's reassuring to know that important people in the industry like what we're doing here and I had good advice and training throughout the course."

Dr Sandra Wilson, Senior Lecturer in Jewellery & Metal Design, congratulated Mairi on her success saying "It is so exciting to see Mairi's dedication and commitment to her craft being recognised and rewarded. For our graduates to secure this national award for the fourth year running is also a significant honour for the whole staff team and for DJCAD."

Graduates from the Textile Design, Product Design and Digital Interaction Design programmes at DJCAD, part of the University of Dundee, were also showing their work at New Designers.

Exhibitions such as these are visited by tens of thousands of people each year, including some of the important and influential figures in the design industry. This gives exhibitors the opportunity to develop contacts with trade professionals, potential employers and the media as well as having the chance to win awards, work placements and recognition.

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
MOBILE: 07854 953277