12 July 2001

photo opportunity 11.45am Friday 13 July. Stephen with his Absolut vodka bottle and pourer. Press stand, Caird Hall steps, City Square, Dundee.

A top UK prize for the best use of rubber in design has been awarded in London at the New Designers show to a student from the University of Dundee for his perfectly designed pourers for vodka bottles.

Stephen Lindsay (22) from Leven will graduate from the University of Dundee tomorrow with a first class degree for his innovative design skills. His vodka pourers made of spun silver and rubber silicone were inspired by leaking bottles in all the bars Stephen worked in whilst he was a student. Stephen was presented with £1,000 by Dalsouple - a specialist manufacturer of rubber - after the company had viewed all the work displayed at the major London gathering by all UK design schools.

Dalsouple makes this annual award to encourage designers to appreciate the flexibility of rubber as a design medium and to find innovative uses for rubber materials.

The New Designers show is an annual event in London showcasing more than 4,000 selected graduate designers from over 100 British and Irish colleges. It is a springboard for many young designers' careers - attended every year by design business professionals and the design trade and industry.

Stephen hopes to pursue product design, moving to London for a postgraduate after taking a year out. He will graduate on Friday 13 July at 10.30am in the Caird Hall. His family will all be there to see their top designer dubbed with his first class degree.ENDS

Contact Jenny Marra, Assistant Press Officer 01382 344910