20 June 2001

A nurse who has just completed her degree in printed textiles at the University of Dundee is to graduate in London this month in a special on-location graduation ceremony to allow students to attend the New Designers show without missing their graduation.

The special graduation ceremony is an initiative by Principal Sir Alan Langlands who devised the event so that students would not miss out on the most important day of their University careers and an event which launches their futures. Denise said: "I am thrilled that I will be able to graduate in London. It allows me to display my work at a very important event for aspiring designers and lets my children see me graduate. They are both really looking forward to it."

Denise Dye (37) from Auchterarder worked at the weekend in a nursing home during her degree. She scooped a top prize in an international design competition winning £500 and a trip to America's premiere design show - Surtex in Manhattan. Denise's winning design for children's partyware "Let's Party" was inspired by her daughter Laura (12) who likes to shop and buy pretty nick-knacks. Laura and her brother Gary (16) will travel to London for the special graduation ceremony.

40 design students will graduate in July in a modern art gallery housing some of the most famous and valuable works of modern art in the UK. The Estorick - a handsome Georgian villa set in a walled garden in Canonbury Square - is only 20 minutes walk from the New Designers venue and close to the base of University Chancellor Sir James Black who will attend the ceremony.

"Design students and their parents have warmly welcomed the idea of a London ceremony. The regular clash of dates has been a source of frustration for some years. New Designers is the biggest event in the UK for all design disciplines with many students finding jobs with design firms on the strength of their exhibits." said deputy principal Bill Barr, a former dean of Duncan of Jordanstone College.

The ceremony will take place on Tuesday 10 July. In addition to the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Principal and Dean will be in attendance as well as invited guests.

The Caird Hall graduations will take place on the Thursday and Friday (12 and 13) of that week.