Graduating Textile Design student announced as overall winner of New Designers 2023
05 July 2023
Beth Somerville, who will graduate from Falmouth University’s Textile Design degree this summer, has been announced as the overall winner of New Designers 2023 – an awards ceremony highlighting the most visionary up-and-coming designers making a mark in the field of design.
From hand forged river rocks to naturally sourced materials and botanic inspired collections, this year’s designers were celebrated in a special ceremony marking a two-week celebration of design and innovation that brings together over 3,000 hand-picked graduate design talents from the UK and beyond.
The students', along with their lecturer's, passion for creativity in pushing the boundaries of digital embroidery is what won them [the awards].
The New Designers Awards are a key part of the two-week event, where accolades are given to the most creative and forward-thinking exhibitors in the show, in partnership with leading design brands and organisations including: Cole & Son, Creative Conscience, The Designer’s Guild, Fashion & Textile Museum and Hockley Mint. Prizes include cash, professional advice and paid work placements, offering graduates vital support as they embark on their creative careers.
In a double win for Beth, she was selected as New Designer of the year as well as the Wilcom New Designers 2023 Individual Student's Prize for most innovative use of digital embroidery. Falmouth University's Fashion & Textiles Institute also won the Wilcom New Designers 2023 Overall University Prize for the best collective digital embroidery projects presented by their students.
Wilcom Europe said: "The quality of the digital embroidery and it's use across mixed media from Falmouth University was simply outstanding and extremely pioneering. The students, along with their lecturer's, passion for creativity in pushing the boundaries of digital embroidery is what won them [the awards]."
The course team's responsive approach ensures that Falmouth graduates can be recognised as true gamechangers in their field.
Beth’s collections, Stigma Stamen and Mountain Fold, explored the space where new technologies and old craft processes meet. Commenting on the win, and Beth’s work, Textile Design BA(Hons) course leader Sally-Ann Gill said: “Beth’s extraordinary talent for innovative textile design incorporates hand and digital embroidery, beading, print and weaving. The recognition of her skill by the judges at New Designers validates our high opinion of her as a designer. At one stage last week, Beth was surrounded by 11 judges!
“This win is tremendous not only for Beth, but for the course and University as a whole. With acknowledgment from industry that we nurture and facilitate designers of Beth’s calibre.”
Reflecting on the success at the awards, John Boddy, Head of Fashion & Textiles at Falmouth University said: “This award is not only an acknowledgement of Beth’s incredible talent but also that of the hard work put in by the Textile Design academic and technical teams, who are continually updating the curriculum direction to ensure that it is industry facing and responding authentically to global issues related to the textiles industries. This responsive approach ensures that Falmouth graduates can be recognised as true gamechangers in their field...”
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