The 2016 confessions of a design geek bursary shortlist – voting is now closed

We have a shortlist! Huge thanks to our esteemed panel of industry experts: Anthony Joseph of Joseph Joseph, Mark Hampshire of Mini Moderns, Jessica Sims from West Elm, Ian Rudge and Alejandra Campos from Home at Top Drawer, and me – confessions of a design geek founding editor, Katie Treggiden.

The quality of applications was so high this year, and so diverse, that selecting the final five was really tough. So tough in fact that we couldn’t do it, and we’ve selected a shortlist of six! Without further ado and in no particular order the new designers selected for the 2016 confessions of a design geek bursary shortlist are…

Giannina Capitani:

With a degree in Fine Art Painting from Glasgow School of Art and a masters in Constructed Textiles from the Royal College of Art, Giannina Capitani founded her knitwear brand in 2013. She hand-makes all her products from British materials in her Hackney studio. She is currently working part time to support her business, so alongside developing a range of homewares to augment her first collection of cushions, the next step is to make the leap into working full time as a designer maker. More info about Giannina >>>

Justine Ellis:

Former special needs teacher and one time Fine Art Sculpture graduate Justine Ellis discovered her passion for screen printing ten years ago and still shares her skills as a screen printing tutor. Through her surface pattern design brand, she creates cushions, lampshades, tea-towels, art prints and greetings cards, designing at home and printing at shared print studio Printclub London in Hackney. Her fabrics are woven in Britain, her inks are water-based and her paper-stock is FSC accredited or recycled – and the partners she works with are ethical, sustainable and UK-based. More info about Justine >>>

Marta Bordes:

With a Masters in Architecture from UPM (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid) and a BA Ceramics from Escuela de Cerámica de Madrid, already under her belt, Marta Bordes has just graduated with an MA in Design from Central Saint Martins. Elastic Lights is her graduation project, and her first step into a career as a product designer. Two ceramic parts and an elastic cord combine to form table lamps and pendants that are intuitively easy to adjust. More info about Marta >>>

Novocastrian:

Novocastrian was founded by brothers Richy and Dean Almond, an architect and a metal-worker – and childhood friend and graphic designer, Mark McCormack. The trio are using their combined skills to breath new life into traditional crafts and manufacturing capabilities in the North East of England. Based in their home-town of Newcastle, all their products are inspired by and made in the North East using locally sourced materials. More info about Novocastrian >>> 

Max Cairns:

Max Cairns graduated from the University of Brighton in 2011. After gaining work experience in the industry, he decided to set up his own, initially with a clock first designed and made as a Christmas present. Having hand-made his products himself, and selling through Spitalfields Market, he began manufacturing in the UK and launched his first collection, ‘Britain, Naturally’ in 2015. More info about Max >>>

Sophie Southgate:

2014 Cardiff School of Art Design graduate Sophie Southgate now lives and works in Kent and in the 16 months since establishing her business has created two distinct collections. Her Landscape//Colour Collection (above) is a decorative series of ceramic sculptures designed for the home, while her Flecked Stoneware Geode series is functional range of ceramic items for the kitchen and the home. More info about Sophie >>>

Congratulations to all six shortlisted designers – the standard was incredibly high this year, so it really is a huge achievement just to have got this far. All six designers will have the opportunity to attend a speed mentoring and networking event with the bursary partners at West Elm in London.

Now it’s over to you to decide who wins – just a reminder of what the bursary comprises for one of these six talented designers:

• A complimentary stand at Home at Top Drawer 17 – 19 January 2016
• A product showcase at the Barbican Centre
• A one-week pop-up shop at West Elm
• A one-day studio shoot with Yeshen Venema resulting in product, lifestyle and cut-out photography
• Quarterly mentoring for one year with established artist and designer and founder of HAM, Jo Ham
• One hour mentoring sessions with: October Communications‘ Daniel Nelson re e-commerce, Decorum’s Justyna Sowa re social media, The Design Trust‘s Patricia van den Akker re business coaching, Seen PR’s David Gorrod re PR,  Mini Moderns‘ Mark Hampshire and Keith Stephenson re product design and the Barbican’s Adam Thow re working with buyers (face-to-face in London or via Skype)
• NEW: One hour’s mentoring with Anthony and Richard Joseph of Joseph Joseph
• One year’s free membership of The Design Trust Business Club
• Six months’ free membership of Press Loft, plus a 20{ff546b69e23b1524d799f96c6ba7a638e1f677053b0a2a1568b05315fd5f8fc7} discount thereafter
• NEW: A half day of consultation on Networked Storytelling with Christian Payne
• A pre-show mentoring workshop with Daniel, David, Patricia, Keith, Mark, Adam and Jo hosted at West Elm, alongside shortlisted designers.
• £100 to spend on moo.com on business cards, leaflets or whatever you need to make the most of Home at Top Drawer
• Coverage on the Home at Top Drawer website, confessions of a design geek and West Elm’s ‘Front + Main‘ blog

[gravityform id=”1″ title=”true” description=”true”]

You have until 11.45pm on Sunday 29 November 2015 to get your votes in and then the winner will be announced on Monday 30 November 2015. Spread the word on social media using the hashtag #coadgbursary.

With huge and heartfelt thanks to all the confessions of a design geek bursary mentors: Jo Ham, Christian Payne, Daniel Nelson, Justyna Sowa, Patricia van den Akker, David Gorrod, Adam Thow, Mark Hampshire and Keith Stephenson, and Anthony and Richard Joseph; to all the bursary partners: Home at Top Drawer, Yeshen Venema, West Elm, Barbican Centre, The Design Trust, Press Loft and Moo.com; and to Venn Creative for last minute help with the voting mechanism above when they were already super-busy – thanks Zander!