Discover the UK’s most disruptive and innovative design talent at New Designers 2022

This week, the 65,000 square feet of Islington’s Business Design Centre will house New Designers 2022, meaning only one thing: the best of the design new gen is currently on display. The UK’s largest graduate design event – a considerable feat all on its own – New Designers returns this year with over 2,500 hand-picked design graduates showcases, alongside the work of design entrepreneurs at the carefully curated space, One Year In.

Understandably, the event has split its impressive roster of work and events over two weeks, but it is week two (running 6 July – 9 July), on which we have our sights firmly set. Exploring the best of graphic design, illustration, product and spatial design, furniture, and animation and digital arts, New Designers is undoubtedly the place to see the future of not merely design, but creativity too.

So let’s dig in. What can design hungry attendees find under the New Designers roof? For one, face-to-face collaboration. After two years of digital-only activity, the event is an opportunity for graduates to re-establish connections with brands and other creatives, while gaining invaluable feedback on work. In a segment called ND Connects, for example, graduates will get the chance to connect with companies and attend portfolio reviews.

Meanwhile, for non-graduates, the opportunity to learn from real people is definitely on the cards in a set of workshops and industry talks that seem as fun as they do insightful. This week, you can head to Illustration First Moves on 8 July and find a friendly panel of illustration professionals demystifying the industry (including illustrators Sharpay Chenyue Yuan and Chanté Timothy), to gain advice on getting your own practice up and running. Equally, in a talk that has us itching to get involved, Rebuild Tomorrow! Designing the Lego Experience will unfold at the centre on 7 July. Yes, that’s right – Lego! A playful, hands-on activity, the workshop will be hosted by three Lego Group designers, inviting attendees to flex their creativity and design problem-solving.

For those looking for a less interactive experience, New Designers has things covered; the work of over 2,500 graduates would keep anyone busy. The ultimate site of design inspiration, the lineup for the 37th edition of the event is brilliantly varied. In the entrepreneurially-focused One Year In alone, you can find the likes of unique figurative sculptures from ceramicist Jenny Chan, material-led making from product and furniture designer Huw Evans and. Meanwhile, design graduates will also be granted assistance on their move into the professional world by way of the New Designers Awards Programme.

If you need more reasons to head down to Islington’s Business Design Centre this week, the event also serves as the ultimate destination for finding out what current design courses in the UK have to offer. ND Futures provides inspiration to aspiring young designers (15-18-year-olds) looking to find out more about this exciting industry.

Whether you’re looking to launch a career, kickstart a hobby, connect with creatives, or just spend a day discovering great work, New Designers are providing the perfect opportunity to do just that. Tickets are now available for purchase here on the New Designers site.