UWTSD Swansea College of Art Celebrates Outstanding Student Success at New Designers 2025
鲍奥罢厂顿鈥檚 Swansea College of Art is proud to celebrate the remarkable achievements of its final year students at the second week of New Designers 2025 in London, one of the UK鈥檚 most prestigious showcases of emerging creative talent.
Two students received major awards, and several others earned high-profile recognition from industry leaders, reinforcing Swansea College of Art鈥檚 reputation as a powerhouse of creativity and innovation.
- Jodie Chung (pictured), studying Graphic Design, won the prestigious New Designers Hallmark Connection Award. As part of her prize, Jodie will undertake a paid internship at Hallmark鈥檚 creative studio, offering a unique opportunity to develop her talent in a leading commercial environment.
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Ellie Jones, a final-year Illustration student, was honoured with the Partner Prize from the Association of Illustrators (AOI) Spotlight Award. This highly competitive accolade celebrates outstanding promise in the field of illustration and highlights Ellie鈥檚 imaginative approach and professional potential.
Other Industry Recognition Highlights:
- Lucy De-La-Haye (Graphic Design) received a shout-out from PepsiCo, who declared: 鈥淲e love this!鈥 in response to her creative work.
- Jodie Chung (Graphic Design) was also recognised by PepsiCo, earning another enthusiastic 鈥淲e love this!鈥 endorsement for her exhibit.
- From Design Crafts, Emily Jones was shortlisted for the prestigious Conran Award, a testament to her design innovation and craftsmanship. In addition, Allermuir, a well-known furniture and design brand, also expressed admiration for her work.
- Lewis Hill (Graphic Design) impressed the designers from the sports brand HEAD庐 and was invited to spend the day at their design studios in North Greenwich.
It comes after a successful first week at New Designers which saw final year students from (UWTSD)鈥檚 Surface Pattern Design and Textiles programme also celebrating success.
- Among the standout talents was Mini Sharma McLachlan, who was awarded 拢1,500 by leading British interiors and wallpaper brand Cole & Son. Known globally for its distinctive and innovative designs, the brand recognised Mini for her exceptional drawing skills, beautifully presented sketchbooks, and a refined, dynamic pattern collection.
Other UWTSD Surface Pattern Design and Textiles students also made a strong impression on industry judges and brands during week one:
- Aimee Rayner won the SDC Associate prize and also received love tokens - recognition awards - from Laura Ashley and Romo, both well-respected names in home interiors and textiles. Aimee has also secured a prestigious 13-month paid internship with Rolls-Royce, a result of her exceptional work on a live industry project during her degree.
- Lily Staniforth received a love token from Habitat, recognising her creativity and potential as an emerging surface pattern designer.
- Susan Down received a love token from M&S and Ashley Wilde
Caroline Thraves, Academic Director Art & Media said: 鈥淲e are incredibly proud of our students鈥 achievements at New Designers. These awards and industry recognitions reflect not only the talent and dedication of our students but also the strength of our teaching and the vibrant creative culture we foster.鈥
About New Designers:
New Designers is the UK鈥檚 leading graduate design exhibition, showcasing over 2,500 graduates across two weeks from the country鈥檚 top design schools. It brings together emerging talent and leading businesses across graphic design, illustration, product design, textiles, and more. With thousands of visitors, including buyers, employers, and school students, the event offers a vital launchpad for the UK鈥檚 next generation of creative professionals.
About Swansea College of Art, UWTSD:
As the oldest art college in Wales, Swansea College of Art has a long-standing reputation for producing world-class creative talent. It offers a unique educational environment where individuality, creativity, and innovation are celebrated and nurtured. Students benefit from expert teaching, industry connections, and the opportunity to present their work on national platforms such as New Designers.
Further Information
Rebecca Davies
Executive Press and Media Relations Officer
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: rebecca.davies@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 07384 467071