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[February 2004]
Ceramic Futures: New Talent set to showcase products at Spring Fair
The next generation of world-class ceramic designers will be showcasing their products to an international audience in February, thanks to a unique partnership between the Ceramic Industry Forum, Staffordshire University and the UK ceramic industry.Graduates from the MA Ceramic Design course at Staffordshire University will join 4000 other exhibitors at the prestigious annual International Spring Fair, held at Birmingham’s NEC. The exhibition, which runs from Sunday 6th to Thursday 10th February, attracts visitors from all over the world.
The exhibition is being supported by the Ceramic Industry Forum’s Leading by Design project.
“Organisers expect 80,000 visitors from 50,000 companies to attend the 5 day event, well-known for being the largest home and giftware trade show in the UK,” explained Sue Evans, Chief Executive of the CIF.“The range of visitors is a big draw for the students, who can expect to network and get industry feedback from buyers, designers and senior managers.”
The exhibition, now in its second year, was the brainchild of David Sanderson, Course Leader at Staffordshire University and Gavin Pryke, Design Advisor for the CIF.
Gavin continued: “These creative design graduates will play an important and central role to the future success of our industry. ‘Ceramic Futures’ is committed to fostering innovative creative design to match to the ceramic industry’s world class manufacturing”.
Last year’s exhibition proved extremely popular for the graduates, with students receiving favourable comments on the outstanding creativity and professional look of the products.
In fact, five out of the eleven participants even secured full-time permanent design positions at companies as a direct result of the show, such as Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, Jacuzzi UK, Zack Design and Studio Levien in London.
Crewe-based Clare Renn, who will graduate this year, believes that everyone is agreed on the potential impact the show could have on their careers.
“The help that we’ve had from the CIF and Staffordshire University has been invaluable in getting our products out in front of the people that really matter. Hopefully, I’ll be able to sell some of my designs or even secure a full-time job.”
The Spring Fair has also proved extremely popular with past students too, as Tracy Hollins explained:
“Being able to exhibit at Showcase, really helped to get my designs recognised and laid the foundations with Wedgwood that eventually led to a design position. I honestly don’t think people expected our work to be so different.”
Funded by the DTI, the Ceramic Industry Forum continues to be driven by the needs of the industry and provides its 800 members with a range of services, including, Manufacturing Process Improvement programmes ‘Design to Sell’ and University on the Shopfloor.
Sue Evans concluded: “Projects like this really reinforce our commitment to ceramic design education and in promoting the UK sector to young, talented designers.”
“The results from 2004 were extremely impressive and I feel confident that the professionalism shown by this year’s students means that this exhibition will be just as successful.”
ENDS