Last week our team had the absolute privilege of attending New Designers 2026 in London. A showcase that never fails to remind us why graduate shows are such a vital heartbeat of the creative industries. New Designers isn’t just an exhibition; it’s a launchpad. A place where fresh perspectives collide with bold experimentation, where graduates step into the spotlight with ideas that challenge, delight, and redefine what design can be. It’s one of the few spaces where you can genuinely feel the future of creativity humming in the air.
Walking through the halls, we were blown away by the sheer range of work on display, thoughtful, technical, playful, political, sustainable, and often deeply personal. Graduate shows like this matter because they give emerging designers the platform they deserve: a moment to be seen, celebrated, and supported as they take their first steps into the industry. They remind us that innovation doesn’t come from comfort zones; it comes from new voices, new stories, and new ways of seeing the world.
And this year, one of those voices truly stood out.
WMSH Up & Coming Award 2026
We were thrilled to present our WMSH Up Award to Tilly M Lawless, whose final‑year project at the University of Brighton captured our team instantly. Tilly’s final‑year project Bache tackles a massive sustainability challenge. Every year, around 250,000 tents are abandoned at UK festivals, creating over 900 tonnes of waste. Instead of letting that fabric go to landfill, Tilly transforms it into limited‑edition fashion pieces that champion youth culture while pushing for bold, responsible design.
Alongside Tilly, we also awarded Love Tags to designers whose work and ethos we were enamored with and those who showed exceptional promise across a variety of disciplines. Their projects reminded us that the next generation of creatives isn’t just talented… they’re fearless.
These winners were:
-
- Joshua Pinches
-
- Izzy Berry
-
- Keira Forman
-
- Jude Evans
-
- Amber Hunter
-
- Iris Reed
-
- Lisa Schafer
-
- Oscar Nicole Schwarz
Being invited to judge this year’s show was an honour for our whole team. Meeting these designers, hearing their processes, and seeing the passion behind their work was energising in all the best ways. It’s impossible not to feel inspired after spending time with people who are so committed to pushing boundaries and shaping what comes next.
We’re genuinely excited to stay connected with these designers and continue supporting the new wave of talent entering the industry. The future of design is bright and it’s being built by people who aren’t afraid to imagine differently.
