UWTSD Students Win Major Industry Awards at New Designers London

Students from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s (UWTSD) Swansea College of Art have won prestigious industry awards and commendations at New Designers, the UK’s premier showcase for emerging design talent.

The annual London exhibition attracts leading brands and employers from across the creative industries, with UWTSD students securing major accolades, professional opportunities, and industry recognition.

BA Surface Pattern and Textiles student Lauren Stokes (pictured) won the Romo Award for Innovation in Design and Colour, recognising exceptional creativity, sophisticated use of colour and an innovative approach to textile design. The award also includes a six-month placement with Romo. Lauren was also named Runner Up in The Clothworkers’ Award.

Lauren Stokes said: “It has been a complete shock and honour to have my work recognised in this way, especially by a company I have admired for many years. I am very grateful for the opportunity to work within their Zinc studio and cannot wait to get started.”

Fellow Surface Pattern and Textiles student Robyn Thorpe secured an internship with Centro Sourcing Textile Studio and was recognised with a Premier Digital Textiles Loves commendation.

Students Sophie Drew, Sarah Davies, Blossom Evans, and Samantha McGrath also received significant industry recognition. Sophie earned the Laura Ashley Loves Your Work commendation and, alongside Blossom Evans and Samantha McGrath, was offered the opportunity to exhibit at Green Grads Manchester this autumn.

Sarah Davies received the Sanderson Loves commendation and was also recognised by Ashley Wilde Group and Hovia, as well as being named in AVA Academy’s Top 10 to Watch in 2026.

Sarah said: “Having my collection recognised by Sanderson was a real highlight of New Designers. It’s a huge privilege to receive such recognition from an internationally respected interiors brand, and I’m incredibly grateful for the kindness and encouragement shown by the team.”

Blossom Evans also received both a Hovia Love Token and an IVO Textiles Loves commendation, further recognising the strength of her work.

Graphic Design student Svitlana Ulianych was highly commended by Creative Review. Congratulations also to Bella Watkins, BSc Product & Furniture Design, who won the JDD Prize for Elegance and Design with her Alma Furniture Collection which embodies a balanced blend of craftsmanship and culture for contemporary outdoor living.

Ffion Williams, BSc product & Furniture Design got ‘Spotted’ by ND Selects and invited to exhibit at the Shoreditch Design Week as part of the London Design Festival in September (15th-17th). Her project was the Aurelia Sideboard storage solution. 

They are among students from BA Design Crafts, BA Fine Art, BA Graphic Design, BA Illustration, BA Photography, BA Product and Furniture Design and BA Surface Pattern and Textiles who were exhibiting at New Designers at the Business Design Centre until 4 July.

Fine Art and Photography students have also showcased their work in London, including at Copeland Gallery.

Fine Art: Studio, Site and Context student Tilly Lewis, from Maesteg, recently received the undergraduate Hayden John James Prize in recognition of her exceptional work.

Tilly said: “Exhibiting in London feels like an incredible opportunity to introduce my practice to new audiences and experience what it means to show work in a professional setting. The course has helped me realise that a career in art is a viable path and has given me the confidence to pursue it.”

Photography in the Arts student Carys Bristowe-Davies, from Swansea, who recently received the Sarah Tierney Award, said: “Having the opportunity to exhibit in London is really exciting. It’s a chance to share the work I’ve developed over the last three years with a wider audience and connect with other artists and industry professionals.”

Dr Mark Cocks, Dean of UWTSD’s Wales Institute for Science and Art, said: “Our students’ success at New Designers is a testament to their talent, creativity, and professionalism. Receiving recognition from leading names in the creative industries, alongside opportunities such as graduate placements, demonstrates the exceptional standard of work being produced at Swansea College of Art.

“These achievements reflect not only the dedication of our students but also the strength of the creative learning environment that prepares them to thrive in their future careers.”

Caroline Thraves, Academic Director for Art and Media at Swansea College of Art, added: “Seeing so many of our students recognised by industry at New Designers each year is a fantastic achievement and something the University is incredibly proud of.

“Awards, commendations and professional opportunities from nationally recognised brands and organisations are a powerful endorsement of their creativity, ambition, and hard work.

“These successes highlight the quality of talent emerging from Swansea College of Art and give our graduates an outstanding platform as they begin the next stage of their creative careers.”

Further Information

Rebecca Davies

Executive Press and Media Relations Officer    
Corporate Communications and PR    
Email: rebecca.davies@uwtsd.ac.uk    
Phone: 07384 467071