PAID WORK EXPERIENCE at leading design studios, FREE TICKETS to Design Truth events, a PORTFOLIO MASTERCLASS & much more all on offer for the very first DESIGN TRUTH AWARD - designed by gomi.
Design Truth is a community like no other.
We supply the knowledge, tools and support for industrial design to flourish.
Our internship pledge directly changed internal policy at some of the biggest names in our world, our salary guide puts more money in the pockets of industrial designers across the UK, and our sold-out nationwide events consistently provide a platform for careers to kickstart – giving access to industry in a way never seen before.
Now it is time to tell your truth, meet our judges & enter the Design Truth student award.
We want to see originality, creativity, genuine problem solving with your personality at the forefront of the entry.
AWARD
Designed by gomi, the very first Design Truth student award is a special one-of-one trophy made from waste plastic bags.
Our brief was to create something beautiful, memorable and that would fit on the desk without getting in the way.
They started by melting down the waste plastic, and marbled it together to form the signature gomi marble pattern. It then goes from the ovens into a brick mould, where it’s compressed and any air bubbles are squashed out of it.
Any shavings from the milling process were collected and put aside. The offcuts have been melted down, and pressed into a custom range of power banks will be given to those on our final shortlist of 5.
A complete one-off trophy followed by a completely unique collection of special power banks.
The plastic was marbled and pressed by Studio Manager James Cann, the milling was done by co-founder Kyle Brackenfield, and video made by in-house content creator Mariana Pittnerova.
MEET THE JUDGES.
A group of very talented individuals bootstrapped with humility, community spirit and a story to tell.
Our judges slept in the studio, self-funded their way into New Designers, and were met with anything other than unpaid internships during their earlier career.
Now with the backdrop of economic hardship, we are getting together to give young people a true opportunity.
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James is the Founder & Creative Director of Bournemouth-based Studio Wood. With a prior career that included time at LG, Nokia, Designit & Curventa – James leads a diverse, multidisciplinary team nestled on the South Coast specialising in research & strategy, industrial design, packaging design, and digital design.
He also supports Tottenham. You cannot have everything.
“Entering the Industrial Design industry demands perseverance, particularly during economic hardship. Winning this award could provide crucial momentum needed to overcome barriers and establish a foothold in the field.”
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Léa is the Creative Lead at London-based industrial design agency Morrama. Previous to this, Léa worked for both Map Project Office & Layer Design, as well as being a judge for both D&AD & Design Week.
Morrama is a BCorp certified studio who have helped startups become multi-million dollar challenger brands, worked with established companies to innovate and stay ahead of the competition and advised teams of all sizes on improving the long-term sustainability of their business.
“Very honoured to be part of the first ever Design Truth Awards judging panel to raise awareness and put an end to the tough conditions that some graduates come across as they start their career.
I'm looking forward to some inspiring storytelling, innovative ideas and thoughtful execution from all the applicants.”
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With over eighteen years of experience in the design, development and delivery of consumer products, Dan is the Founder of manufactured.design They help build the brands and the teams that launch them – working both in London and globally.
Having previously been a Director of Product at Beryl, Director of Industrial Design at Nolii and Senior Product Design Manager at Joseph Joseph – Dan’s career has been built around the best products always start by setting out to solve a clear, articulated problem.
“I was Born in the northeast of England; manufacturing and it’s heritage was a big influence on me, as was its decline.
I was the first person to go to university in my family; I had some fantastic D&T teachers who really helped guide me and I went to Loughborough. I never felt I fitted the mould of what a ‘good’ student was.
I never had any connections within industry, and relied on low or unpaid internships to build up connections during studies.
I want to help shine a light on emerging designers and help give a lift up to young people entering the industry
I’m looking for work that’s the Antidote to the world of perfect; AI, Renders and gloss. Celebrate ideas and execution, thinking and possibility. Products that understand the craft behind how they will be made. “
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Tom is the Co-Founder of gomi – a Brighton-based technology company who turns waste into beauty. With the vision to create circular design-led alternatives to the landfill-bound consumer electronics, gomi are rethinking the future of sustainable living by transforming waste materials into everyday consumer technology products.
Tom is also a lecturer at the University of Brighton, and a judge for the Global Design Graduate Show with Artsthread.
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Helen is a Creative Practice Consultant for Bristol-based Industry of Us – a set of innovation experts who help businesses to embrace curiosity and creativity – helping solve the innovation challenges of today and tomorrow.
Helen is a current lecturer at the University of Bath and has previously been a D&T Teacher. Helen also embodies the core community spirit and warm energy that Design Truth tries to bring.
“Honoured to be in fantastic company as a Design Truth judge and here to champion creativity with a people-centred lens on how design can be leveraged to deliver user desirable, technology feasible and business viable innovation.
As a judge, I'll be looking for a well-scoped people-centred challenge and a compelling story packed with novel uses of inspiration, rigorous research, empirical testing, and iterations that inform multiple design builds.
I'm also looking forward to being inspired by the incredible talent that's out there—by those who might be hiding in plain sight today but given the opportunity of an internship and lived experience, will be the bright sparks of the future.”
“The theme of the 2024 Design Truth Awards is to celebrate state school education. To acknowledge the role it plays in carving the curiosity that this thing called industrial design can be a career, and to highlight the challenges it faces under the current status quo.”
— Brad Harper / Founder @ Design Truth
Entering is simple - and FREE.
All you need to do is stick to the following.
One project only.
File Size - max 10mb.
This should include a one-page CV and a max 250-word blurb of your project and the problem it is trying to solve.
Submit via the google form on the button ‘ENTER HERE’ that can be seen at multiple touchpoints on this page.
Use the hashtag #DesignTruthAwards if showcasing your work online so our community can see your work.
Any questions can be sent to awards@designtruth.co.uk
not just another chair.
not just another lamp.
not just another hairdryer.
not just another trophy.
ELIGIBILITY
The theme for the 2024 award is to celebrate state school education.
It can be as high as 70% of a yeargroup is private school educated at certain leading design schools in the UK.
For context, 94.1% of the UK are state school educated - only 5.9% of the population attend private schools, and less than 1% receive this education under a full sponsorship.
After all, design teams should reflect the users and consumers we design for.
With the backdrop of further university budget cuts that prevent the showcasing of student work at New Designers, an already inflated £9,000 a year to study, cost of living increasing, a recession ongoing – this is an unfortunate recipe where many will be priced out of pursuing Industrial Design as a career.
Our award process is designed to give meaningful opportunity, with genuine impact.
To enter, you must meet the following criteria:
· You must be in the final year of studying Industrial Design / Product Design at any UK-based university.
· You must be able to work in the UK without the need for sponsorship.
· You did not attend a private school during your earlier education.
This award is not available for international students.
This must be made evident on your submission.
Any questions can be sent to award@designtruth.co.uk
FAQs
What does the winner of the 2024 Design Truth awards receive?
6 weeks paid work experience with Studio Wood & Aetha Design.
Our trophy, designed by gomi.
A place on Nick Chubb’s portfolio improvement progamme.
Our final shortlist of five will receive free design truth tickets and a custom gomi powerbank made from the offcuts from the milling of the Design Truth award.
The winner will receive their trophy at a very special Design Truth event in July ahead of New Designers.
Am I eligible to enter this award?
Please do get in touch to award@designtruth.co.uk and we will happily answer any of your questions.
The theme of the Design Truth awards will change with every year.
Entries close on June 4th.
What do the judges want to see on my entry?
Our judges will be looking at your work through their own individual lens.
They want to see a clear user need, they want to see a clear understanding of the problem you are trying to solve, they want to see you championing creativity with a grounded commercial understanding.
They want to see your personality shine through.