LONDON.- ND Educates returns to New Designers (29 June – 2 July and 6 – 9 July 2022) with a whole host of talks and workshops. Curated by Hannah Payne, a New Designer alumna, ND Educates will take place throughout the show – including two additional panel discussions hosted online ahead of the event (Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 June).

Hannah Payne notes, “Having previously exhibited my work at New Designers over 20 years ago, and now running my own business after career spanning the art and design sector, it is an honour to now curate the ND Educates programme in 2022. My ambition is to create an inspiring and stimulating space which enables graduates to openly connect with leading brands and industry experts – learning about the ups and downs of their careers and gaining insight and practical advice after two years of challenging times.

I aim to make this year’s programme accessible to graduates from a wide range of backgrounds and design disciplines, through panel discussions, presentations and workshops that address different issues such as diversity and inclusion and sustainability within the design community. New 2 Designers helped launch my career in the creative world and I wish to facilitate similar opportunities for the next generation of graduates in turn.”

Each year, ND Educates invites graduates to participate in a series of live chats with some of the UK’s leading brands and designers. They can network with industry experts, gain practical advice and debate pressing issues – to prepare themselves for employment and kickstart their professional careers.

A range of topical, sector-specific themes dominates the ND Educates programme this year; from sustainability and circular economy, to mental health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, and job opportunities in a post-pandemic world.

Meanwhile, visitors to New Designers 2022 will be invited to view New Designers: A Celebration, a curated photography exhibition taken by award-winning design journalist, Barbara Chandler. The exhibition comprises 37 photo-portraits from Barbara’s extensive archive, in light of the 37th anniversary of the show.

The photographs cover a wide range of universities and design disciplines, capturing the diverse creative talent showcased at the event over the last three decades, including now-established names such as Sebastian Cox and Kit Miles.

Barbara Chandler comments, “When New Designers moved online for two years in a row due to the pandemic, I went out into England to photograph graduates in their place of study, visiting many universities from Plymouth in the South West to Manchester in the North and numerous shows around London. I felt that in an exhibition planned for 2022, we could not possibly overlook these ‘lost years ’ of excellent graduating potential.”

She adds, “All this has led to the founding and curating of Green Grads – of which the second edition will return to the London Design Festival this September.”

ND Connects – a dedicated mentorship programme – also returns to New Designers this year. 18 unique design mentorships will be available exclusively to the ND Class of 2022, and the successful candidates will receive a year-long mentorship with their selected mentors. The graduates, who are encouraged to apply for as many mentorships as they wish, will have the opportunity to gain feedback, guidance and coaching for their careers at quarterly one-to-one reviews.