It's my favorite time of year again. Yes it's degree show time! I always try and visit as many as I can and am continually impressed and inspired by the talent coming out of Scotland's art and design schools. I kicked off this year with one of my favourites - Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee. Last year I spent two whole days wandering around but this time around consisted of two much shorter visits. I still managed to pack a whole lot in.
As my time was limited I focused on the courses I find the most interesting. Jewellery was pretty much top of my list and I was not disappointed. There was so much to see and a nice variety of work on show. While visiting degree shows year after year does throw up similar themes (nature, architecture and the sea being some of the big ones) it's always interesting to see how each set of students uses their inspirations to come up with their own designs. Here are some of my favourites from the current crop.....
Kaela Hogg
I featured Kaela Hogg as one of my top picks over on Wardrobe Conversations. After following her designs online for a while before the show, I was keen to see her creations in real life. Inspired by Thai architecture and exploring her own heritage Kaela uses a mix of acrylic, silver and aluminum to create layered pieces. Bold shapes were given further depth by the use of etching and printing. Each piece stands alone but when viewed together they make for one stunning collection.
Megan Gray
I was drawn to Megan Gray's collection through the colours and textures used. The gray and mustard combination was a particular favorite. Megan's work is inspired by anxiety and the importance of mindfulness and mental well being when tackling such disorders. The wire structures and geometric shapes combined with crystal like structures to represent the unpredictability of life.
Gemma Brownlie
The course may be titled Jewellery and Metal Design but it always fascinates me when students create non jewelry work. Gemma Brownlie did just that with her silver vessels. Her work embodies the traditional Danish concept of Hygge. The word doesn't have a simple English translation but is all about tackling cold, dark winters with warmth. Being cosy always at the top of my list of priorities and her pieces certainly instilled in me a sense of comfort. While I wouldn't consider silver to be one of the warmest textures around, when combined with the soft coloured threads and brushed effect they really did give a feeling of snugness.
Sarah Marshall
While not beautiful in a traditional sense, Sarah Marshals work captured my attention in a different way. The textures and colours used gave the impression of burning paper or fabric and made for some incredibly tactile pieces. Sarah used a mix of silver and experimental ceramics to create work with the impression of movement and fragility all inspired by the fleeting sense of time.
Lesley Conlan
Strong geometric shapes always get my vote and Lesley Conlan's collection, Prisma, was jam packed with them. Lesley used modern 3D printing techniques to bring to life old technical manuals passed down from her grandfather. The result is a collection full of statement pieces reminiscent of scaffolding. Her large shoulder piece is a real show stopper but the pieces I loved most were the rings. Still big fashion pieces but with a simplicity of structure that really worked for me.
Dione Bowlt
Dione Bowlt's display melded together illustration, jewelry and porcelain pieces to create a playful and textured collection. Inspired by environmental change and egosystem's her work had a beautifully organic feel, from the delicate illustrations to the surface and color of the large plates. Each item showed it's own little world, just begging to be explored. I loved the detail in every piece and the mix disciplines worked so well together.
Katie Wightman
I was drawn to Katie Wightman's work by the pure simplicity of it. The mix of smooth silver shapes and human hair creates unexpected pieces which are both solid and unpredictable. The movement of the hair contrasted beautifully with the solid silver. Katie was inspired by her own personal challenge with illness and this results in a very open and honest collection, highlighting the strength and fragility involved in such an experience.
The degree show may be over but the DJCAD students will be exhibiting at New Designers later this month. Check them out there if you can or have a good old nosey around their websites for some beautiful images. You can also see the full list of this years Jewellery and Metal Design graduates on the DJCAD website.
