Edinburgh Napier Degree Show award winners announced

Awards have been handed out to celebrate School of Arts and Creative Industries students

A selection of outstanding projects from Edinburgh Napier University’s 2023 Degree Show have been recognised with a series of awards, including Best in Show for five different subjects.

The prizes were presented during the launch of Edinburgh Napier University’s annual celebration of work from the School of Arts and Creative Industries at its Merchiston campus, attended by students, guests and industry experts.

People have the chance to see the diverse projects – including the prize winners – until 1 June.

Dr Diane Maclean Dean of the School of Arts and Creative Industries said: “Our students should be proud of the work they have put in to prepare for this year’s Degree Show – which celebrates such a diverse range of creative skills.

“These Best in Show winners have shown outstanding talent to be recognised among an imaginative and innovative group of peers.”

Prizes were handed out to these winners across the following categories:

Interior & Spatial Design

The Form Design Award – Cloé Robson, Rapt in Awe

Cloé’s imagining of an immersive visitor experience at the Whaligoe Steps at Lybster, in the Scottish Highlands, features a cantilever waterfall walkway and suspended viewing platform. Judges at Form Design described the idea as ‘invigorating’.

Best in Show, sponsored by Bright – Jacqueline Borland, Future Moves

SACI Degree Show 2023. Graduation Show 2023 – Edinburgh Napier University – Thu 25 May 2023 (© Andy Catlin www.andycatlin.com)

Future Moves is the vision of a careers, knowledge and learning hub in the heart of Glasgow’s West End. It drew praise from judges Bright for being a strong, confident submission.

Graphic Design

StudioLR Gutsy Graduate Award – Ben Polley, The Good People of Scotland

Dedicated to keeping ancient Scottish folklore and folk tales alive through contemporary design and streetwear, Ben Polley created The Good People as a subscription-based community – which impressed judges at StudioLR.

Best in Show – Kiera McGrory, Retrojet

SACI Degree Show 2023. Graduation Show 2023 – Edinburgh Napier University – Thu 25 May 2023 (© Andy Catlin www.andycatlin.com)

Described as ‘fun’ and ‘playful’ by judges, Kiera McGrory’s project Retrojet satirises the excesses and hypocrisies of the travel industry with bright, eye-catching designs in the style of holiday marketing.

Product Design

Best in Show, sponsored by Bright Red Triangle – Anna Hardie, Tabs

Anna Hardie’s product Tabs is a wireless organisation system for refilled ingredients, encouraging shoppers to ditch packaging. Bright Red Triangle judges praised her consideration for customers and how best to take the idea to market.

Creative Advertising

Best in Show, sponsored by Studio Something (with Innis & Gunn) – Brianna Price and Mairi Macrae, Heineken Stim

Heineken Stim takes a brief from the brewing giant to create a campaign around a bottle to make socialising more fun for people with neurodiversity. Judges Studio Something hailed the teamwork shown by Brianna Price and Mairi Macrae to come up with the idea.

Photography

Fine Art Award, sponsored by WEX Photo Video – Christy Cannon, The Death of a Princess

Inspired by stories such as those of the Brothers Grimm, The Death of a Princess subverts stereotypical depictions of women in fairy tales by eliminating their dependency to male figure.

Commercial Photography Award, sponsored by WEX Photo Video – Bethany Craig, Slow it Down

Slow It Down focuses on sustainable fashion – aiming to demonstrate the possibilities of a more ethically-conscious fashion industry which is less reliant on over-production and consumption.

Best in Show – Abi Avery, Beyond the Sport

SACI Degree Show 2023. Graduation Show 2023 – Edinburgh Napier University – Thu 25 May 2023 (© Andy Catlin www.andycatlin.com)

Abi Avery’sportrait series Beyond the Sport combines audio and imagery to celebrate women and non-binary athletes. Judges praised the project for its intimacy and connection with the subjects.

Bodysuit designed to support insulin pump users

An Edinburgh Napier product design student has created a bodysuit that aims to make it easier for women affected by type 1 diabetes to wear an insulin pump with any type of clothing.

Final year student Katarzyna Pohorecka has developed ‘Mude’ – a range of six nude-coloured bodysuits that contain a specially designed pouch that discreetly holds an insulin pump.

The work – which is being exhibited this week as part of the University’s online Degree Show – has been created after a gap in the market was identified for a product that allowed female insulin pump users to wear their pump under their clothes.

The inclusive range – which has been completely designed and sewn by Kat as part of her fourth year studies at Edinburgh Napier – comes in six different colours and in sizes XS to XXL.

Kat was inspired to create the range of bodysuits – which can also be worn as an individual item of clothing rather than as underwear – after her research showed that women regularly have issues wearing certain types of clothing, especially lighter clothes and dresses, while using an insulin pump.

Kat said: “My best friend has type 1 diabetes and she’s often remarked to me that she can’t wear certain items of clothing because they are just not compatible with her insulin pump.

“I started researching this area and I found that despite there being some accessories such as belts and bumbags to help with wearing an insulin pump, there was nothing specifically made with comfort and discreetness in mind.

“Mude – which takes its names from the word miód which is Polish for honey and nude which reflects the colours I have used – has been designed with these two aspects in mind. I wanted to create something that allowed women to wear any item of clothing along with their insulin pump.

“I’ve always been a believer that clothing – and the fashion industry as a whole – should be doing more to make clothing inclusive for all. I have designed the range in six colours and in a variety of sizes as I aim to make it as accessible for as many people as possible.

“Now that my time at Edinburgh Napier has come to an end, I’m really keen to continue pursuing my idea and would love to bring Mude to market, putting it on sale for those affected by type 1 diabetes who feel they could benefit from something like this.

“Design for a social impact has always been incredibly important to me and I’m hopeful of meeting this goal throughout the remainder of the year.”

The Edinburgh Napier Degree Show runs from 2 June. More information and to view this year’s work, visit here.

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