The Goldsmiths’ Company gave two awards for design excellence at the recent New Designers Exhibition held at the Business Design Centre, Islington, where the Company also sponsored the zone dedicated to jewellery, silversmithing, and metalwork.
Both awards, one for silver and the other for jewellery, were presented to graduates from the Kent Institute of Art and Design. The judging panel comprised Claire Denham-Smith, Design Manager for Stephen Webster and leading designer silversmith, Hector Miller assisted by Peter Taylor, the Goldsmiths’ Company’s Director Technology and Training.
The criterion for both the Jeweller’s Award and the Silversmith’s Award was to identify excellence in design and craftsmanship. The winning pieces had to be both innovative and have potential ‘saleability’.
Designer silversmith, Zoe Prophet, was awarded the Silversmith’s award and Susanna Fyson, won the Jeweller’s award. Peter Taylor, representing the judges, said: “We were all collectively impressed with the diverse range of work which both Zoe and Susanna displayed, as well as the variety and competency of techniques they demonstrated in their practical work.”
The Goldsmiths’ Company awarded the winners a total prize of £1,500, made up of a cheque of £1,000 plus precious metal to the value of £500.
Both Zoe and Susanna will also automatically be given places on the Goldsmiths’ Company’s annual graduate business course Getting Started which takes place in January each year.
