Entries are now open for the 2021 ECC NZ Student Craft Design Awards programme until 10 October and British designer Tom Dixon OBE is set to bring a global view to this year’s judging panel.

Tertiary students can submit their project in categories including lighting, furniture, product design, fashion, surface design, jewellery, ceramics and visual communication design (illustration). A Supreme winner and People’s Choice winner will also be named.

Tom Dixon is joined on the judging panel by Anita Dykes, lighting design/consultant (ECC); Ian Douglas, owner of The Village Goldsmith; Talia Soloa, layplan fashion designer and previous winner of the Supreme Award, People’s Choice Award and the Rembrandt Textile and Fashion Award in 2016; Genevieve Packer, textile graphics designer; Karl Chitham, The Dowse Art Museum director; Bill Carden-Horton, illustrator/artist; and George MacLeod-Whiting, furniture and product designer with Proffer and Custance.

Awards director Heather Crichton says, “We are honoured and excited to give students the opportunity to have their work assessed by Tom Dixon, a designer whose globally successful brand is renowned for its iconic designs.

“The kaupapa of the awards is to support the next generation of artists and designers and ensure that craft and design are celebrated. The awards presentation brings together students, academics and families and we always aim to maintain that feeling of acknowledgement, creativity and sense of pride.”

The NZ Student Craft Design Awards is run by the Friends of the Dowse and ECC has been the naming sponsor for eight years. Judging is set to take place on 24 October, with the winners being announced at the Dowse Art Museum on 12 November.

For more information about the Awards and to submit your entries, click here. And, see the 2020 winners here.