The 2016 Graduate of the Year was Laura Marriott from Birmingham City University. Her installation of ‘3D eye-catching narrative lace’ stood out from the crowd – Laura’s strong ‘tribal designs’ are bold and memorable motifs created with digital stitch programmes and experimental machine techniques.
Laura’s designs are influenced by observations and objects she has ‘accumulated on personal travels from around the world’. Her colours are inspired by Mayan art, and her latest collection ‘takes on an abstract but organic aesthetic, paralleled with inspiration from nature. The team were impressed with Laura’s in-depth back up work in a series of sketchbooks, where a deep commitment to design development was evident.
Laura explained to us how her individually crafted pieces are adaptable and suitable for fashion, interiors, installations or as art itself; we gained a clear understanding of how each creation is ‘unique and bespoke, giving the collection a personal feel’.
