The Colourist: UK Winner Announced for International Design Competition

We’re delighted to announce the winner of the UK Final of the International Design Competition, following this year’s regional heats across the Midlands, Northern, and London and Southern regions. 

This year’s theme, Climate Threads, challenged participants to respond to the urgent realities of climate change through commercial thinking alongside innovative and sustainable textile design. The UK Final brought together an exceptional standard of work, with finalists showcasing not only technical excellence and creativity, but also thoughtful approaches to environmental responsibility, material innovation, and future-focused textile applications. 

UK Final Winner 

Huge congratulations to Niamh Hill, whose project A Biophilic Cycle – Navigating the Urban Cluster was selected as the overall UK winner. 

Judges praised the project as an ‘absolutely wonderful execution of the brief’, highlighting its highly creative use of historical mapping, sophisticated colour application, and strong commercial potential. Niamh’s exploration of biophilic design and sustainable urban travel impressed the panel for its visionary yet tangible approach, combining refined craftsmanship with a clear understanding of environmental impact. 

Particular praise was given to the integration of colour throughout the development process, including the use of lichen yellow inspired by plants that thrive in clean-air environments. Judges also commended the project’s ‘forward-thinking’ approach to scalable production and its ability to address global sustainability challenges through a premium and contemporary design aesthetic. 

Niamh will now progress to the International Grand Final, taking place this November at the William Morris Gallery in London. 

Runners-Up 

Congratulations also go to Seren Thomas from De Montfort University, whose project MEWN! received outstanding feedback from the judges for its exceptional craftsmanship. 

The judges described Seren’s work as having ‘the wow factor’, praising the collection’s potential as a lifestyle brand in its own right. The project’s focus on wellbeing, identity, and environmental change was recognised as a particularly powerful interpretation of the brief, while the use of heritage-inspired knitting techniques and carefully observed colour palettes demonstrated both technical skill and contemporary relevance. 

Joe Gurr from Leeds Arts University was also recognised as a runner-up for Coconut to Concepts, a project that captivated the judges through its confident presentation and innovative material research. 

Judges commended Joe’s energetic communication style and his exploration of next-generation sustainable materials, particularly his investigation into biodegradable alternatives derived from waste resources. The project was recognised for tackling wider industry issues around landfill waste, product longevity, and responsible luxury, while also demonstrating exciting commercial potential across both fashion and interior applications. 

Looking ahead to the International Grand Final 

Niamh Hill will now go on to represent the UK at the International Grand Final of the International Design Competition, hosted at the William Morris Gallery in London this November. 

There, she will compete against the winners of the International Heats held across China, Singapore, Vietnam, India, Bangladesh, Ireland and New Zealand bringing together emerging textile talent from around the world in celebration of innovation, sustainability, and the future of textile design. 

We congratulate all finalists for their exceptional work and thank everyone who took part in this year’s competition.