Surface Design Show shares a sneak peek at its leading New Talent in material innovation.

Surface Design Show is back - providing a plethora of surface material innovation to inspire your next project.

Welcoming over 180 exhibitors to its 2024 edition, as well as 30 New Talents, the highly anticipated event for architects and designers opens its doors from 6-8 February at London’s Business Design Centre. Curated by Jennifer Castoldi, chief creative director at Trendease International, and sponsored by Material Source Studio Partner, CDUK, New Talent remains a key focus for Surface Design Show - championing those starting off their careers in the world of design.

Jennifer Castoldi comments: “Since 2018 Trendease International has been scouting talent from around the world for the Surface Design Show, and we are excited to bring the next selection of innovative minds to showcase at the Business Design Centre in February.

"We have quite the line up including; a cutting-edge translucent tile made of broken ceramics and waste ash. This can be used to make furniture, lighting, and tableware. Biomaterials such as one comprised of discarded ceramics and sugar beet pulp, tiles for thermal and acoustic insulation, interactive lighting design, alternative flooring, and a large collection of talented wallpaper and textile designers.”

And so without further ado, meet Surface Design Show’s exciting New Talents ahead of the show's launch next month…

Rosy Napper

Rosy Napper is a ceramic material researcher, interested in the intersection of science and design, and specialising in the sustainable development of waste-based ceramics.

One of our featured 24 biomaterial designers for 2024, Rosy uses unwanted and unused resources to replace environmentally damaging ones. Her development, ‘ReCinder’ is an 100% recycled material made from discarded ceramic and waste ash that has been diverted from landfill. The material is extremely versatile, suitable for furniture, tiling and tableware. However, most importantly it can be used for lighting due to its unique translucent quality. ReCinder is currently one of the only 100% recycled ceramic materials on the market capable of translucency.

Sauda Imam

Sauda Imam weaves a mesmerising tapestry that seamlessly connects narratives of Nigeria’s heritage with the contemporary world. A living canvas that re-defines heritage for contemporary audiences, Sauda’s brand is more than just textiles. Rooted within commitment to preserve traditional weaving techniques, her creations breathe new life into age-old artistry and craftsmanship.

Sauda’s mastery has been pursued through their academic efforts at Central St Martins and Royal college of Art, developing designs that invite you to experience the timeless charm of Nigerian weaving through a distinctly modern lens. Impressively, Sauda’s works have already being featured in British Vogue.

Jane Gray Design

Having grown-up in the Scottish countryside, a large proportion of Jane Gray’s print work takes inspiration from the landscapes that surround her childhood home. Whether it be the lighthouses that she used to visit on family day trips out or the rugged coastal shores, Jane’s approach to printed textiles aims to tell visual stories through her illustrative design style.

Recently graduated with a First-Class Hons BA in Design for Textile from Heriot-Watt University in Galashiels, and specialising in printed textiles, Jane now bases herself in Midlothian, Scotland. Working predominantly in ink and fine line, her illustrative aesthetic captures the delicate and calming elements of the Scottish landscape and translates them into digital prints and homeware items. These include handmade lampshades, cushions, and other accessories.

Incro Design

Incro Design is a London-based design studio created by Nanxi Ai, established with a bold mission: to elevate the sensory aspects of human life through innovative design.

Incro’s journey is marked by an unwavering commitment to weaving inclusive design principles into the very fabric of textile design, positioning them as pioneers in this ever-evolving field. With an unrelenting passion for the humanities and a profound appreciation for neurodiversity, Nanxi was inspired to envision a world where every sensory encounter is not just acknowledged but celebrated. The team challenges the conventions within textile design, placing people and their surroundings at the core of its creative process, transcending the bounds of artistic imagination.

Design enthusiasts are invited to discover this brilliant New Talent, as well as explore the new and innovative materials of the already established surface specialists exhibiting.

For more information about Surface Design Show, and to book your ticket, click here.