As part of the London Design Festival 2023, which takes place from 16-18 September, Heal’s has announced that GREEN GRADS, the pioneering initiative to platform UK graduates meeting environmental challenges head-on, will be presenting its third and largest major show within its flagship Tottenham Court Road building.
The GREEN GRADS Hub at Heal’s will be occupying the entire third floor of The Manufactory, beautifully refurbished, at 196 Tottenham Court Road through event sponsors, Heal’s and building landlords, general Projects, and investors KKR.
GREEN GRADS is a platform from which recent graduates can present their environmental projects to the public and industry, including manufacturers, shops, galleries, curators and the media. Primarily, GREEN GRADS puts on physical shows where the graduates are present to explain their ideas.
The GREEN GRADS come from BA and MA courses from all over the country, from a wide range of disciplines ranging from art to engineering, encompassing product and furniture design, materials innovation, animation, graphics, ceramics, glass, textiles, fashion, interior design and architecture.
The third floor at Heal’s will become the graduates’ largest showcase date and will present final projects from around fifty graduates, addressing a range of eco-issues from nurturing nature, climate, carbon and waste.
Some of the inventions on display include printing with bacteria, a paint that guzzles carbon, and an elegant chair with a seaweed seat. Multiple and beautiful new objects made from waste will also be on display, including a table and kitchen utensils from discarded denim, a light made from broken pots, a fabulous chandelier made from junked prosecco and beer bottles, and more.
GREEN GRADS was founded in June 2021 by the multi-award-winning design journalist Barbara Chandler. To track down the GREEN GRADS, she trawled many degree shows throughout the country and made numerous visits to the New Designers show in Islington.
Barbara said, “Our vision is to fuel UK environmental action with new talent from UK universities. It is inspiring and humbling to witness the skills, enthusiasm and dogged commitment of our emerging designers, taking responsibility for the future of the planet. We are a showcase but also a call to action.
“We are also very grateful for the generosity of Heal’s and General Projects. For without their support, we could not provide a platform like this for our graduates, who are fighting for a better world.”
Hamish Mansbrigde, the CEO at Heal’s, added, “We are delighted to be hosting the GREEN GRADS Hub this year. It is a fantastic initiative, not only in the way it creates a unique opportunity for recent graduates to showcase their talents and ideas but also in raising awareness for the important issues we, as industry leaders, need to address.”
The GREEN GRADS Hub will join a broader programme of in-store events at Heal’s, which celebrate the past, present and future of design. From 16th – 23rd of September, some of the most iconic pieces for the home will be exhibited alongside sustainable designs by recent graduates from Kingston School of Art, as selected by Heal’s in-house buyers for potential manufacture.
Visitors will also be able to explore the latest pieces from Heal’s new AW23 collection, which launches in September.
Read about some of the other highlights that will be on display during the 2023 edition of the London Design Festival here.