We are delighted to congratulate Nellie Peoples, a recent graduate and currently a graduate in residence in the Gold & Silversmithing workshop, on winning the inaugural Designcraft Craft + Design Award in conjunction with DESIGN Canberra 2014. Designcraft awarded Nellie Peoples the prize for her outstanding collaborative project with Sam Tomkins for Fusion: the Art of Eating. The event was the launch of DESIGN Canberra 2014 and the annual Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre fundraising event. For the evening Nellie and Sam designed and manufactured 165 stainless steel palm sized vessels which were on of the set of objects used to present the evenings "fully design taste experience".

The award was announced by Bob Fenderson, from Designcraft, during the DESIGN Canberra closing party at the Museum of Australia. Designcraft have sponsored the award of $2,500 to assist Nellie in the development of new work, materials and research.

We would like to also congratulate Chelsea Lemon, a current third year student in the Furniture workshop, who was awarded the Designcraft Craft + Design People’s Choice Award, for her piece in the exhibition Crafted ’14. The exhibition was a public showcase of furniture and objects that represent the physical outcomes from learning and researching, discovery, experimentation and growth from the School of Art Furniture workshop.

Image: Left to right Sam Tomkins, Nellie Peoples, Avi Amesbury and Bob Fenderson.