News / 22 May 2023
Textile design student wins national design competition
BA Textile Design
Sophie Amelia, final-year BA (Hons) Textile Design student was announced as the national winner of the Society of Dyers and Colourists International Design Competition 2023.
The Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC) International Design Competition gives undergraduate students the opportunity to showcase their creativity to an international audience. The completion is judged regionally, then nationally with the winner from each country going forward to the global grand final which will take place in November 2023.
"I am so happy to have been selected as a winner for this competition, I feel that it's extremely important to raise awareness around neurodiversity and inclusive design and I am looking forward to bringing this to an even wider audience at the international finals to represent the UK and Leeds Arts University."
Sophie Amelia, BA (Hons) Textile Design student
After winning the Northern heat, Sophie progressed to the national competition where she was announced as the winner for the brief, ‘Colour For Good – for Planet and People’.
Her project explored ways in which textiles could be used to create inclusive and accessible sensory aids for autistic adults, after noticing a gap in the market from her own personal experience.
Sophie will now go forward to the global grand final which will be held online in November 2023.
"We loved the project and felt that it was extremely well considered in answering the brief, especially in terms of designing for 'the good of people' and specifically sensory textiles for the wellbeing of autistic, neurodivergent adults. We were impressed by Sophie's targeted research and the way she was able to apply her findings appropriately to achieve a wonderful end product which is very feasible for a commercial market. We also felt Sophie considered the planet and lifespan of the product well through your use of durable materials, abstract patterns and gender-neutral colours for commercial longevity of appeal. Congratulations Sophie!"
Laura Beardsall, Northern Heat judge