The finalists in the 20th annual Northern Design Awards have been revealed.
Ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Northern Design Awards, which will take place at the Titanic Hotel, Stanley Dock, on Friday 18th November, judges have named the finalists, including several prominent Liverpool designers and architects.
Director of Events, Shelley Mears, said: “The feedback from the judging panel this year is that the standard of entries has been better than ever. We are so excited to view these projects on the night and, of course, to award our winners at what will be our 20th event, making it a very special occasion for all involved!”
Natalie Holden Interiors are delighted to be shortlisted as a finalist for our Heswall contemporary house renovation project in the category ‘Interior Design Project Under £250k’. We cannot wait to go back to Liverpool and celebrate, where the business first launched. We’re in good company amongst other Liverpool creatives, including illustrator, artist and designer, Rebecca Christian, who has been shortlisted in the Designer Maker category, the team at KKA Interiors (in the Hotel Interior Design Category) and Unit 3 Design Studio who have been shortlisted as Best Architectural Practice.
The judging panel is made up of some of the most respected names in design and architecture, including interior design expert and TV presenter George Bond and former BIID President, Susie Rumbold. In previous years, judges have included broadcaster Linda Barker, Red or Dead founder Wayne Hemingway and George Clarke of BBC’s ‘Restoration Man’ and ‘Amazing Spaces.’
The awards have been held at a number of striking venues, including the Devonshire Dome in Buxton, Manchester’s stunning Monastery, the Chester Grosvenor and, of course, Liverpool’s iconic Titanic Hotel.
Shelley Mears said: “We last held the awards in Liverpool in 2016 at this very venue. It’s such a commanding and impressive space with such history. Our guests were so wowed by it, that it seemed an easy choice when we made the decision to bring the awards back to Liverpool for 2022.”
On the night of the awards, former Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year contestant, Emma-Leone Palmer, who has been making waves with her latest collection celebrating female desire and sensuality, will be showcasing five pieces from her new series at the Titanic.
Emma’s work has previously been censored by Meta for showing uncovered nipples and the artist said: “It’s very forward thinking of Shelley, who I immediately recognised as a fellow firework, to bring this to the awards. It’s really important that people push things forward and address censorship of the female form.”
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen (who has been involved with the Northern Design Awards in previous years) said that Emma: “has absolutely captured the now but done it with the flawless technique of a classicist.”
The Northern Design Awards were launched out of a sense of frustration at the lack of representation for designers in the north, and a London-centric awards calendar which meant that the majority of high-profile design events took place in the capital.
Shelley Bond said: “The Northern Design Awards started as a small event designed to prove that there was an appetite to celebrate the huge amount of design talent that we have in the North of England. Now, 20 years on, we’re enormously grateful to the judges, sponsors and nominees who not only showed that there was a demand for this kind of event, but also made it possible for the awards to grow and develop over the years. I’m counting down to raising a glass to thank everyone who’s supported the Northern Design Awards, and to celebrating the achievements of this year’s winners. It’s shaping up to be a very exciting night!”