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Student Designs 2024 Creative Bath Awards

Thursday, 23 May, 2024

This year, Bath Spa University became the headline sponsor of the 2024 Creative Bath Awards, an event that celebrates creative talent in our home city.

Not only did the judging panel feature our very own Lucy Stone, head of Communications and Brand, but the evening also saw a win in the Creative Student category for BSU Product and Furniture Design graduate Gigi Cooke.

Bath Spa University was also proudly represented in the physical awards themselves, with third year Product and Furniture Design student Louise Aubrey winning the commission to design this year’s prizes.

A slab of Bath Stone jesmonite with Creative Bath 2024 embossed

Last year, BSU student Bo Neville won the competition to design the awards, with the baton now being handed over to Louise.

Speaking about getting the chance to design this year’s awards, Louise said:

“I'm really grateful to have been chosen to make these awards. I'm really excited to add these to my portfolio and I'm grateful that I could use this experience to inform my final project.”

Louise’s design features an elegant curve that evokes Bath architecture, with Creative Bath’s new logo proudly sat within it. The awards are cast in Bath stone jesmonite, further linking them to the City’s heritage and culture.

Talking about the inspiration and process behind the design, Louise said:

“The inspiration for these awards is the new logo from Creative Bath. It's showing the curve and inspiration from the Royal Crescent, including the logo on the front with the blue accent.

The process of making these awards involved a lot of 3D printing. They needed to be sanded and filled and I also created a silicone mould with a 3D printed jacket that was then poured with Bath Stone jesmonite.”

Casting the awards in Bath Stone jesominite has also provided vital experience for Louise, who is making a jesmonite coffee table as her final project ahead of graduation.

Louise added:

“This process has been super helpful in allowing me to further understand the processes behind using jesmonite. I’m currently working on my final project, a jesmonite coffee table, and designing this year’s awards have allowed me to learn more about mould-making and how jesmonite can be used on a larger scale.”

Louise was also quick to highlight the importance of her tutors throughout the process, as well as the creative freedom that is offered at BSU’s Locksbrook campus:

“My tutors, lectures and technicians have been super helpful in this process whenever I've needed to use the workshops and get advice on the design.”

Louise will now look to take these experiences beyond her studies, as she looks to cast her own career in the world of product and furniture design.

Are you interested in exploring your creative side? Bath Spa University has a number of dedicated art and design courses that will allow you to flourish.

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