M&S brief proves fruitful for young designer
A Staffordshire University student has helped to design a summer homeware range for Marks & Spencer which is now in stores across the country.
Brioni Allen’s cheerful patterns of colourful oranges have been used across a variety of products including tableware, cushions and beach towels.
Brioni and fellow BA (Hons) Surface Pattern and Textile Design students were set a live brief by the international retailer last year to create a new and exciting picnicware range. After impressing the judges with her bold designs, Brioni was announced as one of the winners and was invited to turn her ideas into reality on a work placement.
The 22-year-old from Milton worked alongside M&S’s design team to develop her ideas and the range launched last month.
Brioni said: “This has been a great experience and I really enjoyed doing it. It was an eye opener to the industry at such an early stage in my career and has definitely boosted my confidence.
“When I first saw my designs on sale it was a real ‘wow’ feeling! It was a proud moment.”
The Surface Pattern and Textile Design course has strong industry links and provides a range of opportunities for work placements, ‘live’ industry projects, competitions and freelance work. Aside from M&S, students have worked with companies including Hallmark Cards, Next and Johnsons Tiles.
Now in her final year, Brioni’s ambition is to secure a position as a junior print designer at a high street retailer. She is exhibiting her work at Staffordshire University’s Degree Show 2022, which is open to the public this week, and fans can see more designs on her social media. Brioni will also be joining course mates at the national New Designers exhibition in London later this month.
Brioni added: “When I started my degree I never imagined something like this would happen! It is thanks to the opportunities on the course that I’ve got this far and achieved what I have.”
The Degree Show 2022 is open to the public until Saturday 11 June. Car parking is available on our Leek Road site and parking charges have been lifted for the duration of the degree show.
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Amy Platts
Media Communications Officer
t: 01782 292702
m: 07799 341911
e: amy.platts@staffs.ac.uk
Staffordshire University is a Civic University which plays a leading role in improving the regional economy and enhancing quality of life in local communities. We pride ourselves on being connected to the needs of students, academic partners, business and society.
We ranked 6th for social inclusion in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022 and were in the top 15 for Student Satisfaction in the Complete University Guide 2022.
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