New Designers is an annual exhibition in London which highlights upcoming creative talent. An event that brought together UK graduates who showcased fresh thinking, innovative craftsmanship, and bold new approaches to contemporary design this year. The future of the creative industries will include furniture and product design, textiles and more, as shown in the exhibition.

These five furniture pieces from New Designers 2026 stood out for their design, ideas and quality of making:

Luis Ho - GROUND

Central Saint Martins

Luis Ho is a graduate in furniture design who explores “multi-sensory interaction beyond the visual”. His GROUND collection looks at how furniture can be experienced through touch, texture and material rather than through sight only. The designer, who has personal experiences with family members suffering from vision loss, inspires a furniture collection that contemplates making the home more inclusive.

Made from granulated cork bound with natural latex, each piece has a distinct surface texture. GROUND demonstrates how thoughtful material choices can enhance the experience for everyone. By placing needs at the centre of his design, Luis ho has created furniture that is both functionally and emotionally engaging.

Scott Chaplow - Traces

Northumbria University

Among the standout graduate furniture designers at New Designers 2026, Scott Chaplow combines sustainable craftsmanship with contemporary interpretations of mid-century modern design.whose work combines sustainable craftsmanship with contemporary interpretations of mid-century modern design. Traces, his lounge chair project does exactly that. Based on sustainable development and careful craftsmanship, the design blends simple forms with soft edges to form an object which is both functional and visually appealing.

The Traces lounge chair is crafted primarily from Douglas Fur. Meaning, the design is based on the use of materials that reveal their natural characteristics. The Traces lounge chair shows how classical design ideas can be reinterpreted in modern interior designs. This way, the design is both beautiful and functional.

Freddie Rees - Spinning Chair

Kingston School of Art
Freddie Rees is a graduate who reimagined the Welsh spinning chair, making the design both culturally rich and materially innovative. Inspired by a folk piece of furniture that was made in Wales for women spinning their wool into yarn, it is a celebration of the traditional craft combined with something new and fresh to offer for modern home interiors.

The chair features a seat wrapped organically with woollen rope, which gives the surface a soft, warm touch. By utilizing traditional techniques with contemporary styling, Rees has created an interesting reinterpretation demonstrating how time-tested manufacturing techniques can successfully adapt to modern lifestyles.

Thea Jenkins - Stork Stool

Kingston School of Art

Graduate designer Thea Jenkins has created the Stork stool that is an excellent example of simplicity in engineering producing beautifully-constructed furniture. The design is produced in a smart, friction-fit assembly. Utilization of the compressibility of solid cork allows the molded seat to be inserted into the steel frame without any fastening or screws.

The Stork, which showcases how you can achieve oak furniture with a moss-green lacquer and a cork seat, displays a deceptively simple form through a diversity of processes, materials, and assembly methods.

Bella Watkins - Alma Collection

University of Wales Trinity Saint David

One of the standout outdoor furniture collections at New Designers 2026, graduate designer Bella Watkins' Alma collection takes inspiration from the relaxed lifestyle and enchanted landscapes of Portugal, capturing the essence of Mediterranean living. The collection is designed to create a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces, so that the garden becomes an extension of the home.

Each piece combines the rich warmth of iroko hardwood with anodised aluminium, balancing natural beauty with lasting durability. The Alma collection features a timeless design, comfort and quality craftsmanship that embodies the vision of Watkins’ outdoor furniture built to last for years to come.

For more information on New Designers visit: https://www.newdesigners.com

Cover image taken by Seen PR