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MullenLowe Group is pleased announce the winners of the 2021 MullenLowe NOVA Awards, created in exclusive partnership with leading art, design and performance college, Central Saint Martins.

2021 MullenLowe NOVA Award Winner:

Nikoleta Crysikou, MA Material Futures, ‘BacTerra’

2021 MullenLowe NOVA Award Runners Up:

Alice Turner, BA Product Design, ‘Carnerie’

Lydia Hardcastle, BA Performance: Design and Practice, ‘FEN (Growing Garments)’

2021 Unilever #Unstereotype Award:

Cheuk Laam Wong, BA Product Design, ‘Looop Can’

2021 Creative Boom Conscious Award:

Francesca Dalosio, MA Industrial Design, ‘Ulïètu’

2021 YourNOVA ‘People’s Choice’ Award:

Jann Choy, BA Graphic Communication Design, ‘Liǎn’

Winners of the 2021 MullenLowe NOVA Awards were announced in an online ceremony on Wednesday 18^th August. The overall winner, runners up and recipients of both the Unilever #Unstereotype Award and Creative Boom Conscious Award were chosen by a panel of expert judges, while the YourNOVA ‘People’s Choice’ Award was chosen by a public vote. 

As overall winner of the 2021 MullenLowe NOVA Awards, Nikoleta will receive a cash prize to help continue practice. Commenting on the accolade, Nikoleta says: “I feel really happy and grateful to be named the winner of the MullenLowe NOVA Awards, not only for the recognition and endorsement within the art world and wider industry, but because I will be able to communicate my project to a bigger audience. The prize money will enable me to scale up my project from a home-based workshop to a bigger workshop, and it will give me the opportunity to research the project more, to develop and optimise the material and method. Hopefully, it will start a conversation with other makers and industries about how we can collectively reimagine the future of ceramics and traditional crafts.” 

Jose Miguel Sokoloff, Global President, MullenLowe Group Global Creative Council and MullenLowe NOVA Awards jury president says: “This year, the work from both the winners and all of the shortlisted students has been extraordinary. Not only did the winning projects challenge the judges to view creativity through a different lens, but the work was bulletproof. It was relevant, tested and in most cases, can be put into production tomorrow with infinite practical uses. I’m continually amazed at how connected the students are to the world around us and how they’re engaging and reacting with purpose, and this year was no exception. A lot of the work this year delved into the issues humanity is facing – from waste and recyclability to period poverty and mental health – and the students asked some very interesting questions and offered clear, tangible, and innovative solutions to problems that touch every one of us.  

The past two years have been difficult in terms of how the work has been produced, showcased, and shared, but what I can say with certainty is the winning work is the best of the graduate projects that exist out there in the world right now, and that’s quite something. It’s been a privilege to recognise these brilliant minds for the 10^th year. Congratulations to all of the winners and shortlisted students – your work inspires this whole programme, so thank you for being so extraordinarily creative. I’m sure we will see continued success from each and every one of you,” he continued. 

This year marks 10 years of partnership between Central Saint Martins and MullenLowe Group, formed to support emerging talent, creative excellence, and innovation by giving students a platform for recognition and the opportunity to extend their thinking beyond the educational environment. 

Professor Jeremy Till, Head of Central Saint Martins and Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Arts London says: “It’s an honour and a privilege to celebrate 10 years of partnership between Central Saint Martins and MullenLowe Group. If we trace the winners from the last 10 years, you will be able to see how important the MullenLowe NOVA Awards are in boosting their careers, and I have no doubt this year’s winners will thrive post-graduation as they find new ways of displaying, making, and disseminating their work. It’s wonderful to see how the MullenLowe NOVA Awards bring together work from multiple disciplines across Central Saint Martins’ courses, and give graduating students a platform for recognition as they bring to the surface work that might not have been celebrated in the way it deserves without the programme,” he continued.

As part of London Design Festival this September, MullenLowe Group and Central Saint Martins are delighted to present ‘NOVA X’, celebrating a decade of award-winning creative practice. Online and at Central Saint Martins, the exhibition will share how past winners of the MullenLowe NOVA Awards have propelled their careers beyond the educational environment.