Ravensbourne’s postgraduate degree show became a part of the prestigious London Design Festival for the first time this year, showcasing interdisciplinary design works from postgraduate students representing 21 nations.

This year’s theme was Radical Materiality, exploring the interplay between the digital and the physical – where the convergence of the two has an impact on how we create artefacts and shape experiences. This developed to include projects focused on the future of biotechnology and augmented beauty, as well as the simulation of space through illusion and the use of mixed reality to explore a migrant’s journey.

Courses represented at this year’s show ranged from MA Environment Design to MA Fashion, MA Moving Image and Ma Interactive Digital Media.

The projects on display covered everything from Yi-Lin Cheng’s Françoise Sagan inspired fashion collection ‘Bonjour Tristesse’ to Jelina Demaguila’s sustainable architecture project, ‘Domus Futurum’ and Peter Schaefer’s interactive head-mounted device, ‘Sonic Neurality’, looking at the capabilities of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs).

Commenting, Brigitta Zics, Deputy Head of Department of Postgraduate Studies said:

“Our postgraduate shows are great for students, as they are able to develop their confidence, but also for members of the public, who are able to engage individuals we firmly believe will be leading the next wave of artistic development.

“The Radical Materiality exhibition showcases a spectrum of works that exploit new potential for creativity. Our students present their practice on the media of materiality, including augmented experiences that enhance the senses, digitally fabricated objects that push the boundaries of craftsmanship and materials made wearable for transforming our perception in the world around us.”

Professor Lawrence Zeegen, Dean of the School of Design added:

“Our postgraduate department have already seen some phenomenal successes this year. MA Communication Design student Geli Luna won a D&AD Award just a few months ago, while Maria Smolar from our MDes Social Innovation course and Alicia Scherp from our MDes Design Management Innovation course were recently accepted into the United Nations’ UNLEASH programme. The programme, created to develop solutions to the UN’s sustainable development goals, was open to over 400 social innovators from all over the world so it really is an amazing achievement!

“The fact our postgraduate show comprises part of the London Design Festival this year really is the icing on the cake, and I would like to thank all our amazing staff and students for pulling off one of our most ambitious and challenging postgraduate shows to date.”