The best thing since sliced bread

A STUDENT from Manchester has taken the top award at this year’s New Designers graduate show.

Joseph Hartley beat competition from thousands of other hopefuls to impress the judges with his “Makery” collection of objects for bread making.

The 28 year-old, who has just completed a degree in 3D Design at Manchester Metropolitan University, now plans to invest the £1,500 prize money back into his career by setting up a workshop in Manchester where he can create new designs and manufacture his range.

The collection includes an apron which can be turned into a bag to carry freshly baked bread, and pots featuring oversized pegs on their lids.

Three ingredients

It is based on three simple “ingredients” of clay, wood and cotton, mirroring the three basic ingredients of bread making - flour, salt and water.

Joseph, who grew up in Silverdale, in Lancashire, said: “I have always been a big bread maker. Food and design are my two interests and I really like the idea that they’re not that different, that ingredients are basically the same thing as materials.”

The idea to incorporate the pegs into the lids came about so “you can take the lid of the pots without getting dough everywhere” plus “the peg is a symbol of utility”.

He has had plenty of interest in the collection since his win, with one shop in Covent Garden already saying they would like to stock a full collection.

“Quite weird”

“I’m over the moon, I couldn’t even believe I got shortlisted, so to win was amazing,” said Joseph. “I can’t remember being on the podium and accepting, I still feel quite weird about it.

“The judges said that one of the things that tipped it towards me is my enthusiasm, and the way there is a whole story or recipe to the collection. I have tried to leave no stone unturned and cover every angle – every object is completely relevant.”