Design matters: what we do here has implications everywhere

In our 151^st year, the School of Design is hosting our annual degree show to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our final-year students. This year, the theme is an invitation to explore — not just the works on display but equally their commentaries on the world and our roles within a rapidly-evolving society. Ours is an interdisciplinary pursuit aimed at solving societal problems. Accordingly, the exhibits this year are united in their ambitions to identify, understand, and grapple with the challenges in the world around us.

From making documents easier to read, to revealing new forms of sustainable fashion, to raising awareness of climate concerns through artificial intelligence and immersive technologies, what we do here has implications everywhere. It is my hope that the pieces you encounter at this year’s Degree Show will spur you to start your own journey of wonder and exploration of a world ultimately made better by design.

This year’s showcase demonstrates the extensive, and impressive, capabilities of our final-year students, reminding us of the pressing need for creative approaches, fresher perspectives, and bolder innovations in a changed world. The annual Degree Show is also a testament to the tireless efforts of the School of Design’s staff, who give generously of themselves so that every student’s vision is brought to life. Each work thus offers another reason to fully celebrate our newest graduates as the next generation of designers crafting brighter, more hopeful futures for all of us.

Dr Arjun Khara
Deputy Head of School
School of Design
University of Leeds