Arthur Silver Award 2012 - an in-depth look at this year's winning entry

As regular readers of this blog will know - Elsa Sandy, studying BA Hons Design, Interior & Applied Arts  at Middlesex University , won this year's Arthur Silver Award.  Entrants to the award are required to use the MoDA collections as inspiration in the development of a piece of studio work, and Elsa did this by using a Silver Studio design as inspiration for creating an intricate pendant light shade (see picture below).  We thought we would take this opportunity to showcase Elsa's winning entry and to share some of the reasons why she won.

Love Lace Light shade, Elsa Sandy, 2012.

Entry board One - Inspiration (all entrants must submit three A3 sized boards showing inspiration, development and finished piece of work).
Having already taken initial inspiration from eighteenth century lace-making on a visit to the Buckinghamshire County Museum, Elsa was further inspired by a selection of late nineteenth century lace-like designs from the Silver Studio collection at MoDA. 

Entry Board Two - Development
Taking extracts from a particular design, Elsa then proceeded to trace the design with a series of punctuated dots similar in the style of 'Pointilism' as practiced by the artist, Georges Seurat.  Elsa developed the method further using a hole punch on a standard doily before finally perfecting the effect onto a Lazy Susan using a laser cutter.

Entry Board Three - Finished piece of work

Taking confidence from the development stage, Elsa transformed the flat filigree pattern into an intricate pendant light shade.

MoDA's Learning Officer Richard Lumb said: "We really liked the way that Elsa interpreted a design from the Silver Studio collection to create an amazing pendant light shade. Elsa showed real enthusiasm and commitment when researching the collections and this was clearly evident in her entry. Taking this into account along with her innovate design, Elsa was a deserved winner of the award."


Middlesex University Head of Art & Design Phil Healey said: "I was really impressed with Elsa's entry, in particular that she had clearly researched the collections at MoDA before going on to create an innovative lighting design using a variety of materials."


Hear more comments from Phil Healey in an short interview published here.

Elsa intends to use the prize money to set up a studio which she will use to develop her work in a hope to commercialise her designs.

Elsa said: “Receiving the award reassured me that changing career direction was the right choice. The Love Lace Light shade is a sculptural additional to a room and at night generates dynamic lighting effects. Coloured shades are available and since making the wood shade, I have explored acrylic for glass like qualities, plus small tea light versions ideal for the garden."

You can currently see Elsa's work at the New Designers show at the Islington Business Design Centre, London until Saturday 7th July.  You can also find out more about her work by visiting her website.

For more information about the Arthur Silver Award please see previous blogposts.