Plymouth Art Students design and sell unique hand-made Christmas gifts

The work of Jessica Connelly at Design2Sell in Plymouth

Talented young artists and designers from the Plymouth College of Art are getting ready to sell their own hand-crafted products at the popular annual Design2Sell event. This year their products will not only go on sale at the college but also in Plymouth city centre.

A private view at Plymouth College of Art on December 6 will mark the start of Design2Sell, which will continue at the College until 12 December. For the first time ever Design2Sell will also have a presence in the city centre this year with a pop-up shop opening on Cornwall Street on Saturday, December 3 at 9:00am.

Every item on sale is completely unique and there is a wide selection of home wares, ceramics, jewellery, metalwork, textiles and fashion accessories.

As part of Design2Sell this year, schools have been invited to take part in an exciting competition to design handbags and t-shirts. Eight finalists have been selected and they will find out whether they have won the competition at the Private View on Tuesday.

The eight finalists from Eggbuckland Community College, Goosewell Primary School and Tor Bridge High attended workshops at Plymouth College of Art to turn their designs into professionally produced products with the help of students on the Extended Diploma Fashion and Textiles course. The finished products will also go on sale at Design2Sell.

The year-on-year success of Design2Sell can only be put down to the hard work and talents of the students who organise the entire event. Over a period of just 10 weeks the second year students on the Extended Diploma in Art & Design and Fashion & Textiles courses plan and bring to fruition this exciting event.

Student Jessica Connelly from Ivybridge has made decorative mirrors and photo frames out of recycled paper to sell. She said: “I have really enjoyed the hands-on approach to setting up a business from scratch.” Another student, Becky Howard from Callington, is making cupcake cushions and broaches and described the experience as worthwhile saying: “If you are going to be a designer it’s important to learn all the steps.”

For further information about Design2Sell and to get a sneak preview of some of the work that will be on sale visit www.plymouthart.ac.uk/design2sell