Jesse Cracknell

"Karesansui is a project that investigates the tradition of the Japanese rock garden, taking visual inspiration to inform an explorative process which combines both handmade and CNC manufacture. Directly translated as ‘dry landscape garden’, the discipline of karesansui imitates the essence of nature, promoting calmness and evoking a sense of contemplation. The furniture in this series attempts to recreate the tranquillity of these gardens by incorporating routed waveform designs through use of the CNC router. The resulting aesthetics complement the functionality of the piece producing areas which provide a focus for personal objects to be placed." Jesse Cracknell

Jesse Cracknell has just graduated from Manchester School of Art in product design.

Alice Marie Cairns

Also from the Duncan and Jordanstone College of Art degree show was the work of Alice Marie Cairns who has graduated in silversmithing. In creating remarkable vessel forms Alice has also had to make 'tools' that resembled spinning tops.

"Within my body of work, I have designed and created a collection of contemporary vessels, which I hope to be aesthetically and functionally stimulating. Creating a tactile collection, derived from the hands on the making process that is so important to me. Through my designing of various vessel shapes that are not necessarily seen as conventional but hopefully adventurous and challenging I hope that I have been able to push the boundaries of silversmithing. With this challenge, I had to design every aspect of my making process including tool making which has become a prevalent part of my work." Alice Marie Cairns