All new brands accepted into the September 2018 edition of Spotted at Top Drawer Autumn were eligible, and entries were judged by a panel made up of the following industry experts: Annabelle Dodds, Senior Buyer at the V&A; Charlotte Abrahams, Spotted Curator; Dan Flower, owner of AIM Brands; Johnathan Brown, Founder of Cult Vinegar; Nicki Sloan, Founder & MD of Cubic Products Ltd and Sophie Hughes, PR & Brand Marketing Manager of West Elm.
The brands were judged on originality and innovation, commercial viability, clarity of brand, communication of message and the overall quality of their products. Ben Langworthy makes vintage-inspired paper goods featuring strong colours and typography, underpinned by his belief in the special importance of a hand-written note. He hand-draws all his designs using traditional techniques, and everything is printed in the U.K. His cut out cards – which can be cut and folded to make a miniature model – are particularly special. He won a free stand at the show and one-to-one mentoring from six industry experts. The two Runners Up were Finfo Design and Roadscents.
