Scottish designer wins national Elle Decoration Award

06/11/2007

"Winning such a prestigious prize so early on in my career is a fantastic confidence boost and has inspired the creation of a new collection of work."

Now in its sixth year, the Elle Decoration British Design Awards, is being held at the Wallace Collection in London and is the biggest annual interiors event in the UK. Previous winners include some of the UK's best known designers such as Kelly Hoppen, Tom Dixon and Sophie Conran. Elle Decoration is the UK's premium interior design magazine, has a world-wide readership, and is very influential in setting trends for home interiors at the highest level.

Dundee based, Jo Basford, 24, fought off competitors from across the country to take the Best in Bedrooms Award for her China Blue bed linen, created for the London based design shop, Heal's. The cotton bed linen is part of the annual Heal's Discovers range of work by up-and-coming designers, and won points for its on-trend indigo-on-white colourway and dense circles of stitching.

The awards recognise innovation and support design excellence, promoting public awareness of good design and the Best of British design and manufacturing talent. Winners are selected by the Elle Decoration readership.

Jo, the only Scot recognised at this year's awards ceremony, is delighted with the news. "I am thrilled to have won an Elle Decoration Design Award. Winning such a prestigious prize so early on in my career is a fantastic confidence boost and has inspired the creation of a new collection of work."

Tonight's presentation follows on the back of a long list of awards for the designer, including NESTA funding as part of the Starter for 6 initiative, winner of BT E-Entrepreneurs "Best Website", regional winner of Shell Live Wire Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Jo has also received a Scottish Arts Council start-up grant as well as making it through to the finals of Creative Entrepreneur of the Year 2006, CraftSpace award at Origin and Student Designer of the Year, Scottish Style Awards.

Jo Basford has recently received a funding grant from the Starter for 6 initiative. Jo is one of 64 new entrepreneurs to make it onto the project - a new funding and training programme, led by NESTA. Starter for 6 will build the enterprise skills of up to 300 new entrepreneurs in Scotland over the next three years, across creative industries, science and technology. It provides business support, mentoring and the opportunity to apply for a start-up grant. Starter for 6 is now accepting entries for 2008. Interested parties should go to www.nesta.org.uk/starterfor6