Winner - Balance by Alice Sinclair Best
Statement by the Judges
𝘈 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭-𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯, 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮.
“In designing this cutlery set, I drew inspiration from traditional forms, seeking to reinterpret them through a simple, contemporary lens. Reflecting on the role of ambience in shared meals - often accompanied by music in my upbringing—I was naturally led to the fiddle, an instrument connected to my family’s background in folk music. I was captivated by the perfect balance of the instrument and its beautifully handcrafted scroll. While researching cutlery, I discovered the chopstick rest, appreciating both its simplicity and its purpose in maintaining hygiene. In many East Asian cultures, cleanliness at the table is highly valued, and this principle became central to my design approach.
Guided by the form of the fiddle’s scroll, I explored ways to integrate balance directly into the cutlery itself. Rather than relying on a separate stand, the design allows the pieces to support themselves, with the heads elevated above the table to remain clean and untouched. The handle and scroll are carefully shaped to achieve this balance while maintaining a refined aesthetic.
Silver is proposed as the primary material, chosen for its natural antibacterial properties, reinforcing the concept of hygienic dining. Inspired by the fiddle, this cutlery set rests elegantly on the tabletop, offering a clean and considered eating experience.”
Alice Sinclair Best
@swirled_silver
#winner #cutlery #cutlerydesign #designcompetition #ccdc
Runner Up - Singing Silverware by Poppy-Joy Cherry-Daniels, Billy Mingo & Samson Boatri
Statement by the Judges
𝘈 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵, 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺-𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦𝘴.
“This concept draws inspiration from marble runs and baby rattles, embracing a sense of playfulness in everyday objects. Each piece incorporates steel balls within the handle, creating a subtle sound and a shifting sense of weight during use.
The cutlery is crafted from stainless steel for both the handles and heads, with 7mm stainless steel balls housed inside. This material combination was selected for its balance of durability, weight, tactile quality, and acoustic resonance. The ball size was determined through user testing to achieve the ideal feel and sound. We also found that participants often found the sensory experience so engaging that they were reluctant to put the cutlery down.”
Poppy-Joy Cherry-Daniels, Billy Mingo & Samson Boatri
@cherry.daniels.design@billy.mingo@samsonboatri
#runnerup #cutlery #cutlerydesign #designcompetition #ccdc
Highly Commended - Take the CREDIT by Andrea Manning @andrea925.jewellery
Statement by the Judges
𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭. 𝘈 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦𝘴 “Conveniently portable and effortlessly simple, this credit card–inspired cutlery set is designed for life on the go. Compact and easy to use, it fits neatly into a wallet, phone case, or attaches to a keychain for everyday convenience.
As an eco-conscious alternative, the design can be produced using recycled plastic cards. According to NatWest, over 380 tonnes of plastic card waste (including payment, loyalty, and gift cards) have been generated since 2017. Although the shift toward digital payments has reduced production, an estimated 65 million unused plastic cards remain in UK households. Repurposing these materials into reusable cutlery offers a practical solution - one that could be distributed in aid packages for displaced communities, or they could be a useful and fun, easily branded, business card for professionals in the hospitality industry.
To be made of stainless steel–lined copper, or for a more luxurious option, rose gold–plated sterling silver.”
Andrea Manning
#highlycommended #cutlery #cutlerydesign #designcompetition #ccdc
We are delighted to announce the winners of the 2026 Contemporary Cutlery Design Competition. The winning design will be the 6th set made for this 100-year competition and form part of our permanent collection.
#winners #cutlery #cutlerydesign #designcompetition #ccdc
Play in Balance by Machi de Waard
@machi_jewellery
Jewellery & Metal Graduate from @royalcollegeofart
#shortlist #cutlery #cutlerydesign #designcompetition #ccdc
Take the CREDIT by Andrea Manning @andrea925.jewellery
Jewellery and Silversmithing student @edinburghcollegeofart
#shortlist #cutlery #cutlerydesign #designcompetition #ccdc
Balance by Alice Sinclair Best @swirled_silver
HND student at City of Glasgow College @cofgcollege
#ccdc #cutlery #cutlerydesign #designcompetition #shortlist
Oral by @clairefairleyglassdesign
HND Jewellery and HND Jewellery Arts and Technology student @cofgcollege
#shortlist #cutlery #cutlerydesign #designcompetition #ccdc
