ALICE WELCH SUPPORTS TALENTED NEW CUTLERY DESIGNERS
A striking new cutlery set, Curve, has been named the winner of the Contemporary Cutlery Design Competition 2025. Organised by The Cutlers’ Company, the judging panel included Alice Welch, Chairwoman of Robert Welch, who joined five other experts in selecting the winning design by Alexander Budd.
Judges praised the knife, fork, and spoon for their “minimalist and striking design, perfectly balancing form and functionality, comfort and class.” Each entry was assessed on it being fit for purpose and the sensory experience of form and material.
Alexander Budd will receive a £750 cash prize and have his design made by a professional craftsperson or manufacturer who will upscale the three admissions pieces to a six-piece set and have a one-to-one feedback session with the maker upon completion of the cutlery. The final work will form part of the Cutlers’ permanent collection.
"Minimalist and striking design perfectly balancing form and functionality, comfort and class."
Alice Welch has supported the annual competition since its launch in 2021, helping to champion innovative cutlery design. This year’s contest attracted more than 95 entries.
“The Judges were fully in agreement to the clear winner, runner up and highly commended and believed that the vision each designer showed in early concepts, followed through with rigorous development of prototypes resulted in their sets’ cohesively working together as three pieces,” said Alice Welch.
“Very commendable work by the chosen designers and applause goes to all the students who submitted their work.”
HERITAGE COLLECTION
Curve will become part of the permanent heritage collection of the Cutlers’ Company but also used regularly at Company dinners. It is anticipated the competition will culminate in 2116 when the Company will celebrate its 700th anniversary.
The competition is now five years into its 100-year legacy and will ultimately create an extraordinary snapshot of British design in the 21st Century and offer young designers of the future a chance to explore the delights of making such intimate everyday objects.
The runner-up was MetalliFold by Sheng-Yi Chen who explored ‘the elegance of folding in metal’. The designer won £250, and the cutlery will be showcased in the competition PR as well on the company website. Rectangles 3 / 3XL by Kris Muir was highly commended.
Winner Alexander Budd said: “It was my aim to design a contemporary cutlery set that is beautiful, functional and unique… I wanted to explore whether it was possible to design a set of cutlery where the knife, fork and spoon were created from the same original ‘blank’ of metal. I started by putting aside everything that I already knew about what a cutlery set should be - and thought about what the essential functions of each element were; Knife (cut), Fork (stab), Spoon (scoop)… The slight curve of the metal sheet greatly enhances the comfort and functionality - as the thumb of the user sits within the curve when using.”
The competition is open to students currently on, or, recently graduated from (three years or less) any art, design or crafts course, at any college or university, studying at undergraduate, post-graduate or equivalent level. Applicants must be living in the UK for the duration of the competition.
The Cutlers’ Company is one of the most ancient livery companies in the City of London, having received its first Royal Charter from Henry V in 1416.
Alice Welch has supported the annual competition since its launch in 2021, helping to champion innovative cutlery design. This year’s contest attracted more than 95 entries.
“The Judges were fully in agreement to the clear winner, runner up and highly commended and believed that the vision each designer showed in early concepts, followed through with rigorous development of prototypes resulted in their sets’ cohesively working together as three pieces,” said Alice Welch.
“Very commendable work by the chosen designers and applause goes to all the students who submitted their work.”
HERITAGE COLLECTION
Curve will become part of the permanent heritage collection of the Cutlers’ Company but also used regularly at Company dinners. It is anticipated the competition will culminate in 2116 when the Company will celebrate its 700th anniversary.
The competition is now five years into its 100-year legacy and will ultimately create an extraordinary snapshot of British design in the 21st Century and offer young designers of the future a chance to explore the delights of making such intimate everyday objects.
The runner-up was MetalliFold by Sheng-Yi Chen who explored ‘the elegance of folding in metal’. The designer won £250, and the cutlery will be showcased in the competition PR as well on the company website. Rectangles 3 / 3XL by Kris Muir was highly commended.
Winner Alexander Budd said: “It was my aim to design a contemporary cutlery set that is beautiful, functional and unique… I wanted to explore whether it was possible to design a set of cutlery where the knife, fork and spoon were created from the same original ‘blank’ of metal. I started by putting aside everything that I already knew about what a cutlery set should be - and thought about what the essential functions of each element were; Knife (cut), Fork (stab), Spoon (scoop)… The slight curve of the metal sheet greatly enhances the comfort and functionality - as the thumb of the user sits within the curve when using.”
The competition is open to students currently on, or, recently graduated from (three years or less) any art, design or crafts course, at any college or university, studying at undergraduate, post-graduate or equivalent level. Applicants must be living in the UK for the duration of the competition.
The Cutlers’ Company is one of the most ancient livery companies in the City of London, having received its first Royal Charter from Henry V in 1416.