Contemporary Cutlery Design Competition

The Cutlers’ Company

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. The Company was a trade guild whose members’ produced items with a cutting edge, such as swords, knives and surgical instruments.

In January 2021 the Cutlers’ Company launched the first annual design competition to create a set of contemporary cutlery; consisting of a knife, a fork and a spoon. The winning design will be produced by a professional craftsperson / manufacturer and will be scaled up in order to produce a 6-piece dining set.

This cutlery 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 ambitious 95-year duration of this annual competition 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.

Design a set of contemporary cutlery; consisting of a knife, a fork and a spoon.

The cutlery must be fit for purpose and applicants should take into consideration the full sensory experience of the cutlery, in form and material.

There are no restrictions on the materials or processes used, and innovative ideas are encouraged, but the judges will be looking to understand the reasoning behind all choices.

Please explain your idea and how it is achievable using communication methods of your choice - the written word, a video, drawings and prototypes are all welcomed.

Competition entries, along with a short CV, should be submitted to the Cutlers’ Company Secretary via email competition@cutlerslondon.co.uk

Large digital files should be sent via WeTransfer.

Prototypes or other physical entries should be sent by recorded delivery to the following address: Cutlers’ Hall, 4 Warwick Lane, London, EC4M 7BR.

Eligibility

The competition is open to students currently on, or recently graduated from (3 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.

Prizes

The winner will receive a £750 cash prize, have their 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.

The runner up will receive a £250 cash prize and have their design showcased in the competition PR.

Deadlines

23 March 2025

The deadline has been extended until 23:59 on Sunday 23 March 2025.

All applicants will be informed if they have been successful or not by 12 May 2025.

Please Note

The winning design will be made by a professional craftsperson or manufacturer who will endeavour to realise the pieces as close to the original design as possible. Alterations may be necessary to ensure the cutlery is able to be made and used.

The winner of the Contemporary Cutlery Design Competition will retain the intellectual property rights to their design but the Cutlers’ Company reserve the right to reproduce the set for use within the Company and the right to use all imagery for publicity purposes.