As the first CIRL Open Day, Barbara’s attendance meant speaking to and advising the CIRL graduates about their work and experience.

The CIRL is a programme created to give three young surface designers and one videographer a 6-month placement at CMYUK’s digital training facility in Shrewsbury. The initiative was launched in August thanks to the government’s Kickstart scheme.

The four chosen graduates are Textiles graduates Evie Venables and Keely Russell; Graphics Art graduate Sarah Willcocks; and graduate of Film Production, Taylor Doggett.

The internship provides the surface designers the chance to develop their skills through practical applications, while Doggett captures the ventures through a multi-platform vlog.

Chandler, who has been a high-profile influencer with a long career in contributing to numerous newspapers and magazines was at CMYUK to share her experience and expertise.

"New talent and particularly new graduates are my passion. They are the very lifeblood of our industry and, of course, make marvellous stories for the media. Unquestionably the UK leads the world in excellence of surface pattern thanks to the backbone of our old-established art colleges.  So, it was a treat to have new talent and surface pattern combined on my so-worthwhile awayday in Shrewsbury."

Chandler adds: “In a time of cutbacks and Covid-19, I congratulate Robin East of CMYUK and Debbie McKeegan of Texintel on this brilliant Creatives in Residence programme, nurtured by cutting-edge technology.”

CIRL is made up of a six-month curriculum of monthly modules created by industry expert Debbie McKeegan, the Textile Ambassador for FESPA.

Canon and Epson, two of the CIRL’s headline sponsors, also attended the Open Day in order to meet the graduates and discuss their progress so far.

In attendance was Phil McMullin, head of commercial and industrial sales at Epson, and Derek Joys, product business development manager at Canon UK and Ireland.

CMYUK previously announced its headline sponsors such as EFI, Canon, Epson, and Mimaki

After speaking to the guests CIRL graduate Sarah Willcocks, says: “I really enjoyed meeting Derek from Canon and Phil from Epson; their print technology has been invaluable for our projects.

“The fact we can do décor and fashion collections all in one place and very efficiently has meant we can develop projects over the course of a day as opposed to a month. Learning about the technology and how to use it has been a real highlight.” 

If you have any news, email david@linkpublishing.co.uk or join in with the conversation on Twitter and LinkedIn.