Designer Henry Holland Crafts Bespoke 2023 Creative Circle Awards

Ahead of the 2023 Creative Circle Awards, President Gabriela Scardaccione, Chief Magic Officer of ScienceMagic has enlisted the help of long term collaborator and celebrated British designer Henry Holland to craft the 2023 awards trophies. 

Historically, a Creative Circle award has represented a section of a circle, which, when brought together, forms a full circle. Each Gold winner receives a piece of the greater circle. For 2023, the team wanted to expand upon this idea, ensuring that the trophy is representative of the values of the Creative Circle Awards, the Creative Foundation and the UK Creative Festival. 

In June, the Creative Circle Gold Jurors were invited to watch Henry Holland craft one of this year's Gold of Gold awards at his Hackney Studio. The awards are made of two types of clay - using a stylised version of the Japanese marbling technique of Nerikomi, which involves hand-building with coloured earthenware clay. Finished with a transparent high-gloss glaze to reveal the unique pattern of brown and white clay beneath. Like a fingerprint, each design is completely unique, with no two awards able to replicate the same marbling effect. Each one will be signed by Henry Holland.

This year, the awards have an open top, allowing creatives to add their own personal touch to their award, from flowers to pens, the trophy becomes a vessel for further creativity. In addition, each award has a small handle featuring the winners plaque, as well as an opening, which will contain a message, question or piece of inspiration from a young creative in attendance at the UK Creative Festival.

These details elevate the award beyond a simple statuette on the shelf, they are not only a piece of art, but a symbolic representation of the work that the Creative Circle, UK Creative Festival and Creative Foundation do to embrace the next generation of creative talent. Metaphorically closing the circle, and unifying the work that these three organisations do, it highlights the importance of nurturing creativity from school age to the very best, showing the profound impact that a united creative community can have. 

Winners of Gold Creative Circle Awards this year will be invited on stage to collect one of the Henry Holland awards. Silver & Bronze award winners will also be able to purchase the awards on request.

Henry Holland, designer, commented, “It was such an honour to be asked to create the award for this year's ceremony. Celebrating and supporting the next generation of creatives is so important for me and creating something to celebrate the work of today whilst engaging with the next generation is something truly special to be a part of.”

Gabriela Scardaccione, chief magic officer at ScienceMagic and president of The Creative Circle Awards added, “For me, award trophies always felt like dead objects, sitting on shelves with the sole purpose of being looked at. I wanted to bring life to an object that represents the effort of a group of people coming together to create an outstanding idea. I also wanted to persuade the winners to keep them close to them, on their desks or their bedside tables. That's when Henry and his handcrafted flower vases came into my mind. His signature handles with the hole became the perfect spot for young creatives to leave a message to the winners. Full circle: take but also give back.”