As the year comes to an end we have been reminiscing about the achievements and highlights of 2024! From student successes to major events, the past twelve months have been nothing short of extraordinary. 

London Campus: 

• The biggest event of the year was moving into the new Bloomsbury campus! At a celebratory open evening, Ceramics Conservation alumna and BBC The Repair Shop star Kirsten Ramsay officially declared West Dean: London open, marking an exciting new chapter for the School of Design. 
• Garden Design students made a significant impact at the Hampton Court Flower Festival, designing and planting over 30 benches. Their commitment to hands-on experience continued with a week of practical horticultural work at West Dean Gardens with the head gardener, Tom Brown, and team. 
• Our students shone in competitions and awards. Online BA (Hons) Interior Design student Robyn Tilley won a prestigious furniture design competition with Augustus Brandt, while Diploma Interior Design student Bobbi Fitzpatrick won a competition with Jacaranda Carpets, which lead to three of her hand-tufted rug designs selected for production. Interior Design students also celebrated success at the Architects for Health Student Awards. 
• Networking was a key focus, with students attending events such as the Designer at the Waterworks Showroom. Additionally, 11 alumni were recognised in House & Garden’s Top 100 Interior Designers list for 2024, highlighting the school's reputation for nurturing excellence.  
• The RHS Chelsea Flower Show provided further highlights, with alumnus Matthew Childs winning a Silver Gilt Medal and the MHLK Collective designing a vibrant sanctuary garden. Garden Design students also had the opportunity to volunteer, gaining invaluable experience. 

Sussex Campus: 

• In Sussex, the college celebrated significant anniversaries, including 60 years since the founding of the Edward James Foundation and 40 years since the passing of its founder, Edward James, on 2 December. The milestone was marked with commemorative events reflecting on James’s legacy. 
• Community spirit was alive and well, as students, staff, and local residents enjoyed a spectacular fireworks display for Bonfire Night. Another highlight was the International Classical Guitar Festival, featuring a Berta Rojas Masterclass, a celebratory course ensemble concert, and standout performances including a Paul Galbraith recital and a concert led by Detlev Bork. 
• FdA Books and Bindings students embraced their craft in the inaugural Edward James Bookbinding competition, where they created new bindings for James’s unbound 1939 book The Next Volume. 
• The creative talents of Fine Art and Art & Contemporary Craft students were showcased at the Copeland Gallery in London and at the end-of-year Summer Show in the Edward James Studios. The latter featured graduating students from the Graduate Diploma in Fine Art, MFA (Master of Fine Art), and BA Craft programmes specialising in Clocks, Furniture, and Musical Instrument Making. 
• Beyond campus, students broadened their horizons with trips to London, Vienna, and Paris. Back at West Dean, artists in residence, including Damian Barr, Alice Kettle, Alicia Paz, and Sam Ayre, enriched the creative environment, offering inspiration and mentorship to our students. 

This month, we also bid farewell to our CEO, Alexander Barron, and warmly welcome Professor Anna Gough-Yates as our new Chief Executive.

As we leave 2024, the achievements and highlights of the year leave us with immense pride and gratitude. West Dean College continues to thrive as a hub of creativity, learning, and innovation, and we look forward to an equally inspiring 2025.