New scholarship funded by Winch Design to give Kingston School of Art design student opportunity to launch degree studies

A world-renowned design studio, founded by a Kingston University graduate, is funding a new design scholarship aimed at supporting talented young creatives to access higher education.

The scholarship, funded by Winch Design, will enable one undergraduate student to study with three fully funded years of tuition and a bursary of £5,000 per year of study. It is open to Interior Design BA (Hons) and Product and Furniture Design BA (Hons) offer holders enrolling in September 2022, subject to applicants meeting priority criteria.

Andrew Winch graduated from Kingston College of Art, now Kingston University, in 1979 with a degree in 3D Design. His studies and work experience helped hone his skills as both an exterior and interior yacht designer. Mr Winch then established Winch Design in 1986, alongside his wife Jane, building a globally recognised brand synonymous with bespoke design at the highest level.

The 130 strong team design and deliver projects across the world, united by a dedication to authentic design language, ambition and commitment to excellence. Over the past 35 years, Winch Design has won more than 30 prestigious design awards and is recognised as one of the leading international design studios in the world.

Mr Winch said Winch Design's pioneering approach to creating a lasting positive impact within the industry had informed the decision to support a scholarship. "We are excited to be fully-funding an undergraduate position at Kingston University for a student who is passionate about design, and may not have considered university an option," he said. "Education of the arts and design has always been and will remain incredibly important to me. Having the opportunity to be a part of the student's journeys into the design world is an honour."

"Kingston University has superb facilities designed to help students explore all kinds of creativity, from illustration and design drawing to technology and woodcraft," he continued. "I believe access to good facilities as a student provides a springboard for creativity which has a big impact on design process and creativity in later working life."

Looking back at his experiences as a student at Kingston University Mr Winch said his study had not only expanded his creative thinking and skill set, but also helped form friendships he will never forget. "I was always a creative child, but my creative life kick-started when I arrived at Kingston. Those years mark a very special time in my life where I had all the support and space I needed to dive into design, to draw, to research, to build with the support of the University," he said.

Having grown up sailing on the south coast of England in dinghies and cruising yachts, Andrew's love of the sea embodies his work. In fact, one of his favourite memories from his studies at Kingston is when he used work from a yacht project to complete his design degree. "My course leaders saw my passion and enthusiasm, and with their full support, I was given the opportunity to find an external tutor and use all the incredible facilities and materials to develop my ideas," he said. "My student years at Kingston and these wonderful opportunities for creativity, gave me the platform to get my first job at Jon Bannenberg Limited."

Damian Chapman, Head of the School of Design, said he was grateful to Winch Design for creating a remarkable opportunity to change a student's life through the scholarship. "Winch Design is a community of rare and innovative designers inspiring industry and global leaders in their discipline. We are proud to be able to work together with Mr Winch and his creative team. The Design School has a tradition of inviting our alumni back to Kingston School of Art to inspire and energise our students. I'm delighted we are able to offer a place to study one of our high performing undergraduate courses creating sought after students equipped with a set of skills desired by employers."

Mr Winch shared his advice for current Kingston University design students, urging them to take the opportunity to learn as much as possible. "Students should examine everything, value everything and listen to their tutors – they have a wealth of knowledge just waiting to be consumed," he said. "As a London-based university there are incredible opportunities to visit other colleges, museums, even shops or hotels that can provide inspiring insights into design – use London and use Kingston University to their full potential."

• Find out more about studying undergraduate courses at Kingston University.