Nicknamed the ‘Aldgate Bauhaus’, The Cass (The Sir John Cass Faculty of Art, Architecture and Design, London Metropolitan University) has been part of the creative landscape of east London for over 100 years. As the faculty prepared to leave Aldgate and relocate to the University’s new Islington campus, The Aram Gallery hosted an exhibition celebrating its successes and enduring legacy.
 
As part of the gallery’s ongoing interest in process, The Cass: Hands On showed new and experimental design at the roots, using this versatile school and its history as the focus.  
 
Work by a range of students, alumni and staff represented the wide variety of courses on offer, including jewellery, silversmithing, furniture upholstery, and musical-instrument making. Alongside finished products, the exhibition also reflected the Cass’s dedication to making within its teaching philosophy. A display of hand tools and a wall of experimental ceramic studies gave a taste of the school’s workshop atmosphere.
 
The exhibition also anticipated the future of the Cass, with its latest generation of graduating designers included in the mix.

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Participating designers included: Afsiah Asghar, Adi Toch, Ben Cresswell Riol, Christopher Emmett, Elise Mclaughlan, Isabel Farchy, James Tattersall, Josie Wood, Julian Leedham, Jude Dennis, Juliette Bigley, Lisa Bloomer, Lucy Johnson, Majeda Clarke, Matteo Pacella, Michael Marriott, Narinda Minnaar, Ray Brown, Ray Gonzalez Brown, Richard Clarke, Samantha Ndlovu, Silvia Weidenbach, Stephen McCoombe, Suchada Sae Khow, Terence Woodgate, Tim Summers, Vicky Cowin and Zoe Robertson.