Kathy Udaondo wins the prestigious Linbury Prize for Stage Design

Kathy Udaondo’s trajectory as a designer has always carried a sense of curiosity and momentum, but this year it reached an extraordinary milestone: she has been named one of the winners of the 2025 Linbury Prize for Stage Design.

Reflecting on the moment, Kathy shared, “I can't believe I've been awarded one of the Linbury prizes for stage design! I can't wait to be part of this amazing group of upcoming designers and be mentored by some of the best in the field. It's beyond my wildest dreams for my journey in stage design.”

The Linbury Prize is the UK’s most prestigious award for emerging stage designers, spotlighting practitioners whose work demonstrates imagination, clarity and a strong sense of storytelling. For Kathy, a graduate of London College of Fashion’s MA Costume Design for Performance, the award marks an exciting expansion of a practice already rooted in thoughtful research, functionality and a deep sensitivity to materials.

Kathy describes her practice as exploring the intersection between costume and set — an area where the line between body and environment becomes fluid. Her designs pay close attention to the dialogue between people and their surroundings, ensuring that garments are not decorative additions but active components within the live space. Functionality sits at the centre of her process: she designs with the action of the performer in mind, allowing aesthetics to emerge organically from purpose and behaviour.

Sustainability also plays a meaningful role in her work. She frequently uses deadstock fabrics and incorporates zero-waste pattern cutting, approaching each project with an eye toward material ethics as well as conceptual clarity — an approach that strongly aligns with LCF’s commitment to socially responsible, environmentally conscious design practices. Kathy’s processes reflect the wider values embedded in LCF’s teaching, where innovation and responsibility sit hand-in-hand.

Her recognition this year also highlights a broader pattern: Kathy is one of several LCF students and graduates to be celebrated by the Linbury Prize in recent years, underscoring the continued quality of work emerging from the MA Costume Design for Performance course.

“I first discovered the course while I was studying for my undergraduate degree. I was immediately drawn to the work of previous alumni—the way their garments were infused with meaning and became an integral part of the stories they were telling.

The course went on to exceed my expectations, thanks to the tutors and technicians, whose immense sensitivity towards costume deeply shaped the way we designed and made. I feel very lucky to have been encouraged to push our ideas until we found purpose in what we were creating, and to have formed such strong bonds with my classmates, who supported one another with genuine kindness.

Being part of this environment has made me think about design from multiple perspectives, allowing me to create work that feels more rounded and meaningful. I hope the voices of my tutors will stay with me throughout my career.”

Winning the Linbury Prize signals a moment of recognition not only for Kathy’s evolving practice, but also for the breadth of pathways open to graduates of the MA Costume Design for Performance course. It highlights how skills developed at LCF — from material experimentation to performance-led thinking — can support designers as they move into broader scenographic and stage-design contexts.

This year’s recipients have their work showcased at The Linbury Prize Exhibition at the National Theatre, spotlighting fresh creative voices shaping the future of stage design. Additionally, they received a bursary prize of £6,000 to support an associate design placement with an established designer, giving them mentoring and first-hand experience of the production process.

Kathy’s achievement captures a moment of exciting possibility. With mentorship and new professional opportunities ahead, she steps into a future shaped by curiosity, craft and a commitment to designing with intention. It’s a powerful example for prospective and current students alike, and a reminder of how postgraduate study can open unexpected and extraordinary doors.