New Designers 2022: Week Two Round-Up
Following the previous week’s successful judging event, we returned to Islington’s Business Design Centre for round two of our New Designers competition. This time on the hunt for the next name to watch in furniture and lighting design.
New Designers fever was still rife at The Conran Shop, as we stepped back into the bustle of the Business Design Centre. The venue was once again charged with the energy of budding young designers across some of the best degree courses in the country. From furniture and lighting to product design, spatial planning and graphic design, the candidates offered a wealth of ideas to help solve the problems of modern living.
Our experienced judging panel this week were Chief Creative Officer Stephen Briars, Buying and Merchandising Director Henrietta Klug, Head of Furniture and Lighting Campbell Thompson, Design Manager Patrick Bos Coe, and our 2019 New Designers victor, Huw Evans. The panel were in search of a design that demonstrates both growth potential within the design industry and reflects Sir Terence Conran's ethos, with a particular interest in what The Conran Shop is best known for, furniture design.
The shortlisted candidates were varied in their ingenuity, starting with Bob Cornforth of Northumbria University's satisfying desk design. His neighbour and coursemate, Alfie Clarke, also impressed with his simple and well-constructed wooden furniture sets.
Over at Kingston University, The Conran Shop found many favourites, from Esme Macgregor’s fluid vases to Jacob Marks’ intriguing resin experiments. Ollie Taylor’s leather seating also featured on the judge’s shortlist, recognised for its reimagination of an age-old material.
Aamana Bibi Nawaz of Birmingham City University also made an impact with her 'Vlamp' design, which is 3D-printed from plant-based polymers to create a combined vase and lamp. The simple yet effective 'Toucan' brush by Desley Anglin is designed for DIY enthusiasts and professionals alike, with a detachable head to allow users to switch brushes with ease. Nottingham Trent University's Amber Thompson debuted a wooden tea set titled ‘T,’ inspired by totemic structures and comprised of multiple stacking solid oak forms. Adam Harrington’s 'Reclaim' lighting design celebrated marble offcuts. Finally, Henry Johnson and his '1:4' vase made a bang with its juxtaposition between a final-stage material and its by-product.
Finally, our winner was found in Tom Golland of Kingston University, and his innovative 'Metal in Marble' side table design. Using material imitation as an art form to reinterpret a substrate, Tom’s design impressed our judges with its universal technique and endless possibilities for evolution.
