A week with the Design Team – Lyndon Design
Lyndon Design is renowned for quality handcrafted upholstered seating and furniture and is widely specified throughout hospitality and corporate environments. Here; the company’s inhouse design team – comprising Phil Bennett, Tom Potts and George Pickup – share insights into their activities over the course of a typical busy week, and the many skills that go into creating cutting edge products designed to stand the test of time.
Monday am – Armed with strong coffee, a typical week starts with a meeting to discuss new product research and development. In pursuit of the wow factor, these meetings are crucial for identifying requirements for product range extension, bespoke creations and new speciation criteria. Phil explains: “The assessment of our current seating and furniture collections never stops. As well as considering our product categories of upholstered seating, stools, coffee tables and collaborative work booths, we analyse their style, function and appeal. By using a primary research programme, we can gain insight into current and future trends that will underpin our designs.”
“By using a primary research programme, we can gain insight into current and future trends that will underpin our designs.”
Monday pm – It’s time to turn attention to some of the bespoke projects currently in the pipeline. The Lyndon Design brand has long been associated with bespoke seating solutions, and with demand soaring from companies looking for a distinct design statement across both corporate and hospitality sectors, bespoke designs form a key part of our activities. Phil continues: “Once all tasks have been assigned amongst the team, and all the internal designs and developments have been planned, let our design and engineering challenges begin!”
Tuesday am – New product development is the lifeblood of any design department and it’s the same at Lyndon Design. Tom says: “Extending the appeal of some of our best-selling collections to give specifiers more scope can prove quite a challenge, but it’s one that we’re always keen to explore. Current designs include conceptual sketches for a new side table for our popular Agent range.” The Team produce freehand pen sketches and from these, they can consider the aesthetics, details and proportions for the new product’s identity, as well as ensuring the brand’s signature style continues.
Tuesday pm – With the Team being just a corridor away from the company’s in-house manufacturing facilities and frameshop, they are ‘hands-on’ when it comes to CNC programming. “Today, we are using 3D CAD models to create CNC files for a bespoke dining chair for one of our leading customers in the hospitality sector. All our products are manufactured using high quality timber, so the CNC process directly aids our detailed frame manufacture. This process involves sheet material routing for the internal framework, as well as designing holding jigs, creating shaping contours and assigning tool processes for the leg detail,” notes George.
Wednesday am – “Seeing a prototype emerge from one of our conceptual designs always creates a buzz in the office, and today, it’s the turn of a new table that will join our best-selling Luge seating collection. Luge was first designed in collaboration with the renowned British Designer, Nick Munro, so the table has to reflect the same design values,” explains Tom. The Team spend time evaluating the shape, structure and strength of the new table, as well as refining its shape and detail, and assessing the quality of finish before proceeding to production.
Wednesday pm – Today, the Team has been summoned to assist marketing with fabric selections for an upcoming photoshoot of Mr & Mrs wing chairs that will feature in a new brochure. “For this, we have to consider the nature of the location – the look and feel, colour schemes and décor of the hotel – as well as the shape and style of each product, that will all determine what fabrics we choose. It’s also important to assess the colour, texture and product suitability of each fabric,” says Phil.
Thursday am – The Team spends a busy morning working in close conjunction with the company’s advertising agency to create concepts for their latest media campaigns. Phil enthuses: “The Lyndon Design brand is synonymous with quality and attention to detail, so it’s our job to ensure that every advert reflects our brand promise.”
Thursday pm – This afternoon, the Team is tasked with a site survey for an upcoming bespoke project involving restaurant banquette seating. Visiting the customer in the early stages of design is vital to obtain critical dimensions for the project, and to assess site access and identify any obstructions. After drawing up CAD plans, this information is transferred into drawings for the client, and subsequently used for production-related drawings to aid the manufacturing process.
Friday am – In the morning, George describes how the Team is working within CAD software (Solidworks) to develop the existing frame of one of their current seating collections to suit the manufacturing process of a new CNC machine that the company has recently invested in. “CAD files are used to extract data, create visualisation images, technical drawings, and specifications to ensure production runs smoothly at every stage,” he explains.
“…the trials and tribulations are all worth the effort.”
Friday pm – Before the Team heads off for the weekend, there’s time for a quick weekly review meeting. Phil concludes: “Suffice to say, it’s been another whirlwind of activities with each day bringing a fresh round of design challenges. However, with the satisfaction of seeing our designs slowly coming to life right before our eyes, the trials and tribulations are all worth the effort.”