The Furniture Makers’ Company announces Design Guild Mark 2021 Winners
Innovation of materials and creativity remain at the forefront of British design as 27 outstanding submissions from three categories are to be awarded the coveted Design Guild Mark in 2021.
The Design Guild Mark is awarded by The Furniture Makers’ Company, the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry, to drive excellence and raise the profile of British design and innovation. It recognises the highest standards in the design of furnishings in volume production across three categories – Furniture, 2D Design and, new for the 2020/2021 intake, Lighting Design. The award is open to designers working in Britain or British designers working abroad.
Jethro: Designed by Sarah Kay for SCP Ltd DGM 238
Each distinct category has its own jury of renowned design experts who assess the submissions against a series of criteria, including: Are the materials appropriate? Are they from sustainable sources? Does the piece/collection show new thinking? Does it solve a problem?
The winning designers – some newcomers as well as previous holders – will be celebrated at a special awards ceremony on Wednesday 2 June 2021 (1:00pm) via Instagram live. The awarded designs – representing the domestic and contract markets – will benefit from increased industry and consumer awareness, press and social media coverage, with the designers and companies behind them also receiving enhanced brand recognition.
In addition to honouring the winners, the ceremony will include the announcement of winners of the Jonathan Hindle Prize. This additional award is presented to the most outstanding of the year’s Design Guild Mark awarded pieces and each recipient will receive a stunning trophy and a cash prize.
Fold: Designed by Samuel Wilkinson for The Conran Shop DGM 235
Due to the disruption of coronavirus, all applicants for the last two years were judged virtually via video conferencing, where designers presented their products and answered questions from the distinguished panel of judges.
Rodney McMahon, chairman of the Design Guild Mark, commented:
“This year we welcomed the Lighting Design category, with its new panel of judges and we are delighted to have expanded the scope and reach of the Guild Marks by doing so. The three days of virtual judging were absolutely riveting, and, despite the obvious challenges, we embraced the process and achieved a very balanced and effective result. Emboldened by this, we shall hold the Awards ceremony on Instagram in June and look forward to connecting to as wide a spectrum of designers, and their admirers, as possible.”
FURNITURE
The Kenilworth Collection: Designed by Pierre Greenway for Pierre Greenway DGM 234
Fold: Designed by Samuel Wilkinson for The Conran Shop DGM 235
Cruz Del Sur x Disegno: Designed by Matteo Fogale for Matteo Fogale Ltd DGM 236
Rakino Collection: Designed by Tim Rundle for Morgan Contract Furniture DGM 237
Jethro: Designed by Sarah Kay for SCP Ltd DGM 238
Smalto Table Collection: Designed by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby for Knoll International DGM 239
Ore Tables: Designed by Daniel Schofield for Ercol Furniture Ltd DGM 240
Corso Table + Bench: Designed by Dylan Freeth for Ercol Furniture Ltd DGM 241
Verso Cabinets: Designed by Dylan Freeth for Ercol Furniture Ltd DGM 242
Backer: Designed by Daniel Schofield for Hayche DGM 243
Assembled Collection/Stack and Chamfer: Designed by Paul Crofts for Isomi Ltd DGM 244
Lino Chair: Designed by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin for Herman Miller Ltd DGM 245
Civic Tables: Designed by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin for Herman Miller Ltd DGM 246
Folk: Designed by Luke Pearson and Tom Lloyd for Allermuir DGM 247
Kin: Designed by Luke Pearson and Tom Lloyd for Allermuir DGM 248
TO1 Cross Chair: Designed by Luke Pearson and Tom Lloyd for TAKT DGM 249
Chamfer “springleaf” Table: Designed by Ben Fowler for Yonga Mobilya/Marque Furniture DGM 250
Deco Screens: Designed by Mark Gabbertas for Gloster Furniture GmbH DGM 251
Maya: Designed by Mark Gabbertas for Gloster Furnituer GmbH DGM 252
Pi Stool: Designed by Simon Cass for Par-avion co./Skandium DGM 253
Aspect Table: Designed by Tom Rawlings for William Hands DGM 254
TEXTILES, WALL COVERINGS, SURFACES, CARPETS & FLOOR COVERINGS
Identity and Strata Collection: Designed by David Irwin and Rachel Evison for Bute Fabrics DGM 255
Kit Miles Fabric Wallpaper Collection: Designed by Kit Miles for Kit Miles DGM 256
Hit the North: Designed by Drew Millward and Charlotte Raffo for The Monkey Puzzle Tree DGM 257
Oceanic: Designed by Jodie Padgett for Camira DGM 258
LIGHTING
Introvert Extrovert: Designed by Nathanael Hunt for Haberdashery DGM 259
Simple Shade 05: Designed by Naomi Rochowski for Naomi Paul Ltd DGM 260
The Design Guild Mark is judged by a panel of leading industry professionals. Each member of the panel is from the furniture, lighting, hospitality, commercial, retail, or media industry. Judges must ensure that each submission meets the criteria of excellence in design, materials, manufacture, and function.
Chaired by Rodney McMahon, this year’s eminent judging panel were:
FURNITURE
Joanna Biggs – Director at GA Design
Sarah Bryan – Associate at ID:SR
Elliott Koehler – Creative Director at JPA Design
Jeremy Myerson – Professor of Design/ Royal College of Art
Tom Pearce – Co-founder of Farrah & Pearce
Campbell Thompson – Head of Furniture and Lighting at The Conran Shop
Terence Woodgate – Founder of Terence Woodgate
TEXTILES, WALL COVERINGS, SURFACES, CARPETS, & FLOORCOVERINGS
Linzi Coppick – Design Director at Forme UK
Daniel Hopwood – Director at Studio Hopwood
Clare Johnston – Emeritus Professor at the Royal College of Art and Textile Designer for Fashion and Interiors at Royal College of Art
Natasha Marshall – Designer and Founder of Natasha Marshall Limited
Corinne Pringle – Director at tp bennett
Peter Thwaites – Design Director at Rapture and Wright
LIGHTING
Simon Alderson – Co-founder of twentytwentyone
Tim Rundle – Industrial Designer and Founder of Tim Rundle Design Studio Ltd
Simon Terry – Managing Director at Anglepoise®
John Tree – Designer at Jasper Morrison
Sebastian Wrong – Design Director at Established & Sons
All judges with an interest in an entry stood aside when that entry was being considered.