Cardiff Metropolitan University student wins national design competition

An aspiring designer is being given the opportunity to exhibit one of his designs at Axminster Tools & Machinery stores around the UK after winning a national design competition organised by The Furniture Makers’ Company, a City of London livery company and the furnishing industry’s charity.

Olly Webb, who is studying a Masters in Product Design at Cardiff Metropolitan University, was awarded first place for his shelving unit called Farm

The competition, sponsored by Axminster Tools & Machinery, asked students to design a piece of innovative wooden furniture, with shortlisted students then given three months to create their concept using materials sponsored by Axminster.

The judges agreed that Farm was a fresh, stylish interpretation on an existing idea that used a good mixture of materials. They were also impressed with the level of understanding Olly demonstrated.

OIly has won £1,000 of Axminster vouchers, a work placement with the company and will have his piece showcased on rotation in all eight of Axminster’s stores in Buckinghamshire, Cardiff, Cheshire, Devon, Hampshire, Kent, North Shields and Warwickshire.

Sophie Hall, a Product Design student at Cardiff School of Art & Design, and Megan Broome, a Product Design student at Wolverhampton School of Art, came second and third, respectively, winning £500 and £100 worth of Axminster vouchers.

Hayden Davies, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, said: “We can’t thank our partner and sponsor, Axminster Tools & Machinery, enough for funding this exciting competition that has enabled young makers around the UK the chance to bring a design to life. Congratulations to Olly and the runners up for demonstrating such creativity and we hope they go on to have very successful careers.”

Alan Styles, managing director at Axminster Tools & Machinery, said: “As always at Axminster Tools, we’re keen to support and promote designing and making in education. It’s good to see that the competition has been so well received across the universities and colleges, and what’s really pleasing is the large variety of entries from many different educational establishments. I hope this is something we can build on for the future.”

Olly Webb said: “It was a great feeling knowing that all the hard work and effort that I put in has paid off. As a young designer, I am delighted with the positive feedback that I have received and I am really looking forward to seeing where Farm may go in the future.”