Design Guild Mark discussions with Samuel Chan

Samuel Chan, founder of Channels and Joined & Jointed, is one of the Design Guild Mark’s most prolific holders with 14 of his designs having been awarded the Mark, this year for shelving systems Mr Knock 1 and Mr Knock 2.

We recently sat down with Samuel to find out more about what influences him.

When did you first decide you were going to be a designer?

When I was at school. I loved woodworking. The master who taught me – Mr Knock – really encouraged me in the school workshop and eventually to pursue furniture design as a next step.

What was your first big break in the industry?

Being noticed by design historians Charlotte and Peter Fiell when I was still a student. The Fiells championed contemporary furniture design in the UK when there was very little of it about. They had a gallery and exhibited some of my pieces there, and that was an excellent early endorsement.

What was the first product you ever designed?

Probably a rocking chair, when I was at school. Commercially, we launched the Channels showroom with two collections – one called ‘Alba’, based on designs I first developed at college exploring geometry and proportion. The other was ‘Memory’, a collection that expresses oriental joinery in a contemporary way.

What do you enjoy about being a designer?

Many things. Seeing a product progress from an idea in my head, or a notion in my client’s head, onto the drawing board and into a physical object. I wake up every day with the freedom to do what I love, and that’s invaluable.

What is the most frustrating aspect of your job?

Seeing really good designs that don’t come to market because of commercial constraints. And the flip side of that – seeing mediocre designs and products supported and promoted by huge marketing budgets.

Which design are you most proud of?

In recent years, the ‘Magnus’ chair. It has a grid of multiple unique joints which was a conundrum to work out at the drawing board and a technical challenge for the maker. And my most recent ‘Mr Knock’ bookcases – because they’re examples of how I like to involve the user in a piece of furniture, and because they’re named for my old woodworking master who started me on this course.

What is your creative process? How do you get in the mood to design something?

For me, it’s a combination of responding to unexpected sights and ideas, and being disciplined with myself. I always carry a notebook and will sketch and note things I’ve seen, and some of these develop into a furniture concept. But whether or not I’m in the mood, I’m strict about producing a new collection every September

What influences you?

The constant that runs through my work is wood. All my designs are an exploration of how to express and use this age-old material in new and surprising ways. So I’d say wood in all its diverse living character and beauty is what influences me the most.

For more information, go to, www.joinedandjointed.com and www.channelsdesign.com