Shortlisted Young Furniture Maker Award designs featured at JFS

Twelve pieces that were shortlisted in the 2021 Young Furniture Maker Awards were showcased on a special feature at the postponed January Furniture Show, which took place at the NEC, Birmingham from 24-27 April.

The pieces, all designed by students and recent graduates, were featured in a prominent area of Hall 5 against a Young Furniture Makers and Furniture Makers’ Company branded backdrop.

The designs on display were:

• The Calla Lampshade by Adam Southgate
• Regenerated Kumiko by Finn Timmins
• Homage to Nature by Jarrad Belton
• Aero by Joe Geehan
• Da Vinci Side Table by Neil McRory
• Plant Furniture by Ross Mountford
• Set Tee by Charlottte McGowan
• Socially Distanced Bench by David Cheng
• Me Stool by Chanya Vijitpongpun, Max Coman, Runtao Qian, Yao Zhang and Yiyun Chen
• Wave Cycle by Harry Peck
• Offset Table by Matthew Robinson
• Tambour Door Unit by Noah Samson
  

For many of the students and graduates, this was their first experience exhibiting at a major trade event and they relished the opportunity to connect with visitors at the show.

On the final day of the show, the makers were invited to attend two mini masterclass sessions, organised by the Company, with Nichola Bell, sales director at corporate member Westbridge Designs, and Zöe Bonser, show director at Clarion Events, organisers of the January Furniture Show.

The 12 designs have also been invited to exhibit at the 2022 Young Furniture Makers exhibition, which returns to Furniture Makers’ Hall and the Dutch Church in the City on Wednesday 12 October 2022.

Joe Geehan, who won first place in the Bespoke Award and Innovation Award categories, said: “It has been a fantastic opportunity to exhibit at the NEC making so many new friends, contacts and get so much good feedback about the chair. Winning the award and being given the opportunity to exhibit has been an honour and I am looking forward to seeing everyone in October.”

Jarrad Belton said: “On behalf of all the shortlisted makers, thank you for organising the event. I really had a great time and it was very insightful into the industry.”

The Young Furniture Maker Awards are the student equivalent of the Furniture Makers’ Guild Marks, recognising excellence and the future in design. A huge number of entries are submitted every year for these highly competitive awards.