Young Furniture Makers Exhibition showcases rising stars

The next generation of furniture designers and makers was celebrated at The Furniture Makers’ Company’s annual Young Furniture Makers Exhibition this week.

More than 40 designs from some of the UK’s finest young furniture makers packed out Furniture Makers’ Hall on Tuesday 11 October (1pm-9pm).

Now in its 10^th year, this year’s exhibition showcased pieces from talented GCSE and A Level students through to BA and MA graduates from around the UK.

Ben Burbidge, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, officially welcomed guests from across the furnishing and design sector at 6.30pm before a prize giving.

• The Young Furniture Makers Bespoke Award, sponsored by Festool, was awarded to Jan Waterston from the City of Oxford College for his Velo Rocking Stool
• The Young Furniture Makers Design Award, sponsored by Crofts & Assinder, went to Philipp Stummer from Warwickshire College for the Mini Maestro
• The Young Furniture Makers Innovation Award, sponsored by Crofts & Assinder, was won by William Keenlyside from Kingston University for The Pour Man’s Stool
• The winners of the B&Q Homefit School Prize were Ella Lemaire and Sebastian Banwell, who receive a cash prize for their school and vouchers for themselves, plus an all-expenses paid trip to the state of the art Blum factory in Austria
• The Blum Best in Show Prize, an all-expenses paid trip to the state of the art Blum factory in Austria, was given to Philipp Stummer for Mini Maestro.

Alex Crofts, Chairman of the Young Furniture Makers, said: “We set up the Young Furniture Makers Exhibition so schoolchildren, students and graduates could showcase their work, and meet potential employers and members of the Company, giving them an opportunity to network and receive feedback. Every year the exhibition gets bigger and better and this year’s was no exception. All of the designs on show were of an incredibly high standard. We’d like to thank all of our sponsors, particularly our main sponsor, Axminster Tools & Machinery.”

Philipp Stummer, winner of the Young Furniture Makers Design Award and Blum Best in Show Prize, said: “I am delighted to have won both the Design Award and Best in Show Prize. I am happy that so many talented designer and makers, young and old, were brought together for their work to be recognised. There was a tremendous amount of interest, respect and interaction with the public, parents, friends, experts of the trade and The Furniture Makers’ Company. Thank you to the organisers and all who were involved to make that day happen.”

William Keenlyside, winner of the Young Furniture Makers Innovation Award, said: “I had an incredible day. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet some very talented young furniture makers and have a great day of networking and meeting new people. Everybody at the Furniture Makers was incredibly friendly, welcoming and had some valuable knowledge and experience to offer in terms of pursuing a career in design.”

Ellis Whitehead, a finalist of the B&Q Homefit School Prize, said: “I really enjoyed the Young Furniture Makers exhibition. I met so many different people and got such good feedback for my work. It was great to meet other young designers and get their opinions as well as meeting people from the industry.”