May 19, 2021

The Furniture Makers’ Company announces Design Guild Mark 2021 holders

by Freddie Steele • Company news, Flooring, Furniture, Workplace design

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.

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.

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

Fold

Cruz Del Sur x Disegno

Rakino Collection

Jethro

Smalto Table Collection

Ore Tables

Corso Table + Bench

Verso Cabinets

Backer

Assembled Collection/Stack and Chamfer

Lino Chair

Civic Tables

Folk

Kin

TO1 Cross Chair

Chamfer “springleaf” Table

Deco Screens

Maya

Pi Stool

Aspect Table

TEXTILES, WALL COVERINGS, SURFACES, CARPETS & FLOOR COVERINGS

Identity and Strata Collection

Kit Miles Fabric Wallpaper Collection

Hit the North

Oceanic

LIGHTING

Introvert Extrovert

Simple Shade 05

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