The Furniture Makers’ Company announces Design Guild Mark 2023 holders

Innovation of materials and creativity remain at the forefront of British design as 30 outstanding submissions from three categories are to be awarded the coveted Design Guild Mark in 2023Innovation of materials and creativity remain at the forefront of British design as 30 outstanding submissions from three categories are to be awarded the coveted Design Guild Mark in 2023, 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 industrial design.

The Design Guild Mark is unique in that the programme is not a competition with a ranking of entries and a winner; instead, the award is given to all designs that demonstrate to the jury that they represent the highest standards of originality and innovation in industrial design. The Design Guild Mark is awarded across 3 categories: Furniture, Interior Design Elements, and Lighting Design.

The award is open to designers working in Britain or British designers working abroad and entries for all categories can be for designs intended for domestic, office, hospitality, educational or corporate use, and for both interior and exterior environments.

Each distinct category has its own jury of renowned design experts who assess the submissions against a series of criteria, including: does the design demonstrate new and original thinking and problem solving? Is the design fit for purpose? Does it incorporate innovative manufacturing materials and processes? Does the design develop a brand’s position? Does the design demonstrate a commitment to sustainable consumerism?

The winning designers – some newcomers as well as previous holders – will be celebrated at a special awards ceremony on 23 May.  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 selected by the judges and 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.

Rodney McMahon, chairman of the Design Guild Mark, commented:

“Meeting the applicants, hearing their design journey, and witnessing the friendly but insightful and probing questions of the judges is an enjoyable design master class.  Designers should apply for the Design Guild Mark just for the experience of meeting the judges.”

 

INTERIOR DESIGN ELEMENTS

The Brutalist Collection                                                                         DGM 284

Designed by Claire Canning & Lindsey Hesketh for Granite + Smoke

 

Main Line Twist                                                                       DGM 285

Designed by Hayley Barrett & Jane Marks-Yewdall for Camira

 

LIGHTING

Oslin Collection                                                                      DGM 286

Designed by David Irwin for Luum

 

The Muse Solid Brass                                                              DGM 287

Designed by Tala for Tala

 

Solid Rechargeable Light                                                        DGM 288

Designed by Terence Woodgate for Case Furniture

 

FURNITURE

Metro                                                                                      DGM 289

Designed by Alex Blondek and Rodney Kinsman for OMK Design

 

Bilbao                                                                                      DGM 290

Designed by Tim Rundle for Morgan Furniture

 

Utility Shelf                                                                             DGM 291

Designed by Rachael Heritage for WOUD A/S

 

Edge Free                                                                                                    DGM 292

Designed by Luke Pearson & Tom Lloyd for Modus Furniture

 

Omada                                                                                    DGM 293

Designed by Mark Gabbertas for Gloster

 

Metis                                                                                       DGM 294

Designed by Gabbertas Studio for TrabA

 

Jump                                                                                       DGM 295

Designed by Gabbertas Studio for TrabA

 

GEMLA OPEN                                                                           DGM 296

Designed by Samuel Wilkinson for GEMLA

 

Ooty                                                                                        DGM 297

Designed by Jack Smith & Gemma Matthias for Allermuir

 

Bastille                                                                                    DGM 298

Designed by Patrick Norguet for Allermuir

 

Plum                                                                                        DGM 299

Designed by Mark Gabbertas for Allermuir

 

Hideaway Wall Desk                                                               DGM 300

Designed by Chris Fowler for Bisley (main image)

 

Hideaway Swing Desk                                                                         DGM 301

Designed by Chris Fowler for Bisley

 

Amity Seat                                                                              DGM 302

Designed by the Gaze Burvill Design Team for Gaze Burvill

 

Uniun Bench & Planter                                                             DGM 303

Designed by Furnitubes for Furnitubes

 

SYD                                                                                         DGM 304

Designed by Aaron Probyn for Another Country

 

Tarn                                                                                             DGM 305

Designed by Gemma Matthias for Hitch Mylius

 

Domus Desk                                                                             DGM 306

Designed by Matthew Hilton for The Conran Shop

 

Iris Lounge Chair                                                                     DGM 307

Designed by Huw Evans for The Conran Shop

 

Mag Table Collection                                                                        DGM 308

Designed by Daniel Schofield for The Conran Shop

 

AD11 Lounge Chair                                                                   DGM 309

Designed by Huw Evans and Campbell Thompson for The Conran Shop

 

Cross Task Chair                                                                    DGM 310

Designed by Pearson Lloyd for TAKT

 

Marlow Table                                                                          DGM 311

Designed by Matthew Hilton for Case Furniture

 

Slot Shelving                                                                           DGM 312

Designed by Terence Woodgate for Case Furniture

 

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, textiles or academic industry. Judges 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               Hospitality Interior Design Consultant at Sherliker Biggs

Sarah Bryan                Associate Partner at ID:SR, Sheppard Robson’s Interior Design Group

Sheridan Coakley       Founder of SCP Limited

Elliott Koehler                 Creative Director at JPA Design

Tom Pearce                 Co-founder of Farrah & Pearce

Terence Woodgate     Industrial Designer at Studio Woodgate

 

INTERIOR DESIGN ELEMENTS

Daniel Hopwood          Director at Studio Hopwood

Clare Johnston            Emeritus Professor at the Royal College of Art and Textile Designer for Fashion and Interiors at Royal College of Art

Natasha Marshall        Designer and Founder of Natasha Marshall Limited

Corinne Pringle           Director at tp bennett

Emma Sewell               Textile Designer at Wallace Sewell

Peter Thwaites           Design Director at Rapture and Wright

 

LIGHTING

Simon Alderson           Co-founder of twentytwentyone

Simon Terry                Owner and Joint Managing Director at Anglepoise

John Tree                    Designer at Jasper Morrison

Sebastian Wrong        Design Director at Established & Sons

 

All judges with an interest in an entry stood aside when that entry was being considered.