28 March 2024, 14:36
By Furniture News Oct 18, 2016

Young Furniture Makers Exhibition presents rising stars

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

More than 40 designs from some of the UK’s finest young furniture makers packed out Furniture Makers’ Hall on Tuesday 11th October.

Now in its 10th 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 ahead of a prize-giving ceremony.

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, also 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 Blum's factory in Austria.

The Blum Best in Show Prize, an all-expenses paid trip to the Blum factory, was given to Philipp Stummer for Mini Maestro.

Alex Crofts, chairman of the Young Furniture Makers, says: “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.”

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