Designer Of The Year Is 100% Ready
DESIGN FACTORY PRESS RELEASE Designer Of The Year is 100% ready
Launched in 2007 by the regions leading design agency Design Factory, the competition asks for talented designers to come up with new ideas for an innovative and practical item of storage furniture.
Graduating in 2008 with a BA in Furniture Design, Jo Miller took the top spot with her Cruciform Credenza design. Scooping £4,000 worth of support including a £1,500 development grant, Jo’s winning storage piece will now take centre stage at Design Factory’s stand at 100% Design London, the UK’s most prestigious interior design show that will take place at Earls Court in September 2009.
Jo Miller (22) of Leicester said: “Winning this competition is a fantastic opportunity that I hope will benefit my design career greatly. After seeing and hearing the success of Eiry Rock, the competition winner in 2007, I was really keen to win this award and kick-start my career after graduating.”
Jo Miller’s design is based on a hollow and solid cruciform structure. Using contrasting materials and complementary elements, Miller has produced a design that is visually and structurally balanced. Her inspiration has evolved from an interest in component assembly and connection.
Rebecca Drake, Editor of Concept for Living magazine, the competition’s sponsor and one of the judges, described Miller’s design as a revelation. “It was in a league of its own in terms of conceptual design and the choice of materials, and the connectivity is striking”.
Since winning the competition, Miller has utilised the £1,500 grant to develop and prototype a range of designs. Her new website is due to be launched and she has also gained experience working for an interiors company, to develop her knowledge of computer aided design and designing to budgets and deadlines. Miller is now planning and preparing to launch her products at 100% Design in London later this year.
The standard of products submitted for the competition was so high that two joint runner-up prizes were awarded to Alistair Woodgate of creative ape ltd and Dominic Lee of Dominic Lee Furniture.
For the second year running creative ape ltd, based in Leicester took joint runner-up prize with Alastair Woodgate’s Konrad design. Konrad is an articulated wall mounted desk, a modern version of the bureau, designed to re-ignite a passion for writing. Derbyshire based furniture maker Dominic Lee also took runner-up with his Amp table. Forming a strong visual centerpiece to any living room, Amp is a sculptural solution to a common functional piece of storage furniture.
Judge Chris Lamerton of Lamerton Design said “The Konrad wall desk is slick and beautiful piece that has great potential for customisation. The sustainability of the materials used to produce Amp and the standard of craftsmanship blew me away! It was impossible to choose.”
Both runner ups win a years free Associate membership with Design Factory and will benefit from market support, advice, networking and mentoring.
Clare Edwards, founder and director of Design Factory, which provides market development support for regional designer/makers, said: “Once again we were inundated with creative talent and the judges were thrilled with the standard of entries. All three designs demonstrated originality and true craftsmanship and all have great potential to be taken to market.”
For more information about Design Factory visit www.designfactory.org.uk
ENDS
Press queries:
For all press enquiries email clare@designfactory.org.uk or call 07769 795859.
Notes to editors:
Design Factory
Design Factory is East Midland's leading creative development agency, a not-for-profit organisation that provides a wealth of market opportunities for the talented design and craft sector in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland.
As well as internationally marketing the innovative work that is created in the region, Design Factory also supports the long-term development of creative businesses. It’s membership programme creates new opportunities, facilitates collaboration, and ultimately innovates and encourages the growth of new and established businesses.
www.designfactory.org.uk
100% Design
100% Design is the UK’s leading contemporary interiors event. There is no other show that connects the worlds of architecture and design with innovative, contemporary interior products, creativity and an exciting mix of new and established talent. 100% Design offers exposure to specifiers and press, making it the perfect place to launch new products, raise brand awareness and forge new contacts.
www.100percentdesign.co.uk
Jo Miller 07725 880724
Alastair Woodgate 07738 820427
Dominic Lee 07719 002966
