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PRODUCTS
NEXT GENERATION Selected by judges as the best of this year’s Young Furniture Makers crop, another handful of worthy winners has joined the Young Furniture Makers Awards alumni … www.furnituremakers.org.uk/youngfurniture-makers/
The Young Furniture Makers Awards – the student equivalent of The Furniture Makers’ Company’s Guild Marks – recognise excellence in the fields of bespoke and design, and every year the company receives a huge number of entries, with the most impressive traditionally invited to show at the Young Furniture Makers exhibition in London, to be scrutinised by the judges in person. This year, a virtual exhibition featuring 55 shortlisted designs took place instead. The judges were: Zoë Bonser, portfolio director at Clarion Events; Chris Hyde, director of curriculum at Activate Learning; Peter Sharratt, technical support advisor at Blum; Alan Styles, MD of Axminster Tools & Machinery; and Charles Vernon, past master of The Furniture Makers’ Company. The winners were invited to a ceremony at Furniture Makers’ Hall in October where they were presented
with their awards by the master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, David Woodward, and Zoë Bonser. David comments: “It was a huge pleasure to be able to present the 2021 Young Furniture Makers Awards to these talented and charming young people. I wish them all well for their future in our fantastic industry.” Zoë says: “Nurturing the creative, technical, design and craft talents of the next generation of furnituremakers is so indescribably important, and we’re thrilled to be giving our support to the Young Furniture Makers Awards.” Alan adds: “Axminster Tools is committed to helping to build a sustainable future for the furniture industry. In order to preserve traditional crafts, it’s vital that we continue to support and develop fresh new talent. It’s a privilege to be involved with the Young Furniture Makers Awards – the level of innovation, design and craftsmanship is truly wonderful to experience”
From left: Joe Geehan, Noah Samson, Charlotte McGowan and Harry Peck
IN ORDER TO PRESERVE TRADITIONAL CRAFTS, IT’S VITAL THAT WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND DEVELOP FRESH NEW TALENT