Award winners announced at 2025 New Furniture Makers exhibition

We announced the winners of our New Furniture Makers Awards and Prizes at the 2025 New Furniture Makers exhibition in October.

Principally sponsored by Furniture Village, the New Furniture Makers exhibition took place on Wednesday 29 October at Furniture Makers’ Hall and the Dutch Church in Austin Friars, London.

More than 70 designs from emerging designer-makers were exhibited at the inspirational one-day event, which was set up over 15 years ago for school children, students and graduates to showcase their work to the design community and connect with potential employers.

Doors opened at 2:00pm, with eager visitors quickly filling both venues to view the remarkable range of designs on display. The day’s excitement built steadily, culminating in a lively drinks reception and awards ceremony at the Dutch Church. Hundreds gathered to celebrate the winners, announced by Rupert Senior, one of the UK’s leading bespoke furniture designer-makers, and Francesca Rowan-Plowden, interior designer, entrepreneur and TV presenter.

The winners of the awards were:

• School Design Prize sponsored by KI: Dynamic Bench by Summer Gardner
• Apprentice Award, sponsored by Achieve and Partners: Branching Out by Chelsey Church from Bill Cleyndert + Company
• Bespoke Award, sponsored by Past Master Roger Richardson RD: Flow by Ellen Baines
• Design Award, sponsored by NaughtOne: Archetype M by Reuben Porter
• Textiles Award, sponsored by House of Sonnaz: Goleuo by Sam Budd
• Best Chair in Show Prize, sponsored by Meon by Gaze Burvill: Her Captain’s Chair by Lily Hitchcock
• Best in Show Prize, sponsored by Blum: Re-Thatched Shelves by Robert Radcliffe
• Leathersellers’ Prize, sponsored by the Leathersellers’ Company: Stitch by Grace Mansel
  

Debbie Johnson, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, said: “The New Furniture Makers exhibition once again highlighted the outstanding and extraordinary design talent present in the UK. We are deeply thankful to our exhibition and award sponsors, whose continued commitment makes this inspiring event possible every year. I would especially like to express my gratitude to our principal sponsor, Furniture Village, for their generous support.”

Charlie Harrison, managing director at principal sponsor Furniture Village, said: “Supporting the New Furniture Makers exhibition is part of our ongoing commitment to nurturing emerging talent in the UK’s furniture industry. The event provides an invaluable platform for young designers to showcase their ideas and connect with professionals who can help them take the next step in their careers.”

This year’s exhibition also marked the conclusion of a special one-off competition – the Empty Chair Design Award – organised in partnership with the Church of England.

Launched in 2024, the initiative invited young furniture designers and makers from across the UK to create a prototype chair that embodies the poignant symbolism of loss and absence. Submissions were reviewed by a judging panel featuring representatives from both the Church of England and The Furniture Makers’ Company.

The winner and two runners up were announced at the exhibition award ceremony.

First place: You Might Like to Sit Down by James Gascoigne
Second place: The Sylva Chair by Jennifer Seastone
Third place: Vacanseat by Tom Baldwin

Guy Hewitt, director of the Church of England’s Racial Justice Unit, said: “The Church of England was delighted to partner with The Furniture Makers’ Company on the Empty Chair Design Award towards the creation of a prototype chair that symbolises loss and absence. This is an all too familiar reality for many who suffer exclusion due to prejudices against protected characteristics. I was inspired by the entries particularly James Gascoigne’s winning design ‘You Might Like to Sit Down’.”

The 2026 edition of the New Furniture Makers exhibition is taking place on Wednesday 4 November 2026.