Joint winners announced for National School Design Prize

Two talented design & technology students have been named joint winners of The Furniture Makers’ Company’s National School Design Competition.

George Mannell, from Stowmarket High School, and Saskia Hawkins, a student at St John’s School, Leatherhead, were put forward for the national competition after winning one of the charity’s School Design Prizes.

The School Design Prize is an annual award, sponsored by companies and individuals connected with the charity, which is given to promising design & technology students in schools across the country. The award aims to inspire students to pursue a career in the furnishing industry.

All of the individual winners of the School Design Prize are automatically entered into the National School Design Competition, sponsored by education and office furniture manufacturer KI, where they get a chance to win vouchers for themselves and their school.

George and Saskia were announced as joint winners by internationally acclaimed product and furniture designer Sebastian Conran at the charity’s Young Furniture Makers exhibition.

The Young Furniture Makers exhibition was held at Furniture Makers’ Hall and the Dutch Church in Austin Friars, London on 10 October 2017. More than 120 young designers and furniture makers were invited to exhibit for free and showcase their work to representatives from the UK furnishing industry.

George said: “I never thought my work would receive such recognition – I found the whole experience humbling and inspiring at the same time. Thank you for supporting me with this award.”

Dave Lee-Allan, head teacher of Stowmarket High School, said: “Stowmarket High School were absolutely honoured to be included in this year’s Young Furniture Makers exhibition. To have a winning piece against such quality work was incredible. We sent our next generation of designers along to be inspired, and so they were!”

Saskia said: “My experience at the Young Furniture Makers exhibition was amazing, and I was very honoured to have been put forward and able to present my piece. It was fascinating to be able to meet so many interesting people and to see the wide variety of creativity in their designs.”

Jason Ward, head of Design & Technology at St John’s School, said: “Saskia’s brief was to design and make a product which enables the user to accommodate a number of 12-inch records, an amplifier and a record player. Pupils are not usually challenged to design and make furniture in the time available at GCSE level in Design and Technology, however, Saskia’s exceptional abilities in this subject have enabled her to achieve a very successful outcome.”

Jonathan Hindle, group managing director of KI EMEA, sponsor of the National School Design Prize Competition, said: “The future success of the UK furnishings industry is dependent on nurturing skills and innovation. The School Design Prize gives us an opportunity to directly support talented individuals and encourage them to pursue a career in our industry. We thank all those who participated and extend our congratulations to this year’s winners. We look forward to seeing more exciting things from them in the years ahead.”