Whitemeadow design winner announced

Josh Greaves has been chosen as the winner of the first ever Whitemeadow Design Prize.

The award, launched with corporate member Whitemeadow Upholstery, asked students to design a commercial upholstery range of sofas or chairs for the home, focusing on excellence in design, materials, craftsmanship and function.

The competition was open to any product design or furniture design student over the age of 18 in full time education at any college or university in the UK.

Josh, who is studying a BA in Product Design at De Montfort University, designed a traditional style armchair with a modern twist to create a contemporary aesthetic.

Josh has won a paid work placement during his gap year within Whitemeadow’s busy design department at the company’s base in Sutton In Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, where he’ll receive insight into the practical side of upholstery design and manufacture.

Josh said: “When I found out I had won the competition, I was ecstatic. As a product design student, I entered the competition with the intention of trying something new.”

Dr Tony Smart MBE, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, said: “As the furnishing industry’s charity, we want to encourage talent to enter our industry and have put in place an extensive education programme to create a powerful workforce for the future.

“We would like to thank corporate member Whitemeadow for sponsoring this new award and congratulate Josh for winning it.”