Young Furniture Makers Exhibition 2024

Last month we had the pleasure of sponsoring the “School Design Prize” at the 2024 edition of the “Young Furniture Makers Exhibition”.

Founded nearly 15 years ago, the Young Furniture Makers Exhibition honours the exceptional design and craftsmanship of students from schools, colleges, and universities, offering them a platform to showcase their work to potential employers and industry leaders.

This prize underscores our commitment to providing a stepping stone for the next generation to get themselves through the door, and into the furniture industry.

We believe that the desire for creating begins during the school years. The young inventive minds should be supported and allowed to further explore their passion whilst also being recognised for it. The Young Furniture Makers “School Design Prize” perfectly aligns with our beliefs, in allowing talented makers to continue their studies in design and making whilst being celebrated for their achievements.

The winners were presented with their certificate by renowned British designer and maker John Makepeace OBE FCSD. John Makepeace has had an illustrious career as both a designer, maker and teacher. A founding member of the Crafts Council UK in 1975, John was a trustee of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London from 1987–91. He was awarded an OBE in 1988 for his services to furniture design and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Furniture Society in 2004.

The panel of judges, which included KI Europe’s President Jonathan Hindle, Design Conformity Head Katie Furmston, Morley College’s Alex Gifford, and Immediate Past Master Amanda Waring, selected the following winners:

1st place: Nautical Bench by Madaleine Richardson (Year 13)
The Nautical Bench by Madaleine Richardson was created for the historic Chatham Dockyards with reclaimed materials from the maritime landmark.

2nd place: Arch Bench by Harry Skowronski (Year 13)
The Arch Bench by Harry Skowronski is an intriguing piece that beautifully showcases his expertise in wood bending and shaping.

Jonathan Hindle, President of KI Europe, “The School Design Prize provides an excellent opportunity to expose the furniture industry to schools at an early age. Our industry, like many others, is challenged to making youngsters aware that our industry provides real career opportunities for them. The quality overall has been fantastic, the young furniture makers of the School Design Prize, have demonstrated an extremely high standard of work, and that reflects the education they are receiving. KI is particularly excited to sponsor this prize, because as a leading provider of furniture into schools, we see this as a wonderful way to engage with the schools and young pupils and encourage them to enter the industry.”

The Curved Cabinet by Millie Goodwin and The Sustainability Pod by Stella Nicholas were elected by the panel of judges as highly commended projects.

•     The Sustainability Pod by Stella Nicholas
•     Curved Cabinet by Millie Goodwin

Congratulations to the winners and finalists for their outstanding work. Winning the School Design Prize not only brings recognition but also opens doors for future opportunities in the design world, giving these talented students a platform to build successful careers.

We at KI Europe are eager to see how these young designers continue to refine their craft and contribute to the future of furniture making.