Claire Canning, Lindsey Hesketh, Huw Evans and Campbell Thompson have shared this year’s Jonathan Hindle Prize.
The Brutalist Collection, designed by Claire Canning and Lindsey Hesketh for Granite & Smoke, and the AD11 Lounge Chair (pictured), designed by Huw Evans and Campbell Thompson for The Conran Shop, shared the prize. It is awarded to the most outstanding of the year’s Design Guild Mark awarded pieces. All winners receive a trophy, made from solid surface Corian, and £1,000.
‘The Brutalist Collection of blankets and cushions, inspired by London’s bold and graphic brutalist architecture and modernist colours, is made with premium and sustainable materials from ethically sourced cashmere to recycled wool, hand finished by British specialists. Woven in Scotland and England on jacquard looms in short runs; each creation tells an uplifting story influenced by our backgrounds in art, architecture and fashion, in carefully considered and unapologetically optimistic colour combinations. Our Scottish lambswool/cashmere blankets are woven using contrasting yarn weights and thickness to create a soft, yet graphic irregularity. A specialist double sided weave technique was used adding depth and gives the fabric a three-dimensional quality, as though it was hand quilted. Our recycled wool is made with 100% recycled post-consumer textile waste from the fashion industry. Our ethically sourced lambswool/cashmere uses non-toxic dyes, is 100% natural and renewable and is certified to meet the highest standards of animal welfare, environmental care, and social sustainability,’ says Canning.
‘Made from oak-veneered marine plywood, AD11 is available in three vigorous hues of yellow, blue, and red, each featuring a discrete bottle opener for the ultimate spring-summer relaxation. Brand new for 2023, AD11 is our modern interpretation of the classic Adirondack chair typology. The two independent backrests provide ergonomic comfort, while generous armrests promote lounging,’ says Evans.
The Design Guild Mark is awarded by The Furniture Makers’ Company, the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry, to drive excellence and raise the profile of British design and innovation. It recognises the highest standards in the design of furnishings in volume production across three categories: furniture, lighting design, and interior design elements. The award is open to designers working in Britain or British designers working abroad and emphasises how innovation of materials and creativity remain at the forefront of British design.
