The Design Guild Mark has launched the call for entries for the 2021 awards, inviting designers and companies to submit entries for three categories: Furniture, Textiles, Wall Coverings, Surfaces, Carpets and Floor Coverings and the new Lighting Design category.
The Design Guild Mark, awarded by The Furniture Makers’ Company, has been distinguishing the excellent from the ordinary in the design of furnishings intended for volume production for more than 10 years.
It is unique to other design awards as the panel of independent judges – all experts in the field of design – examine the submitted piece and question the designer during a judging day.
Designs awarded a Mark benefit from increased industry and consumer awareness, press and social media coverage, with the designers and companies behind them also receiving enhanced brand recognition.
The piece from each of the three categories deemed to be the most outstanding by the judges will also win the Jonathan Hindle Prize for Excellence.
Designers and companies have until 30 November 2020 to submit an entry to meet the early bird deadline and until 22 January 2021 for the final deadline.
Rodney McMahon, chairman of the Design Guild Mark, said: “The variety and quality of designs, from both established and aspiring designers, applying for the Design Guild Mark is always stimulating. With the launch of the Lighting Design categories this year, we now have three different design strands that we hope will attract an even broader range of applicants and ensure that the award of a Design Guild Mark continues to be something to which to aspire.”
Comments from Judges:
Jeremy Myerson, professor of design at the Royal College of Art:
“The Design Guild Mark remains the gold standard in design excellence for manufactured furniture. This year the accent was on simplicity, authenticity, finesse and fitness for purpose.”
Daniel Hopwood, director of Daniel Hopwood: London Interior Design & Architecture
“We all know that lovely quote by William Morris ‘Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.’ In the light of this modern age may I add to the quote ‘and definitely sustainable’ as all of the products that have been awarded the prestigious Design Guild Mark meet all three of those criteria.”
John Tree, product designer at Jasper Morrison: “I’m super excited that DGM has both added a lighting category and invited me to be one of the judges. DGM has filled a noticeable gap in the UK by providing a platform for the recognition of excellence in furniture design. Extending this to Lighting is a natural continuation of the guilds work.”
The prestigious Design Guild Mark promotes excellence and raises the profile of British design and innovation.
The award recognises the highest standards in the design of furnishings in volume production by the finest designers working in Britain, or British designers working abroad.
Each product must achieve excellence within the following criteria: design, materials, manufacture and function for volume production.
The Furniture Makers’ Company is the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry, which champions excellence in design and manufacture, educates new talent for the future of the industry and supports those in need.
The Design Guild Mark judging panels for 2021 will be:
Furniture
Lighting Design
For more information, please go to www.designguildmark.org.uk.
Spread the Word
