The importance of connectivity among designers and interior designers following the solitude of lockdown is to be the central theme of the third webinar from The Furniture Makers’ Company’s ‘Innovation in times of crisis’ series.
The ‘Emergence from lockdown’ event, which is taking place via Zoom on Thursday 4 March 11:00am – 12:00pm, will be chaired by Daniel Hopwood, noted interior designer and judge on The Great Interior Design Challenge.
Daniel will be joined by three experts from the interior design and design community: Lester Bennett, president of the British Institute of Interior Design; Matthew Burt, award-winning designer-maker; and Rodney McMahon, Design Guild Mark chairman.
The panel will also discuss the value and usage of marks of accreditation, with the webinar culminating with a live Q&A providing attendees an opportunity to question the guests.
David Woodward, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, said: “The ‘Innovation in times of crisis’ series to date has provided inspirational guidance and insight from some of the industry’s leading minds and the next episode is essential viewing for designers, interior designer and designer-makers – register now!”
Please email your questions in advance to [email protected] or ask your questions live using the Zoom Q&A function.
The Innovation in Times of Crisis series overview
Innovation in manufacturing, 11.00am, 18 February 2021 – Chaired by Peter Holland of Linear Structure, a panel of directors from some of the UK’s leading domestic, contract and office furnishing manufacturers will discuss diversity in manufacturing to beat Covid-19, recovery strategies and the significance of circular manufacturing. Panellists include be Ian Oscroft, managing director of Whitemeadow Furniture; Simon Spinks, group chairman of Harrison Spinks; and Charles Winn-Jones, operations director at Herman Miller.
Engaging with government, 11.00am, 24 February 2021 – Chaired by British Furniture Confederation chairman Jonathan Hindle, a panel of heads of trade associations will be joined by Mike Wood, MP, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Furniture & Furnishings, and Mark Eastwood, MP, vice chair of the APPG, to discuss how to get industry specific government airtime on key UK policy and future trade discussions, engaging with the APPG and life after Brexit. Panellists include Jessica Alexander, executive director, National Bed Federation; Nick Garratt, managing director, British Furniture Manufacturers; and Jeremy Stein, managing director of the British Contract Furnishing Association.
Emergence from lockdown, 11.00am, 4 March 2021 – Chaired by Daniel Hopwood, a panel of experts representing the interior design and design sector will discuss the skills and training requirements needed to survive, usage of marks of accreditation and connectivity with lone, micro and SME interior designers/designer-makers at grass roots. Panellists will be Lester Bennett, British Institute of Interior Design president; Matthew Burt, award-winning bespoke furniture maker; and Rodney McMahon, Design Guild Mark chairman. Register now
Opportunities for furnishing retailers, 11.00am, 11 March 2021 – Chaired by Peter Holland of Linear Structure, a panel of leaders from household name furnishing retailers will discuss retail in the online age, how to entice the consumer back into stores, effective leadership in a crisis and more. Panellists will be Peter Harrison, chief executive, Furniture Village and Tim Stacey, group chief executive officer, DFS. Register now
About The Furniture Makers’ Company
The Furniture Makers’ Company is a City of London livery company and the furnishing industry’s charity. It fosters the industry by supporting those in need, nurturing skills and expertise and inspiring excellence. It provides support and assistance to those in need who are working or have worked in the UK furnishing industry. It supports students and young people with grants, training and mentoring in order to foster talent and safeguard the future of the industry. It encourages the highest standards and best practice in the design, making, marketing and selling of all kinds of furniture and furnishings throughout the UK, recognising quality through the award of its Guild Marks and Awards.
For further information, contact George Cooper, [email protected] or 020 7562 8522.
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