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 industrial design.
The Design Guild Mark is unique in that the programme is not a competition with a ranking of entries and a winner; instead, the award is given to all designs that demonstrate to the jury that they represent the highest standards of originality and innovation in industrial design. The Design Guild Mark is awarded across 3 categories: Furniture, Interior Design Elements, and Lighting Design.
The award is open to designers working in Britain or British designers working abroad and entries for all categories can be for designs intended for domestic,
office, hospitality, educational or corporate use, and for both interior and exterior environments.
Each distinct category has its own jury of renowned design experts who assess the submissions against a series of criteria, including: does the design demonstrate new and original thinking and problem solving? Is the design fit for purpose? Does it incorporate innovative manufacturing materials and processes? Does the design develop a brand’s position? Does the design demonstrate a commitment to sustainable consumerism?
The winning designers – some newcomers as well as previous holders – will be celebrated at a special awards ceremony on 23 May. The awarded designs – representing the domestic and contract markets – will benefit from increased industry and consumer awareness, press and social media coverage, with the designers and companies behind them also receiving enhanced brand recognition.
In addition to honouring the winners, the ceremony will include the announcement of winners of the Jonathan Hindle Prize. This additional award is selected by the judges and is presented to the most outstanding of the year’s Design Guild Mark awarded pieces and each recipient will receive a stunning trophy and a cash prize.
Rodney McMahon, chairman of the Design Guild Mark, commented:
“Meeting the applicants, hearing their design journey, and witnessing the friendly but insightful and probing questions of the judges is an enjoyable design master class. Designers should apply for the Design Guild Mark just for the experience of meeting the judges.”
INTERIOR DESIGN ELEMENTS
The Brutalist Collection DGM 284
Designed by Claire Canning & Lindsey Hesketh for Granite + Smoke
Main Line Twist DGM 285
Designed by Hayley Barrett & Jane Marks-Yewdall for Camira
LIGHTING
Oslin Collection DGM 286
Designed by David Irwin for Luum
The Muse Solid Brass DGM 287
Designed by Tala for Tala
Solid Rechargeable Light DGM 288
Designed by Terence Woodgate for Case Furniture
FURNITURE
Metro DGM 289
Designed by Alex Blondek and Rodney Kinsman for OMK Design
Bilbao DGM 290
Designed by Tim Rundle for Morgan Furniture
Utility Shelf DGM 291
Designed by Rachael Heritage for WOUD A/S
Edge Free DGM 292
Designed by Luke Pearson & Tom Lloyd for Modus Furniture
Omada DGM 293
Designed by Mark Gabbertas for Gloster
Metis DGM 294
Designed by Gabbertas Studio for TrabA
Jump DGM 295
Designed by Gabbertas Studio for TrabA
GEMLA OPEN DGM 296
Designed by Samuel Wilkinson for GEMLA
Ooty DGM 297
Designed by Jack Smith & Gemma Matthias for Allermuir
Bastille DGM 298
Designed by Patrick Norguet for Allermuir
Plum DGM 299
Designed by Mark Gabbertas for Allermuir
Hideaway Wall Desk DGM 300
Designed by Chris Fowler for Bisley
Hideaway Swing Desk DGM 301
Designed by Chris Fowler for Bisley
Amity Seat DGM 302
Designed by the Gaze Burvill Design Team for Gaze Burvill
Uniun Bench & Planter DGM 303
Designed by Furnitubes for Furnitubes
SYD DGM 304
Designed by Aaron Probyn for Another Country
Tarn DGM 305
Designed by Gemma Matthias for Hitch Mylius
Domus Desk DGM 306
Designed by Matthew Hilton for The Conran Shop
Iris Lounge Chair DGM 307
Designed by Huw Evans for The Conran Shop
Mag Table Collection DGM 308
Designed by Daniel Schofield for The Conran Shop
AD11 Lounge Chair DGM 309
Designed by Huw Evans and Campbell Thompson for The Conran Shop
Cross Task Chair DGM 310
Designed by Pearson Lloyd for TAKT
Marlow Table DGM 311
Designed by Matthew Hilton for Case Furniture
Slot Shelving DGM 312
Designed by Terence Woodgate for Case Furniture
The Design Guild Mark is judged by a panel of leading industry professionals. Each member of the panel is from the furniture, lighting, hospitality, commercial, retail, textiles or academic industry. Judges ensure that each submission meets the criteria of excellence in design, materials, manufacture, and function.
Chaired by Rodney McMahon, this year’s eminent judging panel were:
FURNITURE
Joanna Biggs Hospitality Interior Design Consultant at Sherliker Biggs
Sarah Bryan Associate Partner at ID:SR, Sheppard Robson's Interior Design Group
Sheridan Coakley Founder of SCP Limited
Elliott Koehler Creative Director at JPA Design
Tom Pearce Co-founder of Farrah & Pearce
Terence Woodgate Industrial Designer at Studio Woodgate
INTERIOR DESIGN ELEMENTS
Daniel Hopwood Director at Studio Hopwood
Clare Johnston Emeritus Professor at the Royal College of Art and Textile Designer for Fashion and Interiors at Royal College of Art
Natasha Marshall Designer and Founder of Natasha Marshall Limited
Corinne Pringle Director at tp bennett
Emma Sewell Textile Designer at Wallace Sewell
Peter Thwaites Design Director at Rapture and Wright
LIGHTING
Simon Alderson Co-founder of twentytwentyone
Simon Terry Owner and Joint Managing Director at Anglepoise
John Tree Designer at Jasper Morrison
Sebastian Wrong Design Director at Established & Sons
All judges with an interest in an entry stood aside when that entry was being considered.
Comments from the judging panel:
Joanna Biggs, Sherliker Biggs:
“Some extremely worthy winners of the award this year, with well thought out pieces covering various design genres from Hospitality, Outdoor, Office and Residential markets. Interwoven with great design features, we were pleased to see a large focus towards the considered use of natural materials with sustainability brought to the forefront.”
Sarah Bryan, ID:SR:
“It’s been a joy to collaborate with the fellow judges to review the latest design talent, all looking to achieve a Design Guild Mark award. As always, the furniture put forward represents the industry’s forward-thinking and creativity, with sustainability demonstrated as a common thread throughout.”
Elliott Koehler, JPA Design:
“What an exciting and inspiring year all the applicants of 2023 have demonstrated. To see many of the projects that were developed over the pandemic come to production has shown true adaptability, and a true tribute to how our design community remains innovative and thoughtful. As expectations continue to rapidly change, the designs that stood out tackled the complex issues with holistic thinking from pre-production to decades of use. It was a privilege to see so many design entries and all of us as judges look forward to what we see each year as this British award strengthens and celebrates our design community.”
Tom Pearce, Farrah & Pearce:
“It was a real pleasure to be in a room surrounded by so many well considered pieces, both aesthetically and in relation to their environmental impact. The furniture industry is really putting future use at the front of mind. Innovation using natural fibres, clever design for disassembly, conscious material sourcing and ultimately pieces designed to last are what seems to differentiate good design with award winning design.”
Luke Pearson, PearsonLloyd:
“It was a pleasure to take part in the judging on what was a very diverse range of products. It’s essential we recognise the quality of the British design industry and its contribution to the wider markets.”
Terence Woodgate, Studio Woodgate:
“I had the privilege to take part in the 2023 Design Guild Marks judging which was intense, as always, with considerable debate around design, innovation, materials and processes and the various benefits of the work presented. We had a particularly strong field of submissions this year which was wonderful to see but made it challenging for us to choose the winners! The Design Guild Mark grows in stature each year.”
Clare Johnston, Royal College of Art:
“The Design Guild Mark awards are an important opportunity to give recognition for the achievement of best Design Practises and production standards.
The judging event is a great chance to view submitted products, meet the Designers/Producers and discuss the merits of the work with fellow judges.
This year I found that the most exciting work combined good design with material innovation.”
Natasha Marshall, Natasha Marshall Interiors Ltd:
“It is such an honour being one of the judges for the Design Guild Mark Awards. We get to see and hear about so many amazing products. It is vital that Designers are put forward for these awards to celebrate & showcase their work. As by being part of the awards it brings to the forefront the incredible collaboration work required between designer, brands and volume manufacturing to create truly great products.”
Corinne Pringle, tpbennett:
“It is always a privilege to join the team of judges and hear first-hand from the candidates how their original ideas and design thinking is being developed within industry. This often invites lively debate between the judges! The Design Guild Mark is awarded to those who have been able to maintain the quality of their original design idea, through development to a create a considered and quality product.”
Emma Sewell, Wallace Sewell:
“It was great to be part of the judging panel for the DMG awards, which is so valuable in promoting considered and strong design for the professional arena. As before, it was a stimulating and interesting morning, with a broad range of applications and work, provoking lively discussion from the judging panel.”
Peter Thwaites, Rapture & Wright:
“I always look forward to the Design Guild Mark judging day. With a panel of judges from across the 2D design industry, there is inevitably lively debate. Crucial to us, is the story behind the design, hence our insistence that we talk to the designers involved in the development of each piece.”
Simon Alderson, twentytwentyone:
“This year’s DGM Lighting award offered a diversity in approach, in materials and applications. The designers presented their work extremely well, and it is this distinct component of the Design Guild Mark that makes the review of British-based creativity so special. The award acknowledges many criteria, though functionality, sustainability, price and personality are celebrated as key components in this year’s winning designs.”
John Tree, Jasper Morrison:
“Judging for the DGM is an important moment to both engage and recognise new designs while also providing a moment for the judges to dig into what good design really is and how it should be recognised and supported. I sometimes enjoy the judges’ discussions as much as seeing the submissions."
