Who:
‘I grew up in the Cotswolds and that’s the environment I know best so I’m sure I’ve been in_ uenced by it in most of my work,’ says James Smith. Now based in Falmouth, where he had studied at the College of Art in 2009, nature is an in_ uence that has stayed with him. Graduatingfrom Chippendale Furniture Making College in Edinburgh in 2003, Smith’s respect for materials and instinctive approach to detailing, is best evidenced by the Nest Platter, a versatile set of solid wood containers that hold a wide range of items usually found on the desk.
Why:
His aim is to create products which will be used daily, enjoyed, treasured and passed on. More speci. cally in the next 12 months he says he will ‘continue to work on my design consultancy and licence all my products’. Currently the designs are batch-produced or made on commission, with some standard items available to order and others designed and made to a client’s speci. cation. Smith adds that there are so many skills involved in running a new business such as his that he really wants to get to a stage where he can concentrate on the design side of things.
What:
The Task Lamp debuted at this year’s 100% Design in the Emerging Brands section. Crafted solely from natural materials, including ash armatures and a granite base, it uses an innovative system of sliding cantilevers to give the user total control of the light’s position.
The versatile Kink Balance Stool encourages active sitting, as remaining dynamic while seated promotes concentration and physiological health. In powder-coated steel, the seat is upholstered in felt.
The Glade lamp launched earlier this year is a beautifully realised stack of willow that projects an array of light and shadow from six energy efficient LEDs.
Where:
Words by Helen Parton
