As Part of the 2014 MakeIT! competition, MakeIT! Furniture teamed up with The Furniture Makers Company on an exciting additional design project.
MakeIT! Furniture, which asks students to research the furniture, furnishings and interiors industries and design an item of furniture which can be manufactured using sustainable materials and eco-friendly manufacturing techniques, teamed up with The Furniture Makers Company this year to offer teachers and students an additional project.
The Furniture Makers Company asked students to design a promotional A3 size poster targeted at young people to encourage them to consider a career in the furniture, furnishings and interiors industries. Following a design brief, the students had to produce an informative poster to explain some of the career opportunities within the industries such as design, retail, manufacturing and distribution, and ideally containing case-studies from individuals representing various aspects of the furnishing industries.
The project which was welcomed by teachers, saw a huge range of posters being entered that were judged by a panel of industry experts. Their selected winner was Natalie Godfrey, a year 9 pupil from Henry Box School who provided a clear understanding of the careers available within the furniture, furnishings and interiors industries.
Natalie was awarded with an all-expenses paid trip by DFS to their creative agency at Gratterpalms Offices in Leeds all arranged by the Furniture Makers Company.
At the creative agency Natalie worked with the designers in developing her poster into a finished commercial piece and received a framed copy. The poster will also be sent out to schools across the UK to promote the furniture industry by The Furniture Makers Company along with its Furniture Design Book Award. The book, Modern British Furniture, commemorates the Livery’s golden anniversary year.
Natalie’s father, Lee Godfrey, commented on her success: “Natalie has really enjoyed the whole experience. The visit to Gratterpalm was special as she got to be involved and tweak and select her finished poster. It wasn’t until then that we realised what a big thing this was to be involved in.
"It is lovely to see everyone being recognised for their hard work and on a personal note I think the whole experience was a great way of bringing the furniture trade as a career to the forefront of the children's minds and I thank everyone involved.”
