Matthew Pope created the modular Addax sofa as part of his degree in Furniture and Product Design at Nottingham Trent University, before displaying it at New Designers this summer, where it went on to win the show’s 100% Design Award …
Matthew’s design education began with GCSE D&T Resistant Materials at Backwell School, where he had the freedom to create his own briefs for the first time. “I decided to really push myself and make an electric guitar,” he says, “even though I have never played or had a clue what do. This was a massive undertaking, but this is how I have worked through university – trying to push myself and learn new things.”
At A Level Matthew took creative subjects such as Art & Design, Photography, DT Resistant Materials and DT Product Design. Following that, he completed an Art Foundation course at Weston University, before going on to take a BA Degree in Furniture and Product Design at Nottingham Trent University. Here, Addax was the result of a 12-week long design and prototyping project.
At New Designers 2016, Addax won the 100% design award, granting Matthew free exhibition space within the Emerging Brands section of the show, taking place at London’s Olympia this month.
“Addax is a modular sofa that comes apart easily to allow the customer to move and change the sections. The covers are removable, so if the customer wants to clean or change to a different fabric, it is quick and easy,” says Matthew.
“The modular design of Addax allows the customer to fully customise each section with their own fabrics, to create a unique and exciting piece of furniture in an individual style. Due to its simple design, the frames are easy to construct and cost effective to make.”
