Please join us for an informal panel talk moderated by furniture historian David Jones and debut showcase. In celebration of a recent collaborative exchange between three diverse, acclaimed furniture design practitioners – each with their distinctive approach and completed seats. Panelists are, David Colwell (Wales), Yuri Kobayashi (Japan/ USA), and Isabelle Moore (Edinburgh).
This project pioneers a cross-cultural, sustainable approach to chair design and production, fostering international collaboration through hands-on craftsmanship. Designer /maker residencies are usually driven by a sole practitioner’s brief, with the individual maker realising the design. However, this venture combines the skills and experience of three diverse, acclaimed furniture design practitioners with distinctive approaches from the outset, in a mutually supportive endeavour.
The eroded manufacturing sector in the UK & USA, along with dwindling accessibility to woodworking facilities in education has resulted in a decreased exposure to, and knowledge of the making skills and processes that are fundamental to furniture making. The industry faces increasing environmental challenges, and this project directly responds to these by showcasing sustainable (materials sourcing, low energy fabrication & collegiate) practices.
Green Ash, a sustainable and visually appealing material is at the centre of this project. Ash is plentiful throughout the UK but still most of it is imported. Ash dieback (a fungal disease Hymenoscyphus fraxineus detected throughout Europe and the USA) has increased its supply and in many cases the disease doesn’t affect its aesthetic or structural properties. Ash is strongest when fast grown, and absorbs more atmospheric carbons than any other temperate timber.
The aim of this project and talk is to celebrate and bring increased awareness to the iterative/evaluative Three-Dimensional design process. This underpins all object fabrication and determines the solution and quality of a finished product, yet is rarely acknowledged as a specific discipline.
We are thrilled to showcase the chair prototypes produced from the collaboration.
A Four Nations International Project – supported by Creative Scotland and Arts Council of Wales
