MADE NORTH madenorth.co.uk
Design Platform In partnership with David Mellor
Sheffield - Design City Emerging design talent
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MADE NORTH Design Platform
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Introduction
Sheffield Design
MADE NORTH Design Platform is a showcase of some of the hottest talent emerging from the steel city of Sheffield. A hub of creativity and industry, Sheffield is a real design destination fostering new makers who challenge the conventions of their craft and materials. This showcase is produced in collaboration with David Mellor and is displayed at their Sloane Square store during London Design Festival, then exhibited back in Sheffield at the MADE NORTH Gallery.
Sheffield is one of the UK’s most creative cities. With a well-earned reputation for industrial and cultural achievements, from the invention of stainless steel to Jarvis Cocker’s dance moves, it mixes independence with a no nonsense attitude. Statistically 7.2% of Sheffield’s workforce is employed in the creative industries (well above the 4% national average) and the city houses the largest number of creative workspaces and artists’ studios outside London. The city has strong design credentials from the handmade silver cutlery and traffic light designs of David Mellor to the internationally recognised graphic design of The Designers Republic and the ingenious solutions of companies such as Gripple. This showcase emphasises the breadth and quality of design work that is produced in the city by a range of designers.
Cover image: Möbius 1.00 by Owen Waterhouse. Image Simon R Waterhouse
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Contents Introduction MADE NORTH David Mellor Steve Anwar David Appleyard Chop Shop Christopher Barr Crow & Dunnage Field Cycles Mamnick Matthew McMorran Psalt Rebecca Joselyn Keith Tyssen TADO Owen Waterhouse Lianne Mellor Sarah Waterhouse Northern Industrial MADE NORTH Store Northern Futures 04
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MADE NORTH Platform for northern design MADE NORTH provides a creative platform that actively encourages and promotes understanding of contemporary northern design. It represents a network of designer/makers who we collaborate with to showcase the finest quality contemporary designs, materials, skills and products the north of England has to offer.
We carefully curate our selection and seek out designer/makers and objects that illustrate a sense of place, personality and provenance from our region and its accepted values of industry, honesty, integrity and innovation. MADE NORTH manages and programmes Sheffield Design Week an annual celebration of design and brings together the industry in an annual design conference. We also curate design work for display in a range of venues including the MADE NORTH design gallery in the heart of Sheffield.
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“A sense of place and provenance is becoming increasingly important in a world fast losing regional individuality in the face of globalisation.”
Visit the Gallery MADE NORTH actively showcases and promotes the finest selection of contemporary work produced by the north of England’s finest designer/ makers, working in a wide variety of disciplines including furniture design, textiles, ceramics, silverware, jewellery, glassware and beyond. Our ‘Showcase’ and ‘Launchpad’ exhibitions focus on established and early stage designers; our exhibition programme explores design in depth, often looking at processes and prototypes alongside finished products.
Patrick Murphy Director, MADE NORTH
Gallery Open Tuesday,Wednesday, Friday 12noon to 6pm Saturday 11am to 4pm MADE NORTH Gallery Yorkshire Artspace Persistence Works 21 Brown Street Sheffield S1 2BS
“The need for a gallery that promotes the north and its designer/makers is essential in today’s culture. A sense of place and provenance is becoming increasingly important in a world fast losing regional individuality in the face of globalisation. Instead of each city or region looking the same we want to celebrate difference; instead of high volume and low costs using oversees manufacturing, we want to see a return to responsible ‘local’ manufacturing and fair pricing that rewards the design/makers, encourages innovation and ideas and in turn supports the northern economy.”
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David Mellor David Mellor Design operates on the simple principle that well-designed equipment can improve your life. The company was set up by David Mellor, CBE, Royal Designer for Industry. Mellor is a key figure in British design with an international reputation as designer, manufacturer and shopkeeper.
The company’s values are maintained by Corin Mellor who succeeded his father as Creative Director of the company in 2002. Based in Sheffield, David Mellor Design has always specialised in metalwork and is particularly famous for its cutlery which is world renowned for its attention to detail and purity of design. The company’s policy is to build on its inheritance of traditional metalworking skills and Sheffield craftsmanship whilst making the most of evolving new technologies.
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‘I have always believed that to design something properly you have to first fully understand how it will be made. Because we manufacture and retail, as well as a design, we have a special expertise in developing our own products.We can draw on a unique set of resources and knowledge.’ Corin Mellor, Creative Director
Visitor Centre
In an increasingly throw-away culture David Mellor remain committed to lasting good design and the importance of traditional craftsmanship. The enduring demand for the company’s high quality products - both home and abroad is testament to the universal appeal of these qualities. The award-winning David Mellor cutlery factory in the Peak District National Park is open to the public so visitors are able to see David Mellor cutlery being made.
Plan your visit to the David Mellor Cutlery Factory, see first hand cutlery being made, the new Design Museum, the Country Shop and Café - all on the same site. Together they provide a uniquely stimulating and enjoyable day out in the Peak District National Park.
Country Shop, Design Museum, Café and Mail Order Open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm Sunday 11am to 5pm Cutlery Factory Open Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm when it is usually possible to see David Mellor cutlery being made.
The Round Building Hathersage Sheffield S32 1BA Call 01433 650220 davidmellordesign.co.uk
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Steve Anwar Established in 2012 Anwar Studio is the creative outlet of Industrial Designer Steven Anwar. Based in Sheffield, the heart of England’s industrial north, the studio produces distinctive furniture objects and leads bespoke interior projects with an artistic flare and holistic approach. Work is a fusion of industrial materials and processes with high quality production. Steve likes to weave eastern thinking and ideas into modern, industrial craftsmanship. The style is a contemporary mix of traditional, experimental, and futuristic typologies blurring the lines between design, art and object. anwarstudio.com
Who or what inspired you to become a designer/maker? I’ve always been tuned into how things look and feel; it was a matter of finding an outlet and learning the right process. In my case it was an organic journey, one thing led to the next, painting and decorating led to sign-writing which then led to designing signage modules for one of the oldest signage manufacturers in Sheffield, which then led to my degree course at university and into the world of industrial design. I call it the scenic route! How would you describe your work? I would describe my style as bold, sculptural, industrial, sometimes conceptual with a mix of eastern ideas and influences. I really like the idea of blurring the boundaries, playing with new typologies and creating functional art objects that imbue more than meets the eye. I like looking at what’s already there and have an urge to provide new possibilities, added value and increased functionality. Please describe your studio. My studio is in the fabulous SOAR Works, a RIBA award winning building. I share the space with four other artists all from different creative backgrounds and it’s a good mix with random things going on in there. What piece of work are you most pleased or
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“You get the best of both worlds up here: amazing access to factories and highly skilled craftsmen with the added bonus of the peak district right on your doorstep.” proud of, and why? Without doubt my OM vessels. I had the idea a long time ago when I was ill in bed so it’s deeply satisfying to the see the end result and finally have them in full production. It’s been quite a journey! What is the most satisfying part of the work you do? I love the freedom and challenge of transforming invisible thoughts in your head into real tangible objects... it’s a bit like sorcery! I would definitely say seeing, touching and holding the finished article is the most satisfying part. What would be your dream project? I’m a proud Yorkshire man, so I’d relish the chance to do work for David Mellor or Yorkshire Sculpture Park - two of Yorkshire’s biggest names and two of my favourite places. I’d really like to do more experimental work, I think creating an art installation or some kind of mass meditation live art project at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park in their open air spaces would be my dream project. My inspiration comes from art and nature so you get the best of both worlds down there, it’s a magical place, one of my favourite places on earth actually. What are you currently working on? I still want to develop the OMs into a collection so looking at new materials and sizes for that and also some struc-
tural vases. The project came from the idea of using container objects that are already there but we throw away or store in cupboards, it’s about giving old objects a second chance to be useful. My framing vases combine with these old throw away containers to create new possibilities, helping out the environment in the process. When you’re not working what do you like to do? I love visiting contemporary art exhibitions (when I get time). I also teach people to meditate, helping them to tap into their inner cosmic. I’m getting more and more into golf as I get older. I do Yoga sometimes and love a good film to unwind at night. What does the north of England mean to you? It’s my home, I’ve grown up here, studied and worked here most of my life. Sheffield has had a big influence on my life and work; I love the city’s location and industrial heritage - steel is in my blood. Again you get the best of both worlds up here: amazing access to factories and highly skilled craftsmen with the added bonus of the Peak District right on your doorstep. I really enjoy working with factories and other skilled makers. It’s one of my favourite things: you learn a lot by working in this way.
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“I enjoy thinking about ideas and tinkering with things and I’ve always had an attraction to interesting materials, patterns and form.”
Who or what inspired you to become a designer/maker? I’m not sure if it was inspired by anyone person or ‘thing’. I enjoy thinking about ideas and tinkering with things and I’ve always had an attraction to interesting materials, patterns and form. Designing and making feels like a very natural thing for me to do. How would you describe your work? Eclectic and well researched. Please describe your studio. I’m really lucky to have a studio Yorkshire ArtSpace, Persistence Works in the centre of Sheffield. I have an actual shed in the studio which functions as a small library. Its also the cleanest place in the studio and somewhere I can work at a computer. I tend to work in the shed during winter because its quicker to heat up. I use the rest of the studio as a place to make models, experiment and develop ideas away from a computer. With a bit of increasingly regular ‘re-shuffling’ of tools and benches I’ve got just enough space.
What piece of work are you most pleased or proud of, and why? ‘Factory Girls’ a Public Art project for The Lowry, Salford and the idea I’m currently developing for a development at Kings Reach, Biggleswade because I loved the experience that the project gave. It was a really interesting project from start to finish and it also kick-started a lot of different ideas which I’m still pursuing. I’m really enjoying the project I’m currently working on. Its the biggest project I’ve won so far and the idea I’m developing is probably the most ambitious. It definitely feels like a big step forward. What is the most satisfying part of the work you do? I enjoy running my own business and seeing my ideas move through the different stages of development. I don’t have a job where I wish 5 o’clock would come as soon as possible, so I guess the most satisfying thing is the feeling of being content.
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David Appleyard What would be your dream project? Difficult question to answer. I work on a lot of brief driven projects so I suppose the dream would be to have more time to work on a few more studio pieces. Something designed without the pressure of a deadline and manufactured to the best standard possible. What are you currently working on? I’m working on two different public art projects, one for Sheffield City Council and one for Central Bedfordshire Council. Both projects involve the production of multiples and the materials pallete is really nice! I’m also thinking about a few limited edition pieces that I’d like to produce next year. When you’re not working what do you like to do? I’m a Dad to two girls and they keep me pretty busy! I also enjoy running, cycling, reading, gardening and general pottering. What does the north of England mean to you? Home and a sense of pride.
David works as an artist, designer and project manager on a steadily growing portfolio of brief driven, three-dimensional design projects. A major part of his studio practice involves the design and delivery of public art projects but he’s also involved in the design and manufacture of limited edition products, furniture and prints. “I have a passion for developing ideas which link elements of contextual research to interesting materials and details.”
davidappleyard.co.uk
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Chop Shop ChopShop is a collaboration between four not-for-profit organisations to create an affordable and accessible digital fabrication facility for creatives, artists, start-ups & social enterprises. They work with a variety of partners to help ideas develop all the way from design to fabrication and they also run collaborative design workshops and educational events. In the last 12 months they have built exhibitions, popup shops, microhabitats, cafe tables, dining chairs & more.
chopshopcnc.com
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Ongoing internal battle of ‘Mac monkey’ versus ‘Craftsman’
Who or what inspired you to become a designer/maker? It sort of just happened. We graduated from architecture, then got into regeneration and community engagement, but still wanted to make things. So CNC was a kind of a way to realise that - with prior little joinery experience. How would you describe Chop Shop? CNC fabrication not limited by the size of plywood sheet / In-DUST-real revolution / Ongoing internal battle of ‘Mac monkey’ versus ‘Craftsman’. Where are you based? Please describe your studio. We have a large double height space in a former scissor factory. The building is listed and we have a massive double wooden roof truss spanning the ceiling. What piece of work are you most pleased or proud of, and why? One off pieces for retail and exhibition environments - i.e. Moonko and Site Gallery set-ups.
What is the most satisfying part of the work you do? The feeling you get when 100 pieces of cut plywood fit together perfectly. What would be your dream project? Louis Vuitton concept store in Tokyo. What are you currently working on? Designing a number of pieces for our first home collection. Converting a part of our workshop into a shared co-making spaces. When you’re not working what do you like to do? Cycling in the Peak District. What does the north of England mean to you? Lots of space. Fast trains to London.
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“From a young age I’ve been fascinated with making things, taking things apart and trying to understanding how things work.” Who or what inspired you to become a designer/maker? From a young age I’ve been fascinated with making things, taking things apart and trying to understanding how things work. It’s this interest in understanding objects and using my hands that led me to become a designer/maker/craftsperson. How would you describe your work? My design practice falls somewhere between craftsmanship and industrial design. While I was trained as an industrial designer my work now incorporates a combination of traditional materials and processes, alongside contemporary industrial design ideologies. By working on this boundary, combining traditional and contemporary methods of production, my projects result in objects with strong tactile and visual qualities. Over the past three years I have carried out extensive research into issues surrounding sustainability and the possible design strategies that can help develop a more sustainable future. As a result my work often incorporates a range of techniques that not only increase awareness of sustainability but also provide unique product outcomes that have a strong moral sense of being. Please describe your studio. I’m currently based in Sheffield and share a studio in the centre of town.
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Christopher Barr Working in Sheffield’s city centre is brilliant as it provides access to a huge range of craftspeople and facilities; 200 meters down the road is an experienced metal spinner, and the same distance in the other direction is an extensive precision machining workshop. What piece of work are you most pleased or proud of, and why? I’m particularly pleased with the Faceted Jugs that were produced earlier this year. From the outset these pieces were designed to provide a number of different iterations that suit varying tastes and personalities as well as demonstrating different methods of increasing product interaction between user and object. I’m particularly proud of this project due to the amount of conversation surrounding sustainability issues and possible design strategies that these objects started. Furthermore they demonstrate that considering sustainability, craftsmanship and product interaction at the root of a design project can result in a beautifully simple object. What is the most satisfying part of the work you do? For me one of the most satisfying part of any project is refining small details. Perhaps it’s small details that are immediately obvious, small details that people only discover after fully exploring
their product, or maybe even details that remain unnoticed. What would be your dream project? Difficult question. For me the enjoyment of what I do is the broad diversity of different projects, not one single project. But if I had to choose, I would love to do a project where the client wanted a broad range of local and traditional craftspeople to be involved. When you start to combine a number of different people, with different skills, projects start to become very interesting. What are you currently working on? I’m currently working on a range of projects from large community art projects through to small ceramic pieces for the home. When you’re not working what do you like to do? When I’m not working I’ll either be climbing or surfing somewhere in the UK. What does the north of England mean to you? The north of England is where I studied and found my feet as a designer so it will always be an important area to me. The diversity of craftspeople, history and heritage that the north can provide is a great inspiration for my projects.
Christopher Barr is an award winning product designer currently working from his Sheffield studio. After graduating with a product design degree Christopher received AHRC funding to undertake an Industrial Design MA at Sheffield Institute of Arts. With extensive research and experimentation into product interaction, narrative and handcraft Christopher’s projects provide a deep level of emotional engagement resulting in unique product outcomes.
christopherjbarr.weebly.com
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Crow & Dunnage Established in 2010 in Sheffield, Crow & Dunnage was formed by two young aspiring printers. Over the past two years their interests and skills have grown, drawing inspiration from Britain’s industrial background. Combining traditional craftsmanship with modern methods and materials they design and
make products built to the highest standard and intended for a lifetime of use. Operating from an old cutlery factory in the heart of Sheffield, Crow & Dunnage manufacture, by hand, products only made from ethically and ecologically sound materials produced in the British Isles outsourcing as little as possible to maintain complete creative and manufacturing control.
How would you describe your work? Our work is a combination of textile screen printing, mostly t-shirts for other people and making leather and canvas goods of our own design. Where do you get your inspiration from? For the products most of it comes from what’s important. They’re designed to be practical obviously so that’s the main thing but sometimes it might be the proportions or colour of something we’ve seen that we like. Maybe a neat piece of architecture or a feature on a car. What does your typical working day look like? In the colder parts of the year we spend much of the day trying to defrost our hands and feet in front of an electric heater. But other than that it’s just exposing screens and printing and slowly but surely assembling products.
crowanddunnage.com
“The shape is laser cut out, including all the stitch holes and etching.We then round of the edges, burnish and paint them.” We like your attention to detail and the processes you use in the making of your products. Could you take us thorough the stages and processes involved in the creation of your wallets? The shape is laser cut out, including all the stitch holes and etching. We then round off the edges, burnish and paint them. Then we fold it up and hand stitch it together. Then just a last clean and polish and box it up. What would be your dream project? Buying, restoring and running a Heidelberg Platen press would be pretty good. Designing and making a car would be fun too. What are you currently working on? We’re starting poster printing, which should be good and prototyping some new products like a holdall and a belt.
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“A Field frameset is the combination of the unique skill-sets of the contributors a maker, a painter, a graphic designer and an engineer.” Who or what inspired you to become a designer/maker? I think I have always done it - my Mum said she couldn’t remember a time when I was not in the middle of making something. It started with Lego and carried on from there. I would see something then go home and make it. If an object appeals to me I rarely think in terms of how to own one - I think about how I can make one. How would you describe your work? A Field frameset is the combination of the unique skill-sets of the contributors - a maker, a painter, a graphic designer and an engineer - we work together with a shared passion that treats the fabrication of a bicycle as an exploration of craft, aesthetics and function. Please describe your studio. We are based in an old scalpel blade factory in Sheffield - our spray booth is built from the old air tight ‘clean room’ they would package the scalpels up in. It’s a fantastic workshop with plenty of light and space.
What piece of work are you most pleased or proud of, and why? I am just really proud of where we have managed to get to with Field Cycles. A few years ago it was an idea in my head now we have satisfied customers riding Field’s all over the world – from winning races to simply enjoying riding their bike. What is the most satisfying part of the work you do? I think it’s the opportunity to work with really talented people and passionate customers. It’s this alliance that I find most satisfying. The bicycle is the perfect object to engage people - it’s like catnip to creative, energetic types. What would be your dream project? I am in the process of developing a project that is based on the Exquisite Corpse drawing game. I want to apply the strategy to the separate parts of a frameset. The various parts will be split up - the frame, forks, handlebars and saddle will be offered to individuals to generate a paint design. The individual contributors will have no contact with each other and the final reveal will be when the bike is re-assembled. I want to do an Exquisite Corpse Bike every year - to develop a body of work that is slightly out of control but will generate unpredictable surprising results. I love to collaborate - you zig when you would normally zag.
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Field Cycles What are you currently working on? We are always steadily working on bikes for customers, but alongside that we are continually refining what we do in terms of fabrication and the engineered and aesthetic details we build into our bicycles. When you’re not working what do you like to do? We have just had a baby boy called Frank - he is a fantastic distraction from work - and I get out on my bike or for a run when I can. What does the north of England mean to you? I enjoy the underdog status of the North. It puts its energy in to making remarkable things, rather than talking remarkably about things. Sheffield is an incredible city to be a maker in; its pioneering industrial heritage and tradition generates a collective confidence and a constant source of inspiration, that why Sheffield is full of creative, energetic people.
Field Cycles is a collaboration between a group of friends from various craft, design and engineering disciplines. The unique skillsets of the contributors - a maker, a painter, a graphic designer and an engineer - have come together in a shared passion that treats the fabrication of a bicycle as an exploration of craft, aesthetics and function. The partnership was developed out of a common pursuit for a hand built bicycle frame with a return to artisan craftsmanship, and a shared obsession with the bespoke production process.
fieldcycles.com
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Mamnick Mamnick ( pronounced ‘Mam’-’Nick’) is the road that leaves Hope valley and begins its steady ascent of Mam Tor, deep within the splendour of the Peak District. ‘The Peaks’ are one of the most picturesque locations in Britain. Mamnick is a brand inspired by these scenes, on the door-step of where their manufacturing takes place. Founder of Mamnick, Thomas Barnett believes in the phrase “Do one thing at a time, as beautifully as possible”. The brand creates fashion and accessories.
mamnick.com
Who or what inspired you to become a designer/maker? I studied fine art in Sheffield and I’ve always been a creative person and always followed and had a keen interest in art, graphics, music and clothing. I don’t think I could put my finger on one particular designer / artist that has inspired me. I’ve always just thought that there is a visual language that speaks to people and I’ve always been interested in speaking that language. How would you describe your work? Classic, undatable, simple. With the materials and makers taking a more prominent role in the product rather than the branding itself. Please describe your studio. My studio is a small room in an old steel works. It’s more a showroom / sorting office used for storage mainly. Some of my customers have recently started to come and visit me to see new products too. Maybe it will change into more of a hiddenshop before too long.
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“Classic, undatable, simple. Design with materials and makers taking a more prominent role in the product rather than the branding itself.”
What piece of work are you most pleased or proud of, and why? I like the Eyam cape that I worked on with 6876. It was a real breakthrough for me as I’ve always been really interested in the outwear and jackets and always been a fan of what Kenneth (6876) does. The chip-fork too, as it’s been really popular and simple. I like it when design isn’t over complicated. What is the most satisfying part of the work you do? Being able to be creative on a day-today basis and the fact that my time is my own, nothing ever really feels like a chore. What would be your dream project? I’d really like to do something with Paul Smith. I’m not really someone who has major goals or dreams but I’ve always liked what PS does and it would be great to one day do something collaboratively with the brand. What are you currently working on? Two pieces of outwear for AW14. One being the ‘Stanage’ goose-down jacket and the other being the ‘Edale’ smock. I’m excited about both pieces as again, I love outwear and it’s nice to finally be doing two pieces in this, our first real autumn/winter season.
When you’re not working what do you like to do? Cycling. I tend to spend a lot of time on my bike in the Peak District which I also manage to feed into my brand too. What does the north of England mean to you? It’s part of who I am and where I work. It’s where all my friends are, where my family has worked and where I live. I’ve never felt compelled to move away from it but it also gives me the freedom to go on holidays. It has real manufacturing heritage that I intend to draw on when continuing to develop Mamnick.
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“The aim of the project is to enable skiers more freedom of movement around the mountain both on and off the slope. The real goal of the project was to re-invent the social skier.” Your work was popular at New Designers can you tell us more about the projects you showed their? The Alpine ski boot is a two-part design consisting of a ridged moulded outer chassis and flexible leather wrapped inner boot. The aim of the project is to enable skiers more freedom of movement around the mountain both on and off the slope. What inspired you to make the ski boot? Whilst skiing in the French Alps earlier this year I was shocked by how heavy and difficult moving around in traditional ski boots has become. The forever technically advancing and changing shells have compromised comfort for sheer performance. The real goal of the project was to re-invent the social skier, giving them back the comfort and enjoyment of being out on the mountain all day.
Can you outline how the product is made – what materials or techniques are used? The outer shell is a low volume batch production moulded from a bio-based TPE, Pebax. Built for highly demanding applications it has incredible flexural strength, even when subjected to low temperatures. The softer inner boot is built in a similar way to a hiking boot; employing age-old technologies. The inner boot is handcrafted from the finest quality calf leather and built to last. What is its target audience? Professional skiers demand the most technical equipment, but what about those consumers that don’t need the next technological development or marketing gimic? Being comfortable whilst on the slopes (or in the bar) is important. The average skier spends around 20 hours on the slopes; the rest of the time, well it’s a holiday, what do you expect? The Alpine consumer choses the good life, a socialite with an eye for fashion who respects the Après as much as the slope.
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Matthew McMorran What comes next? After graduating University with a first class honours I was given the chance to exhibit some of my work at the graduate exhibition showcase, New Designers. During the exhibition I was awarded a Design Excellence award by London based brand management company Pentland. I have recently begun an internship at Pentland and am currently working on a project with British outdoor company Berghaus. As well as working for Pentland I have also founded a fashion label, Nocturnal Thread and currently design and manage all aspects. The company currently sells unisex, screen printed t-shirts through its online store www. nocturnalthread.com In the future I would like the opportunity to design and develop products that have a value to the consumer. Products that use the materials in an honest way, where functionality is almost hidden and the user understands the product from the very first time they pick it up.
nocturnalthread.com
Matthew McMorran recently graduated from Sheffield Hallam University Institute of Arts, studying Product Design. He won The New Designers Pentland Award for his designs for a twopiece Alpine ski boot, see images below. Matthew says “I take inspiration from the people and experiences around me, each one offering a different direction, each time furthering my design process. Pushing boundaries and thinking outside the ‘conventional’ has led me to more developed and refined outcomes”.
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Psalt Psalt Design are a Sheffield based studio which specialise in the design and manufacture of furniture and interior products. Working from a city with such a rich history in manufacturing, David Powell, Richard Bell and Tom McKeown are able to take advantage of the wealth of skills on their doorstep. All products by Psalt Design are made in Great Britain and one of the studio’s main aims is to source materials from sustainable and local suppliers.
psaltdesign.co.uk
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“We try to get into the studio as early as possible for a cup of tea and to have a chat through what needs to be achieved so we can make the most of each day.” Who or what inspired you to become designers? Having a general interest in materials, process and being inquisitive about how things work has always been something that all three of us are interested in. Design combines all of these aspects and has always continued to intrigue us. We all have degrees in Design and we find having the opportunity to make beautiful objects for people as a job very satisfying. Who or what inspires you? Ideas for projects can come from anywhere and it seems more important to be in the right frame of mind than anything else. We take a lot of inspiration from industrial design and are always keen on exploring the skills of local craftsmen throughout the design process. Some other designers that inspire us include Thomas Heatherwick, Konstantin Grcic and Max Lamb. All of these create stunning work that is well considered and has a great emphasis on process. How would you describe your work? We are a furniture & product design studio that specialises in creating contemporary, well-crafted and desirable products that are all made in Great Britain. All of our products take inspiration from process, material and form and we try to work on concepts that intrigue us. We use materials that are sourced responsibly and
try to work alongside skilled individuals in their respective fields as much as possible to create the best end product. What does your typical working day look like? We try to get into the studio as early as possible for a cup of tea and have a chat through what needs to be achieved so we can make the most of each day. We have a monthly planner, which helps keep us organised, and we work quite closely to that. On the list things range from concept development and prototype manufacture, right through to packaging ideas for the products, website development and searching for potential stockists. If you weren’t designers what would you be? We all share a great interest in art & design and have done for a long time now. If we weren’t actively designing I think we would still be working within the design specialism to some extent. Maybe in the art, graphics, branding or fashion sectors. What is the most satisfying part of the work you do, and why? It is always exciting to see an idea develop over a period of time from an initial sketch or conversation we have had into a range of prototypes before eventually becoming a final product that people want to spend their money on. As we are very involved through the whole process, it’s a great feeling to see that people all over the
world have wanted to buy these products and put them in their homes. We also really enjoy the exhibitions and shows we attend showing off our work. It is always great to speak to people about our work and we have met some amazing contacts through this. What would be your dream project? It would be great to collaborate with a well-respected manufacturer such as ‘Vitra’ so that we could utilise their facilities and capabilities. This would be a new challenge for us but also an opportunity to design and manufacture to a different scale which would be a great experience. What does the north of England mean to you? Working from Sheffield, a city with such a rich history in manufacture has been great and allowed us to design and manufacture the majority of our products within a relatively small radius. This has been beneficial as we are able to interact closely during the development and manufacturing stages of a project, creating a better end solution and final product.
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Rebecca Joselyn
Keith Tyssen
Rebecca Joselyn is an award-winning silversmith whose striking work has been featured in many national magazines including the Sunday Times, the Telegraph and the Financial Times. Rebecca has also sold her work on Channel 4’s Four Rooms programme. She studied jewellery design in Sheffield during which her interest in silversmithing grew. She completed the silversmith starter programme with Yorkshire Artspace and now has her own studio at Persistence Works.
designsinsilver.co.uk
In Rebecca’s Packaging Collection she draws her inspiration from our hectic lifestyles of convenience and throwaway culture, looking at the materials we take for granted and discard from day to day. Her tableware questions how using different materials can change our views on objects and their acceptance within society. In the People Collection, Rebecca plays around with obvious everyday objects, such as the simple shape of a plate or bowl; she then incorporates castings of small-scale people to these, producing miniature everyday scenes on life size everyday objects.
Keith Tyssen’s design and metalwork combines quiet originality with a lighthearted and elegant style, fine quality manufacture and attention to the client’s wishes. He works in silver and other metals including pewter and shows a wide variety of commissioned pieces for civic, ceremonial and religious institutions, universities, companies, museums and for private collectors in many parts of the world.
keithtyssen.co.uk
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Keith Tyssen is a designer/maker of contemporary silverwork. He has been creating elegant silverwork in the workshop he opened in Sheffield in 1963. His current studio/workshop is at Persistence Works, in Sheffield. The Goldsmiths’ Company commissioned his prize winning entry in the Topham Trophy Design Competition in 1966, to add to their Modern Plate Collection and over the years Keith has made further significant pieces commissioned by or via The Goldsmiths’ Company as gifts of contemporary silverwork for Universities, Colleges and for The Church through their policy of encouraging others and benefactors to commission pieces of suitably modern design in silver. In 1968 he was made a Freeman and in 1984 a Liveryman of the Goldsmiths’ Company. In 1990, at London’s ‘Top Drawer’ Show (then at Crystal Palace), Keith exhibited his first double-skin Bowl in modern-pewter. It won the Award for ‘Best New Product’ over the whole show. This piece together with a later and slightly larger bowl, also in pewter, were purchased by the V&A Museum for the permanent collection.
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MADE NORTH Design Platform
“Making has always been at the heart of what we do and we love finding new techniques to try and new things to play with.”
TADO Mike and Katie make up the design duo better known to the world as TADO. This pint-sized creative powerhouse has produced an endless list of darkly adorable characters, artwork and projects that have terrorized and delighted individuals and clients worldwide for over a decade. Everything they do is produced in total collaboration – whether it be taking turns in drawing, painting, drilling, glueing, scribbling or clicking. Mike and Katie have exhibited their artwork internationally with several extremely successful solo shows and large scale sculpture installations. tado.co.uk
madenorth.co.uk
Who or what inspired you to become a designer/maker? We’re both 80’s kids who grew up with saturday morning cartoons, action figures and Lego, and making stuff from cardboard boxes and loo rolls. Imagination always had a strong roll in play as kids and later we both discovered the world of comics and animation. This would become a huge inspiration to us and our style of work. We met at uni in 2001 and soon worked out that we might be able to do all this stuff as a ‘job’! Making has always been at the heart of what we do and we love finding new techniques to try and new things to play with. We still use a lot of boxes and loo rolls. How would you describe your work? A mash up of influences plucked from around the world, off the screen and from the strangest corners of the internet. NeoSouthYorks-OtakuPop! Please describe your studio. We work from home in a little Sheffield backwater. Our studio is our attic, and usually a lot of the rest of the house too! Most of our making is done on the dining room table.
What piece of work are you most pleased or proud of, and why? We’re extremely proud of our collaborative work with Nick Hunter, a Sheffield based artist and wood carver. We began working together in 2008 and have since produced very limited numbers of special figures that we sell online or through exhibitions. We love the way we’re able to fuse our contemporary designs with Nick’s incredible craftsmanship. It’s a really lovely process to be part of and we’ve learned a huge amount along the way. What is the most satisfying part of the work you do? We love learning new things. We think that’s the most satisfying part of what we do - continually re-discovering our initial excitement for creating by finding new ways to do stuff. What would be your dream project? We’re pretty lucky to be working on it right now! (more on that in a second). We’d also love to produce a full-on cell animation too. What are you currently working on? We’ve been commissioned by Sanrio to create a stop-motion animation project to celebrate Hello Kitty’s 40th anniversary. It’s truly a dream come true for us.
We’ve said a stopmotion project would be our dream for years now and something we never thought we’d have a chance to do. To be able to do it for such an amazing project is pretty mind-blowing. It’s involved months of work, planning and building a huge set in our basement. The characters themselves are our interpretations of the famous Hello Kitty characters and are made from steel balljointed armatures housed inside carved (by ourselves and Nick!) wooden figures. We’re currently just beginning animating and the finished project will be debuted at a large exhibition in LA at the start of October. It’s been a huge learning curve for us and continues to throw up interesting challenges! We’re having way too much fun and not enough sunlight! When you’re not working what do you like to do? We enjoy being out in the Peak District, be it on our bikes, hiking or climbing. We also like eating chips and collect all things to do with Japanese micro-cars. What does the north of England mean to you? Home and the centre of the universe.
MADE NORTH Design Platform
madenorth.co.uk
“Working on Möbius 1.00 with Outokumpu Stainless Distribution has been an enriching experience. It is not often that a designer is given sustained access to experiment with an industrial process.” Who or what inspired you to become a designer/maker? Whilst studying for an art foundation we had to decide what our specialist area should be. I clearly remember a tutor enthusiastically describing the versatility and enjoyment of working directly with materials and processes to create three dimensional objects. This contagious enthusiasm started me on a journey of discovery which continues to this day. How would you describe your work? The form of my personal work is inspired by mathematical and natural patterns and forms. I design and make work from jewellery-scale up to public art installations. Where are you based? Please describe your studio. I have a small studio at Persistence Works in Sheffield. It is an exploratory space where I can experiment with maquettes, materials and techniques. Alongside the traditional tools of a silversmith, I’m collecting a small group of 3D printers and other CNC machines. What piece of work are you most pleased or proud of, and why? Working on Möbius 1.00 with Outokumpu Stainless Distribution has been an enriching experience.
It is not often that a designer is given sustained access to experiment with an industrial process. I’m really pleased with how the piece has developed, it has helped clarify the direction I’d like my work to take. What is the most satisfying part of the work you do? Striving to do something well. What would be your dream project? I’d love to have an opportunity to work with an architect to design a building. What are you currently working on? I am designing and making domesticscale objects that echo elements of the design and manufacture process that developed through the production of Möbius 1.00. When you’re not working what do you like to do? I’m attempting to rescue an allotment from the ravages of knotweed. To relax I don’t think there is anything finer than going for a long walk in the Peak District. What does the north of England mean to you? Skilled industry, knowledge and a willingness to share those attributes and help other people out.
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Owen Waterhouse Owen Waterhouse is a designer, silversmith and public artist based at Persistence Works in Sheffield, UK. After graduation from the Metalwork & Jewellery department at Sheffield Hallam University, Owen established his business through the Silversmithing Starter Studio Programme at Yorkshire Artspace working on commissions for, amongst others, The Sheffield Assay Office, The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire, Sheffield City Council, English Heritage and Doncaster Racecourse.
Between 2007 and 2010 he returned to education to study for an MA Design exploring the application of combining new technologies with heritage craft skills. Owen now focuses on collaborative projects, working across disciplines and materials producing work ranging from small scale domestic objects, through sculpture to large scale commercial and community based public art.
owenwaterhouse.co.uk
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MADE NORTH Design Platform
Lianne Mellor Lianne strives to produce products that are not only beautiful, but are also functional for everyday use. Her influences are deeply rooted in the quintessentially British past times of afternoon teas, garden parties and quirky dances. The simplicity of Lianne’s watercolours allows the viewer to create their own narrative for the characters in a collection that is both timeless and contemporary. She sells internationally and across the UK including Liberty’s.
mellorware.co.uk
Who or what inspired you to become a designer/maker? My Nana taught me how to use watercolours when I was little. My Dad was always making up stories & my family encouraged my imagination by allowing the inanimate things surrounding me to “talk back” to me. It’s my childhood & fondness for storytelling that inspired me to illustrate. How would you describe your work? Useful things that tell stories Please describe your studio. I have a studio at Exchange Place Studios in Sheffield. I inhabit a light, airy & spacious studio on the top floor. It’s filled with my kilns, piles of illustrations, sample products, paper maché animals. I have a little corner that I like to hem myself into with objects, it’s a sort of office/den/ hedgehog house. There are lists & spider diagrams on the walls, makeshift photo booths & my Nana’s old watercolour paints. It probably looks pretty chaotic to an outsider.
madenorth.co.uk
“My family encouraged my imagination by allowing the inanimate things surrounding me to ‘talk back’ to me.”
What piece of work are you most pleased or proud of, and why? My range of mugs. They are the things that get purchased most often & I get a great thrill thinking about all the appreciative mouths of my customers taking sips of their favourite hot drink while my illustrations momentarily take them to another place. What is the most satisfying part of the work you do? Hearing back from my customers about how my products have become part of their daily rituals & brighten up their day. When I sell face-to-face I love watching peoples mouths curl up into a smile as they create their own narratives for the characters. What would be your dream project? Having the opportunity to create a range especially for someone, be it an individual or a company is always exciting. I like to see my illustrations applied in ways I haven’t yet thought of, but illustrating a book would be a dream come true.
What are you currently working on? I’m working on some collaborations with other British companies & also starting some new designs for release early next year. When you’re not working what do you like to do? I ride my road bike out into the Peak District, I’ve learnt to love the hills and can happily spend hours riding around & admiring the beautiful landscapes that I get to call my back garden. What does the north of England mean to you? Everything. I couldn’t do what I do, or be who I am anywhere else.
MADE NORTH Design Platform
madenorth.co.uk
“Since February I’ve been working with a Lancashire mill to produce a custom woven British sustainable fabric. I am currently producing bespoke furniture to compliment this collection.” Who or what inspired you to become a designer/maker? I inherited my love of design and pattern from my mum who always collected interesting pieces of ceramics and furniture. My real love was fabric and so I started collecting printed cottons, building up a large collection of vintage fabrics. After graduating I became increasingly aware of the lack of a sustainable choice for interior fabrics. I also couldn’t find the types of prints I wanted to use so I decided that I could make a difference, starting small and building an organic and sustainable fabric design and printing business. How would you describe your work? I like to design bold patterns that are strongly influenced by mid century style and colour plays a pivotal role in my work. The contrasting combinations of colours on a print can intensely change the nature of the pattern. Where are you based? Please describe your studio. I’m based at Persistence Works, part of the Yorkshire Artspace studios in Sheffield. I have a lovely bright studio with lots of natural light and a space just large enough to fit in my 8 metre printing table. My studio is my second home so I try to make it an inspiring and comfortable place to be.
What piece of work are you most pleased or proud of, and why? It’s always the latest work I’ve been doing so at the moment that’s my latest ‘British woven’ collection. I always strive continuously to improve what I am offering to my customers and hope to improve my work with each new collection. What is the most satisfying part of the work you do? I love being able to do my dream job every day of the week. It means a lot that I can produce sustainable fabric and offer a real alternative to mass produced printed fabrics. I also enjoy collaborative work with other skilled craftspeople such as upholsterers, who can create items which enrich and enhance our environment. What would be your dream project? I’ve just completed my first dream project which was to commission some British woven sustainable cloth, I’d like to develop this further with research into British woven hemp fabrics and how I can use those in my work.
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Sarah Waterhouse What are you currently working on? Since February I’ve been working with a Lancashire mill to produce a custom woven British sustainable fabric. I’ve just released a new set of colour ways using this fabric and featuring a selection of my most popular designs for AW14. I am currently producing bespoke furniture to compliment this collection. When you’re not working what do you like to do? I have lots of hobbies but unfortunately not enough time to dedicate to them. I especially love clothes-making, knitting, reading, gardening and of course spending time with my husband and my rescue pug Etty. What does the north of England mean to you? The North is where I was born so it’s my home and where I feel happiest.
Sarah Waterhouse is an environmentally conscious textile design and printing company, specialising in hand printed sustainable fabrics. Original designs are printed on to hemp and organic cotton fabrics using organic inks. The company was established in 2007 and is run by Sarah Waterhouse, who designs and prints every piece of fabric by hand from her studio at Yorkshire Artspace in Sheffield, England.
sarahwaterhouse.co.uk
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MADE NORTH Design Platform
madenorth.co.uk
“Promoting provenance, industry, personality and craft of northern design and manufacture explicit in the a range of products. Creating new maker networks and linking with localised manufacture. Patrick Murphy, Director, MADE NORTH
Northern Industrial Project The Northern Industrial project explores creating a range of affordable objects, furniture and fashion that convey a sense of ‘northern-ness’. This can be through choice of materials or way of manufacture. We want the whole collection, from design to manufacture, to be MADE in the NORTH. The first collection from the Northern Industrial project will be called ‘New Tradition’.
Northern Tea Service by Joseph Hartley The first product from the Northern Industrial project is a Tea Service designed and made by Manchester based ceramicist Joseph Hartley. Joseph won New Designers two years ago with his ceramic range called ‘Makery’ for baking bread. We have collaborated with Joseph to create a very industrious looking tea service. The set includes teapot, cups and saucers and suger bowl. Taking references and inspiration from northern brick built chimneys from the industrial revolution era to the mechanisms of stacking the various items who’s story is revealed in the process of making a brew.
New Tradition Collection We are looking to establish a collection of 10-12 pieces of furniture, objects and fashion that during that we will work with a range of designer/makers and manufacturers to take to a prototype stage and then subsequently tour and promote at major design festivals. We would like to see explorations of a northern identity through objects, furniture and fashion; also considerations of sustainability, up-cycling, future use and promoting a return to local/ regional production. At the heart of the project is a desire to have products designed, made and purchased in close proximity, promoting and creating new networks and markets for designers and local manufacturers. The items in the collection should be ‘useful’ and commercially viable, eg:, seating, tables, lights, shelves, accessories , clothing, etc.
Northern Aesthetic Can the north of England create/ develop a geographical design style similar to regionalised styles of Swedish, Danish design? Is there a ‘northern’ English aesthetic? We believe there is and MADE NORTH through the Northern Industrial project sets out to find, encourage and promote it! Both the Danish and Swedish design styles developed in 20th century using new industrial technologies, combined with ideas of simplicity and functionalism in the design of household objects furniture and buildings. We would like the New Tradition Collection to contain beautiful and functional everyday objects that are also affordable. It will be a body of work that resonates with the qualities of a region and the talent of northern based designers.
MADE NORTH exhibits and retails a carefully curated selection of high-end new and experimental design and craft from the finest established and emerging designer/makers from the north of England. MADE NORTH aims to take all that is positive and accepted about the north of England – industry, honesty and innovation – and give it a combined brand, voice and outlet.
Discover more at madenorthstore.co.uk Featuring a selection of contemporary northern design & craft.