SHEFFIELD furniture designer Dan Schofield is at the top table – after picking up a national design award.
The 26-year-old won first prize in the furniture category of the New Design Britain Awards for his innovative Shifty desk, which features a hidden drawer.
Competition judges felt Dan’s work had ‘huge commercial potential’ and highlighted innovative and ground-breaking ideas.
His award was presented at the annual Interiors UK event, which forecasts trends in the furniture business.
Dan, a carpenter by training, turned to Sheffield Hallam University to develop his sustainable furniture design company, graduating with a first class degree in 2011.
He set up his business at the university’s Hatchery incubator, which provides young entrepreneurs with a low-risk environment to set up their company.
Since then orders for his sustainable, ‘added value’ furniture have come in from the Far East and Portugal and he has exhibited his creations at London Designers’ Week.
Dan is also selling his designs at Made North’s design shop at Yorkshire Art Space on Shoreham Street, Sheffield. His other pieces include Coat Eggs, which come complete in their own egg box and are used as an alternative to clothing pegs, and What A Corker, a soft and pliable cork mirror which is contemporary and eco-friendly.
Dan, who is currently working on new designs, said: “It’s incredible to have my work recognised in this way by other industry professionals.
“The exposure these awards can give my products will be vital to the continuing growth of my business.
“I’ve been using the Hatchery at the university for more than six months, which has enabled me to get my business off the ground.”
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