The Design Guild Mark is a non-profit award programme that was established in 2008 by The Furniture Makers’ Company to raise the profile of British industrial design and to recognise excellence in this discipline. Over time the Mark has grown from just Furniture to include categories for Interior Design Elements, and Lighting.

The presentation took place at Humanscale during Clerkenwell Design Week on 21 May at 11am, with presentations by Deyan Sudjic OBE, a British writer and broadcaster and former director of the Design Museum, London.

In addition, three of the awarded winners have received the Jonathan Hindle Prize for outstanding design, each receive a trophy made from solid surface Corian, and a £1,000 cash prize.

Jonathan Hindle, Founder of DGM and President of KI, EMEA:
“As the Founder of Design Guild Mark, it has been a joy to watch it develop and progress now being widely recognised as a stamp of design excellence in the sector. Sustainability has always been an important factor for the awards but I am glad to see now that is the priority, and evident in the judges selection.”

Rodney McMahon, chairman of the Design Guild Mark:
“Meeting the applicants, hearing their design journey, and witnessing the friendly but insightful and probing questions of the judges is an enjoyable design master class. Designers should apply for the Design Guild Mark just for the experience of meeting the judges.”

The Design Guild Mark is unique and applicants are required to present their actual piece in person to the esteemed judging panel, to allow for a dialogue and any questions to take place. The panel of independent judges are world leaders in their field and bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the evaluation process.