Best British Design 2009
Fredrikson Stallard
‘Hyde’ chair for Bernhardt Design
Patrik Fredrikson and Ian Stallard’s first mass-production piece produced for US brand Bernhardt Design, this sleek leather and walnut lounge chair features a back rest that can be upholstered in matching or contrasting colours.
Best British Design 2009
Kay + Stemmer
‘Cedric’ desk for SCP
Sarah Kay and Andrea Stemmer trained as furniture makers at Parnham College in Dorset. Their cabinetry skills come to the fore in this slender walnut desk, whose lustrous chocolate-brown leather top recalls traditional study furniture. It's a flawless mix of traditional and modern.
Best British Design 2009
Steve Watson
‘Prop’ table lamp
London-based, Australian-born talent Steve Watson created his propeller-shaped lamp with the environment in mind – it’s laser cut from a single acrylic sheet before being moulded to ensure minimum wastage. It also has a low-energy light source. In fact, the only thing it’s not low on is style!
Best British Design 2009
Russell Pinch
‘Vigo’ triple shelving unit for Pinch Design
An inspired update of Fifties Modernist shelving, this elegant storage unit-meets-room divider by Russell Pinch teams wood with white (so on-trend!) and bright back-panels. It’s the best clutter-busting piece of furniture we’ve seen in ages.
Best British Design 2009
Benjamin Hubert
‘Heavy’ desk lamp for Decode London
Who knew that concrete could be so elegant? Benjamin Hubert created a range of concrete pendant lamps for Decode London in 2008 and he has now expanded the range with a desk and wall version. In his hands this industrial material has a porcelain-like beauty.
Best British Design 2009
David Chipperfield
‘Tonale’ tableware for Alessi
Architect David Chipperfield's tableware for Alessi is as quietly beautiful as his buildings. Consisting of multi-functional stoneware beakers, bowls and plates in matt pastel glazes, plus glassware, a wooden platter and an enamelled metal tray, it's modern minimalism at its best.
Best British Design 2009
Freshwest Design
‘Brave New World’ floor lamp for Moooi
This 180cm-high lamp by Wales-based Freshwest (aka Marcus Beck and Simon Macro) is put together with mathematical precision. Each oak section is fitted together with notches and pegs, while two cast-iron counterweights enable its Anglepoise-like movement.
Best British Design 2009
Matthew Hilton
‘Oscar’ sofa for SCP
Brit stalwart Matthew Hilton’s new sofa design is just right for the current mood – classically good-looking with comfy feather cushions, it’s an investment piece you’ll love for ever. It’s made in the traditional way with a hardwood frame, animal hair stuffing and jute webbing.
Best British Design 2009
Tom Dixon
‘Pressed Glass’ lights
Tom Dixon has a passion for simple, durable industrial materials and, this year, he has turned to pressed glass. Heavier and more irregular than other forms of glass, it casts a subtle light, while the ridged shapes of his ‘Tube’, ‘Lens’ and ‘Bowl’ pendants accentuate the material’s humble quality.
Best British Design 2009
Michael Sodeau
‘Anything’ stationery
These accessories, produced with Japanese brand Suikosha, are a response to the changing landscape of our desks. Each piece is designed specifically to work alongside computers, with graphic shapes that take up little space and bright colours to help you find things easily.
Best British Design 2009
James Irvine
Bentwood chair for Muji
The result of a collaboration between James Irvine, German brand Thonet and Japanese utility store Muji, this pared-down chair is a contemporary take on Thonet’s bentwood chair of 1859. Available in natural or dark beech, it boasts timeless good looks and supreme functionality.
Best British Design 2009
Reiko Kaneko
‘Ovangkol’ table
A British-Japanese designer who lives and works in London, Reiko Kaneko is known for the humorous touches in her designs. This table, which is made of ovangkol, a tropical African hardwood, appears almost to float in mid air, thanks to cast resin sections on its legs.
Best British Design 2009
Mark Holmes
Table and desk accessories for Minimalux
Mark Holmes, ex-design director and co-founder of Established & Sons, branched out this year by launching his own brand Minimalux. Its first collection is a timeless range of table vessels and desk accessories (think salt cellars and pen holders) plated in silver and 24-carat gold.
Best British Design 2009
PearsonLloyd
‘Peggy’ table for SCP
After 11 years working at the forefront of furniture and product design, 2009 sees Luke Pearson and Tom Lloyd's very first collaboration with UK retailer SCP. With its perfectly angled legs, the refined, solid ash 'Peggy' table is a lesson in subtle simplicity.
Best British Design 2009
Michael Young
‘w094t’ table lamp for Wästberg
Following in the footsteps of Ilse Crawford and James Irvine, Young is the latest Brit designer to team up with Swedish brand Wästberg. His golden desk light is a feat of engineering – each of the three star-shaped sections pivots 360 degrees, allowing for truly flexible illumination.
Best British Design 2009
Peter Marigold
‘Sum’ shelving for SCP
Rising star Peter Marigold came to our attention with his creative storage and display systems. No surprise then that his first piece for SCP is this wonderfully wonky shelving system in cherry, which can be slotted together to fill any wall space. It forms part of the Brit brand’s carry-home ‘Boxed’ collection.
Best British Design 2009
Julian Teed
‘Liquid’ tableware for Portmeirion
Despite celebrating its 50th anniversary next year, iconic Welsh brand Portmeirion is still very much of the moment thanks to its more modern designs, including the elegant ‘Liquid’ collection of porcelain by creative director Julian Teed.
Best British Design 2009
Donna Wilson
‘Mabel’ sofa for SCP
Brightly coloured, patterned and super cosy – it has to be the latest design from textile queen Donna Wilson. Her second large upholstered piece for SCP has cute beech legs and a retro Scandi feel. And with four of the plumpest feather cushions we’ve come across, it’s the nearest a sofa gets to a hug!
Best British Design 2009
ChauhanStudio
‘Lula’ kitchen accessories for Habitat
Brothers Tej and Sach Chauhan have done it again! Having wowed us last year with their space-age gadgets, this year saw them move into homewares. With items from spatulas and spoons to colanders and a pod-like bread bin, kitchen kit has rarely looked this good.
Best British Design 2009
Viable London
‘Milton’ range for Habitat
Sophisticated and desirable, Viable London’s new pieces have been conceived with modern living in mind. The streamlined proportions of the ‘Milton’ range (console table shown) make it ideal for small urban spaces, while a contrasting high-gloss lacquer and oak finish provides impact.
Best British Design 2009
Industrial Facility
‘Jersey’ dishes
With their graphic prints inside of savoury or sweet nibbles, these porcelain dish sets from Industrial Facility (aka Sam Hecht and Kim Colin) are bound to have your mouth watering. What’s more, they’re flexible enough to go from freezer or oven straight to the table. Genius!