out and about :: cass degree show - confessions of a design geek

This article was published 12 years

The Sir John Cass Faculty of Art Architecture and Design, part of London Metropolitan University, or The Cass, as it is more affectionately known, opened its doors to showcase the final projects of its graduating students and I went along to take a look.

From left to right, top to bottom, here’s what caught my eye:

I’m always impressed when I see work at degree shows that has already been exhibited elsewhere. I spotted Alejandra Tellez Pfeffer’s Ensuenos Lounge Chair at designersblock in Milan back in April and it has since appeared at Clerkenwell Design Week. It’s designed for the Columbian hotel market, made from hemp fibre and a powder-coated mild steel frame and inspired by the vibrant colours of Central America.
The Cabinet below was made from walnut and mild steel by Tim Summers as part of his FdA Furniture – a two year vocational course.
The twisted legged shelves are by Charles Mugisha who won the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers Final Year Award for his demonstration of technical skill.
I loved the yellow legs and slightly anthropomorphic quality of Narinda Minaar’s cherry wood cabinet. Narinda is graduating with a BA in Furniture and Product Design.
Rebecca Cannon’s oak and mild steel cabinet is the final project from her FdA Furniture Design.
Jethrow Rayner’s Compound Mitre Lamp was designed in response to a brief from Heal’s to create something that suits a particular manufacturing process, and in this case it was designed around the angles of the mitre joint.
Poly-Stool is part of Alisa Malachovic’s second year project, Collaborative Consumption, investigating how people could work with designers to re-use non-recyclable materials. It is made from polystyrene, polyurethane and pigment.
The gorgeous red chair by Lindsay Booth won first prize from the Worshipful Company of Upholsterers.
Jodie Watts describes her Llama Occasional Table as “high on function and sweet on style.” It is made from solid ash and elm by Benchmark.
I also spotted Ned Abbott’s Wasp Chairs at Clerkenwell Design Week. They were inspired by Zaha Hadid’s Olympic Aquatic Centre and the iconic Little Chef on the A1 by the late Sam Scorer. It’s made from 22 interlocking components.
And finally, I couldn’t resist snapping a little bit of grey and yellow on the way out!