Makers' Eye, the online gallery of bespoke designs by leading independent furniture makers, has been recognised with a prestigious Design Guild Mark 2015 for its impressive St Hugh’s solid oak two drawer desk at an awards evening recently.
Designers Simon Pirie and Tony Portus were commissioned by the Dickson Poon China Centre Building at St. Hugh’s College and they drew on the subtle Oriental influence of the college architecture to create the piece.
The St Hugh’s desk, light and elegant in appearance with an economy and purity of line associated with classic Chinese furniture, is sturdy enough to withstand the wear and tear of student work life but attractive in colour and grain to complement its environment.
Handmade with careful attention to proportion and detail, the piece is made from solid oak with drawers expertly sitting on full extension runners to allow full access.
The studio, co-founded by designer-maker Tony Portus and designgallery owner Ross Fenn, was awarded the accolade for excellence in four fields - design, the use of materials, manufacture and function.
Tony Portus described the win: “We are delighted to have been recognised by such an eminent panel of experts from the design industry. We pride ourselves on working with the most adventurous and skillful independent furniture makers in the UK and this win is a nod to each and every one of them.”
Commissioned by St Hugh’s college in November 2013, Makers’ Eye set out to create a range of distinctive contemporary furniture (two desks, a folding dining/study table, a low table design and a wall hanging library storage unit) for the building’s public spaces and 63 bedrooms, a collection of almost 200 pieces.
Available in a choice of timbers, dimensions and finishes to order, the St Hugh’s two drawer desk is exclusive to Makers’ Eye and priced at £2495.
