The ISOS PROJECT
Designers Collaborate to Challenge the UK Furniture Industry
What is the ISOS Project?
The ISOS Project is launched by Furniture Works and Furniture Link to raise the profile of the UK’s design and manufacturing capabilities in the domestic market. Recognising that designers, manufacturers and retailers have an equally vital role to play in setting the design agenda, ISOS aims to use home grown creative talent and manufacturing know-how to bring quality contemporary furniture to High Streets nationwide.
The project will explore exciting design and innovative manufacturing processes, using sixteen carefully selected designers matched with eight manufacturers. The end result will be sixteen cutting edge products which, it is hoped, will find their way into mid market furniture shops and department stores, as well as high-end interior stores.
A high profile advisory panel of leading retail buyers and media is already in place.
The ISOS Exhibition
The ISOS Project will culminate in the ISOS Exhibition at ‘Collection’, the new contemporary hall within the Furniture Show at the NEC, 23-26 January. The ISOS exhibition will then relocate to Furniture Works in London, allowing retailers and contract buyers ample opportunity to source the best of UK design and manufacture, taking it to the heart of the British retail trade.
Leading designers Shin and Tomoko Azumi are working on a major feature stand for the new ISOS Collection furniture brand in Collection
The ISOS Collection
The project will continue to assist manufacturers beyond the two shows, through the promotion of the “ISOS Collection” which, it is planned, will develop into a marketing company for London furniture manufacturers.
Innovation
The ISOS Project aims to bring innovation in materials and processes to the furniture industry. Four “Innovation sponsors” are providing materials and expertise to drive product innovation:
Sapa Extrusions Ltd - Manufacturers of aluminium extrusions
Furniform Ltd - Manufacturers of moulded upholstery components
Reholz Gmbh - Manufacturers of “3D Veneer”
Formica Ltd – Manufacturers of a wide range of laminates and surfacing products
The Designer / Manufacturer teams
Rose Cobb - designer
Rock Galpin - designer
Pekalp - manufacturer
The Brief: To develop a “contemporary” classic sofa system comprising of a variety of configurations including single, double sided and corner units. The system will make innovative use of cold-cure foam.
The Market: Mid to high-end domestic and contract use including hotels and hospitality.
Rose Cobb: “It’s great to be involved with Furniture Works and the ISOS Project, as I think that building relationships between manufacturers and designers is really important to the growth of the industry. It’s frustrating, as a designer, to have ideas, which you can’t produce yourself. The prospect of a manufacturer taking on these ideas is very exciting”.
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Paul Brady and Thomas Modeen (Small Architecture) - designers
Tony Wills and Brian Watson (Wills Watson Associates) - designers
Instrument Glasses - manufacturer
The Brief: To develop ranges of storage and desking combining glass and aluminium extrusions. The designs should work as a range with a recognisable language allowing for further development.
The Market: Soft contract and high-end domestic.
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Beatriz Diaz Matud - designer
Jasper Startup - designer
Davis, Cash and Co - manufacturer
The Brief: To develop a small range of furniture products, either tables, seating or storage, which combine aluminium extrusions with sheet metal.
The Market: Mid to high-end domestic and contract with possible cross over into office and retail.
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Andrew Figueira and Gary van Broekhoven - designers
Nina Moeller and Pat Booth (Studio Kew Bridge) - designers
Alma Home – manufacturer
The Brief: Soft Furniture or Furnishing products in leather.
The Market: Top-middle and high-end retailers
Quote from Gary van Broekhoven: “As a member of Furniture Works, I am pleased to be involved in the ISOS project, which has enabled me to work with Alma Home on a high profile leather design product with all the major industry support a designer could ask for”.
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Martin Grierson - designer
Max Lamb and Tom Price - designers
Farrugia - manufacturer
The Brief: Two products: Distinctive stand-alone pieces and the beginnings of a permanent cabinet range, exploring the potential of 3D veneer as well as other materials.
The Market: High end bespoke domestic and architectural markets.
Quote from Roy Farrugia, Managing Director of Farrugia:
“We are delighted to support The ISOS Project. It will give us a great opportunity to develop some new contemporary products, whilst demonstrating Farrugia’s traditional working skills, using the most up to date equipment.
Working with up and coming designers, innovative new processes and the back-up Furniture Works can provide, I feel confident the project will result in some cutting edge pieces to add to Farrugia’s portfolio”.
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Simon Pengelly - designer
Ed Parkinson-Bates - designer
Stonebridge Joinery Ltd - manufacturer
The Brief: Innovative products using 3D veneer.
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These working projects are available for media to monitor, from the initial design concept meetings through to the final launch at the Furniture Show on January 23rd, at the Furniture Works showroom and onwards to the retail shop floor in the UK and overseas.
For further information on the briefs or any of the manufacturers or designers, please contact:
John Miller
Centre Manager
Furniture Works
London Metropolitan University
41 Commercial Road
London E1 1LA
T - 020 7320 1827
