Design Guild Mark chairman Rodney McMahon and 2D Design category judge Daniel Hopwood are to discuss the importance of connectivity among designers and interior designers following the solitude of lockdown at a special webinar in March.
The ‘Emergence from lockdown’ event, which is taking place via Zoom on Thursday 4 March 11:00am – 12:00pm, is the third webinar from The Furniture Makers’ Company’s ‘Innovation in times of crisis’ series.
Joining Rodney and Daniel for the discussion will be Lester Bennett, president of the British Institute of Interior Design, and Matthew Burt, award-winning designer-maker.
The panel will also discuss the lessons learned from lockdown, the importance of networking and the value of marks of accreditation, with the webinar culminating with a live Q&A providing attendees an opportunity to question the guests.
All registrants will receive a recording of the event following its conclusion. Register for free now
Please email your questions in advance to george@furnituremakers.org.uk or ask your questions live using the Zoom Q&A function.
Daniel Hopwood
Daniel Hopwood is a past president of the British Institute of Interior Design, Bespoke Guild Mark chairman, a Design Guild Mark judge and a judge on the BBC’s amateur design programme The Great Interior Design Challenge. Daniel graduated with a degree in Architecture and is alumni of the Prince of Wales Institute of Architecture. He has run his own company ‘Studio Hopwood’ for the past 27 years based in Marylebone, with both residential and commercial projects in London and the Far East.
Lester Bennett
Lester Bennett is an independent design consultant with 40 years of design experience. His career has included founding his own practice, working as a design director for a leading residential developer and as a founding partner of Folio Design LLP. Lester specialises in residential interior architecture and design, whilst also having a wide range of experience in commercial and retail design, industrial, exhibition and product design, with a client list including Mobil, Alliance and Leicester, Celador Productions, Morgan du toi, Elstree Studios, Taylor Walker Breweries and Handles and Fittings Ltd (HAF), with products still in production after nearly 30 years.
Matthew Burt
Matthew Burt has, for 40 years, designed and created interior and exterior furniture for private homes, public spaces and major museums and galleries. From his south Wiltshire studio and workshop Matthew, along with his team of makers and apprentices, has developed a national reputation for originality of design and quality of craftsmanship. Matthew is holder of seven Bespoke Guild Marks awarded by The Furniture Makers’ Company and in 2016 won the prestigious Christopher Claxton-Stephens Prize for Excellence.
Rodney McMahon
Rodney has a degree in Economics from Exeter University and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. His passion for manufacturing in the UK and his interest in interior design, led to the acquisition of Morgan in 1992. Rodney has developed and revitalised the company in the last 25 years from a company of eight employees to one totalling 80, unusually manufacturing in the UK, and with a major position as a leader in the contract furniture market. Rodney is finance director and past chairman of the BCFA, sits on the Council of the Furniture Industry Research Association and of the Advisory Council of Anti Copying in Design and is chairman of the Design Guild Mark. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and chairman of the trustees of the Edward Barnsley Educational Trust, a centre of excellence for training cabinetmakers.
