40th Anniversary of Parnham College and the Impact on the World of Contemporary Design

www.beyondparnham.com

The autumn of 2017 marks 40 years since Parnham College first opened its doors to students. Founded by John Makepeace OBE, this educational phenomenon turned current design and woodcraft pedagogy on its head, creating a seismic effect across international contemporary design ever since.

Celebrating the milestone anniversary, John Makepeace, winner of the 2016 Prince Philip Designers Prize, this autumn releases 'Beyond Parnham' - an exclusive 180-page book detailing Parnham College's innovative vision and cultural legacy, revealing highly personal reflections from the designer-makers and esteemed tutors who trained them.

In doing so, 'Beyond Parnham' illustrates how the pioneering approach taught at the College shaped the lives and careers of Parnham's 200-strong alumni that include highly influential designers in their respective fields such as Konstantin Gric, David Linley, Sean Sutcliffe, Juliane Trummer, Jake Phipps, Verena Wriedt and many others.

Combining the art, craft and business of furniture-making in one immersive two-year residential course, Parnham College inspired an approach to design never before seen and one which ignited the careers of its illustrious alumni.

The limited-edition book weaves together the shared history that took root and the values instilled that continue to flourish across the world of contemporary design. Rich in anecdotes, photographs and abiding affection, 'Beyond Parnham' highlights the human-centred approach to fine craftsmanship, the spirit of the educational phenomenon that nurtured it and how the individuals were inspired with an unprecedented expression of design innovation that has shaped their careers ever since.

The teaching of fine craftsmanship, the foundations of design and the ignition of entrepreneurship were given equal educational weight at Parnham College.

Understanding the concepts of originality and innovation were at the centre of the training and John understood early how it permeates all areas, saying, 'Original thought flows through all aspects of life. The Zeitgeist that flourished at Parnham College came from encouraging innovative thinking across all disciplines - this was the lightening in the bottle.' Alongside this, the belief that British design and woodcraft education at the time was inadequate to enable a generation of successful designer-makers to push the boundaries of the medium, formed the philosophical cornerstone of Parnham College.

Guest speakers were essential to the students' continued learning. In Makepeace's view: 'Radical innovation stems from research and the cross-fertilisation between different spheres of knowledge.' To this end, leading designers, artists and makers were regularly brought in to give lectures. The range of speakers, such as Step Haiselden who introduced the students to the basics of engineering and Paul Spooner, who made automata, played a major part in the Parnham College narrative.

In 2016 John Makepeace won the Prince Philip Designers Prize in recognition of his work as a designer and outstanding contribution to the industry. John also received an OBE in 1988 for services to furniture design, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Furniture Society (USA) in 2002, the Society's Award of Distinction and the first Lifetime Achievement Award from the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers.

John Makepeace continues to create fascinating work. Having completed a set of seven ceremonial chairs in 2016 for Plymouth University graduations and more recently exclusive commissions for Rosaline and Henry Wong in Hong Kong and a major legal practice in Malibu, John Makepeace Furniture also works in series, where a theme is developed in each piece, a good example is the 'Flow' set of four chest-of-drawers, all made from the same tree of ripple ash, one of the few uses of wood featured in the momentous V&A exhibition, 'The Power of Making.'

Long term, John plans the sponsorship and endowment of a national educational initiative for young designers.

John Makepeace says of his work, 'As an artist, designer and maker, I seek to devise solutions that connect an organic renewable material to physical and psychological needs.' His award-winning work represents a meeting of classic and modern, embodying craftsmanship of the highest standard. Each piece of furniture, stand-alone or as part of a collection, is highly original and quintessentially English: He continued, 'I am constantly searching for more eloquent concepts for furniture. My objective is to achieve freer, lighter, stronger and more sculptural forms expressed in each unique commission.'

-ENDS-

NOTES TO EDITORS

Press contact: For interviews, wider material and hi-res images, please contact James Fenton on james@firefly-pr.com or 07780 976 163

Profiles and interviews with Parnham College alumni are also possible, the names below outline just some of the 200 students trained at the College:

Parnham College alumni

Designers for industry and retail

Juliane Trummer (Boeing 787 Dreamliner), Thilo Haut (Adidas, Daimler and Lufthansa), Konstantin Grcic (PLANK, Flos, Mattiazzi and Magis), Steuart Padwick (made.com), Rod and Alison Wales (Joined & Jointed, John Lewis), Andrea Stemmer (SCP, Bridger & Buss), Alex MacDonald (Tendo, Japan)

Design and Manufacturers for luxury yachts, palatial homes, civic buildings and the retail market

Sean Sutcliffe (Benchmark), Mark Boddington (Silverlining), Roger Evans (Halstock Cabinet Makers), Christian Gaze (Gaze Burvill), David Linley, Speke and Klein (Ontario)

Interior design consultants

Tadhg O'Driscoll (Dublin, Ireland), Rob Evans, Rex Johnson and Jan Sifvert (Stockholm, Sweden)

A few of the individual furniture makers

International: Geoffrey Noden (NJ, USA), Alistair Graham (Chicago, USA), Knut Klimmek (Dublin, Ireland), David Upfill-Brown and Catriona Gregg (Australia)

UK: Nico Villeneuve, Sarah Kay, Charles Wheeler-Carmichael, Tony Portus, Isabelle Moore

Other design influencers

Jim Partridge (sculptors), Paul Connell and Rowland Keable (architect/builders), Giles Charlton (landscape architect), Tom Overton (film sets builder), Guy Mallinson (woodland glamping).