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Issued:16/10/12
A former carpenter who turned to Sheffield Hallam University to develop sustainable furniture design and business skills is being hailed as one of the brightest young talents in the industry.
Dan Schofield, 26, originally from Kenilworth, Warwickshire, graduated from Sheffield Hallam with a first class degree in furniture design last year and has now exhibited his creations at London Designers Week.
He is also selling his sustainable, "added value" furniture at Made North's design shop at Yorkshire Art Space on Shoreham Street, Sheffield.
His pieces include: Coat Eggs, which come complete in their own egg box and are used as an alternative to clothing pegs; Shifty, a desk with a hidden drawer, and What A Corker, a soft and pliable cork mirror which is contemporary and eco-friendly.
Orders have come in from the Far East and Portugal, and Dan, who has set up his business at the University's Hatchery incubator, is working on a number of new projects.
He said: "I describe my work as having added value. I try to give my pieces a story and a life of their own which makes people cherish them more and want to keep them for longer.
"By giving each of my products an individual story, I hope to create timeless pieces that have an extended lifespan, reducing their impact on the environment.
"I've been using the Hatchery for six months which has given me an office space and access to a workshop and has enabled me to get my business off the ground. It's been an invaluable experience."
Roger Bateman, who taught Dan on the Sheffield Hallam furniture design degree programme, said: "Dan’s work is characterized by quirky ideas, interest in how things are made and high quality making.
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"He epitomises young creative design while Sheffield Hallam has a long-standing reputation for supporting its graduates and assisting them to develop their ideas and business goals."
The Hatchery is Sheffield Hallam's business incubator, providing young entrepreneurs with a low-risk environment to set up their business.
It offers free office facilities including access to hot-desks with PCs and Macs, Internet access and telephone lines, together with a flexible workshop area and a meeting room. To find out more, call (0114) 225 3131 or email enterprise@shu.ac.uk
Click here to find out more about Dan Schofield's work.
For press information contact: Laurie Harvey on 0114 225 2621 or email pressoffice@shu.ac.uk
