AGC X UAL:
A New Chapter of Creativity and Sustainability

Back to another exciting chapter in our collaboration with the University of the Arts London (UAL)!

We are delighted to celebrate the success of this partnership with the BA Product and Furniture Design programme at Chelsea College of Arts. Following last year's fantastic outcomes, this year’s collaboration once again highlights the incredible creativity and dedication to sustainability of UAL's future designers, culminating in a final judging event held just a few weeks ago.

A Call for Sustainability in Interior Design

The interior design industry, much like fashion, is grappling with a troubling trend of rapid consumption and disposal of products. In the UK alone, over 22 million pieces of furniture are discarded each year, with many of these items ending up in landfills despite their potential for reuse or repurposing. This escalating waste issue highlights the urgent need for more sustainable practices within our field. At AGC, we are committed to tackling this challenge, and our partnership with UAL exemplifies our dedication to transforming discarded materials into innovative and sustainable designs. Through projects like these, we aim to inspire a shift towards a more responsible and thoughtful approach to interior design.

Transforming Waste into Wonder

At AGC, our commitment to sustainability inspires us to think outside the box. Recently, we donated a variety of damaged and unused furniture—such as dining chairs, bistro tables, and studio lights—to first-year students at Chelsea College of Arts. The challenge was simple: reimagine these materials into innovative creations. The outcomes were truly extraordinary, proving once again that when creativity meets sustainability, the possibilities are endless.

This project provided a real-world challenge, enabling students to push the limits of their creativity. It closely reflects our B Corp values, supporting our ongoing commitment to sustainability, reusability, and education within the design industry.

Read About Our Responsibility

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A Celebration of Innovation and Ingenuity

This year, we had 52 amazing students jump into our project, diving deep into the latest trends, styles, and colours. They took inspiration from top design fairs like Maison & Objet and the London Design Fair, plus international showcases in cool cities like Cologne, Istanbul, and Stockholm. Their creations were put to the test based on creativity, market appeal for our e-commerce site Bazaar-London.com, and the storytelling that truly brought each product to life.

"Seeing the inventive ways in which students repurposed the furniture was truly inspiring. Their creations demonstrated a high level of creativity and practicality, with some pieces being of a quality we would consider for real-world projects,"

Harriet Knowlton, Director at AGC.

“AGC set BA Product and Furniture Design students from Chelsea College or Arts the challenge to convert waste furniture and material into new furniture items. Our year 1 students really stepped up by producing a range of well executed items which exceeded expectations. Their designs showed ambition and motivation, keen to show their abilities and what is possible to achieve with repurposed materials.

Collaborations like these with industry partners motivate our students to apply our teaching to real-life briefs and help develop their skills to industry standards. The experience helps them feel less daunted and they start to imagine their future selves working as designers, helping their onward progression.”

Nadine Bennett and Denea Joseph, Senior Lecturers at BA Product and Furniture Design,

Chelsea College of Arts.

And the Winner is…

One project that particularly caught our eye was the "Shadow Divider," designed by Phoebe Sanders, Yizhi “Eddie” Chen, and Cyrus Warman Hapaska. This shoji-inspired room divider embraces natural form, beautifully combines regenerated teak wood with handmade Nepalese Washi paper. Not only does the "Shadow Divider" look amazing, but it also features a clever design that lets light, shadow, and air flow together in such a natural way. The use of traditional techniques like lap joints, dowels, and rope hinges ensures that this piece is as durable as it is beautiful. Congratulations to the team on this remarkable achievement!

As the creators of the winning design, “Shadow Divider,” the team will be invited to join us for a one-week internship at AGC, providing them with an immersive experience in the dynamic world of interior design. In addition, they will have the opportunity to visit Tom Faulkner’s renowned furniture workshop, where they will gain invaluable insights into the craftsmanship behind high-end furniture design.

As we celebrate this year’s successful collaboration, we eagerly look to the future. By fostering a vibrant exchange of ideas between seasoned professionals and the next generation of designers, we are committed to inspiring even greater innovation and creativity in the years to come.