For budding designers, the chance to exhibit during the London Design Festival alongside some prominent names in the industry is certainly an appealing one. In September this year, Jan Hendzel is holding an exhibition called 11:11 at the Staffordshire St Gallery in Peckham. The showcase will consist of 11 established makers exhibiting their pieces alongside those of 11 emerging makers. The up-and-comers will be chosen by Jan and the other 10 designers taking place, following an open call which launches today.
Based in south-east London, Jan Hendzel Studio has seen a meteoric rise to success in the eight years since it opened. Working with locally felled wood where possible, Jan creates furniture and accessories which command a space. The studio worked on private commissions before releasing its first collection, ‘Bowater’, in 2020. The collection consisted of nine pieces of fluted furniture and accessories made using UK timber. Pieces made by Jan can now be found in spots such as Terrence Conran’s restaurant Wilder, Birch Hotel, 100 Shoreditch and even in the 2021 Chelsea Flower Show garden designed by Thomas Hoblyn.
He’s a designer who wants to get back to basics, allowing the materials and craftsmanship to sing, though his furniture does include useful conveniences (smooth, silent drawers and dividers) and stylish finishes. Through the group exhibitions he puts on for LDF each year, he wants to highlight other makers; those who share his passion for materiality and innovative design.
For this showcase, he will be exhibiting his own pieces alongside a host of established designers, including Alison Crowther, Martino Gamper, Charlotte Kingsnorth, Sophie Sellu of Grain & Knot, A Rum Fellow, Sedilia, and Simone Brewster.
Between now and July 21st, applicants are invited to submit themselves to exhibit alongside these names. After the deadline, Jan and his collaborators will hand select the 11 successful makers.
So, what is he looking for? Those who work across any discipline are invited to apply, this includes textile and product design, furniture, lighting, sculpture, ceramics and fashion. Being based in Southwark himself, Jan is on the hunt for makers who also have a strong connection to the borough, or the nearby area, and crucially, you must not be either a student or too established. If you’ve already exhibited your work in a group or solo show, this isn’t for you.
But, if you’re passionate about design, in whatever form that may take, this could be a fantastic opportunity to not only get your name out there, but also to meet and learn from those who’ve been operating in the industry for some time.
For more information on how to apply, visit the Jan Hendzel Website. The deadline for submissions is Friday 21st July 2023 at 11.59pm.
