Shine, Leeds’ award-winning conference, meetings and event venue, has partnered with two of the leading academic institutions in Leeds to run a design competition entitled a ‘Seat for Shine’. Leeds College of Art and Design together with Leeds Metropolitan University have promoted the furniture design competition to their final year undergraduates pursuing BA (Hons) Three-Dimensional Design (Furniture) and BA (Hons) Design programmes respectively.
The objective of the competition is to stimulate designs for a seat to be used at Shine, which reflects the community and environmental ethos of Shine. Shine the building is a multi-million redevelopment of a former Victorian school located in the Harehills area of the city. It is unique in a number of respects, not least in reinvesting at least 91% of its profits in social mission.
The competition has attracted 20 entries and the students’ seat designs will be on public exhibition at Shine between 9-16 March. Judging will take place on 11 March and the winner will be announced at an evening reception at Shine on the same date. Judges include Robert Seal, (a local entrepreneur of Geomet Recycling, a metal trading company), Roger Harrington (a Shine board member and local councillor) and Paul Logan, the well-known Leeds designer of corporate furniture. The winner will receive a commission to build their design, together with a year’s worth of business start-up space at Shine.
Shine’s open reception, from 6pm on Thursday 11 March, will provide an opportunity for visitors to view the design entries, tour Shine’s array of state-of-the-art meeting rooms, enjoy complimentary treatments in Shine’s relaxation area, and sample some rather special cocktails and canapés.
“The ‘Seat for Shine’ competition clearly demonstrates our innovative, community-based approach and desire to work closely with key organisations in the city,” commented Dawn O’Keefe, Shine Chief Executive. “We are keen to support local entrepreneurship in a variety of ways and we very much look forward to seeing and to displaying the students’ designs.”
Steve Hoffman, Course Leader BA (Hons) Three Dimensional Design (Furniture) at Leeds College of Art and Design, said: “Shine has provided our design graduates with an amazing opportunity to launch their practices by creating a seat for Shine that shines!”