College students put old crafts to new uses
And it is not just young people who are turning the age-old art of furniture design into thriving enterprises. Some are learning new skills for a second career, including architect Ali Wilson, 47, who was named design student of the year at the Chippendale International School of Furniture and is now setting up a business in Ayrshire.
The school, near Haddington, is run by Anselm Fraser and offers incubation space for students. “The problem with running a furniture design school is that virtually nobody thinks about furniture making as a career option, largely because those who advise young people never consider it themselves,” he said.
“Good furniture is about imagination as well as craftsmanship, with age-old techniques made modern by computer design technologies.”