"Poetry, Pleasantness and Practical Things"

In celebration of Robin Day's centenary I have collaborated with tutors Fiona Davidson and Alex Hellum to run a project for BA Hons Furniture students at Bucks New University. The project title is taken from a Marcus Fairs interview with Robin Day for Icon magazine, 2005.

"Things should work well, they should function, construction techniques, materials and economics are relevant.  Along with that, hopefully, some poetry and pleasantness in terms of looks, but these practical things are essential.  Without it design is a waste of time."

To mark the end of the first stage of the Robin Day Centenary Furniture Design Project , The Robin and Lucienne Day Foundation’s Chair Paula Day joined us to review the models. Paula presented a copy of Robin and Lucienne Day: Pioneers of Contemporary Design to Sebiha Macit as a prize for best design concept. Sebiha's design takes inspiration from traditional Turkish cafe stools.

The project will conclude in June 2016 when the students present full-size design prototypes. 

High Wycombe was the birthplace of Robin Day, Robin Day OBE studied at Bucks New University in the 1930s when it was called High Wycombe College of Art.

Sadly, this year will be the last year of Furniture Design courses at Bucks New University and the end of a long tradition. According to the Bucks website, it 'has been delivering expert craft, art and design education in this area for over 110 years'.  

All images, © Amos Marchant