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Creative student shines at national lighting awards

John Etherington fought off competition from across Europe to win the top prize in the Lighting Association's annual Student Lighting Design Awards with his inspired 'ARC' decorative table light design.

The design features an arced body which allows it to be rolled into various positions giving different angles of light on a desk or side table. Influenced by contemporary design and engineering, alongside traditional and new manufacturing techniques such as sheet metal rolling, the light has been created from a combination of stainless steel, white oak and copper. Its light source comes from 18 LEDs.

John has received £1,500 for winning the top prize in the competition, which is held to enable students to use their creative skills to develop new lighting products whilst gaining valuable knowledge about the lighting industry. As a finalist, John will also show his design at the industry's premier trade event early next year - The Lighting Show at the NEC in Birmingham, which will give him the opportunity to present his work to leading manufacturers and retailers from across the world.

John, who has just graduated from the university's School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, was presented with his award - sponsored by Philips Consumer Lighting - at the Lighting Association's Gala dinner at Stratford Manor, Stratford-upon-Avon.

He said: "It feels great to have won this award. Throughout the day I was given the opportunity to talk to many industry professionals and have gained a number of key contacts for the future. I am currently developing my idea further with a view to marketing the product and am also working on a number of other lighting designs."

The course leader for both BA product design and furniture and product design at Nottingham Trent University, James Dale, said: "It is fantastic news that John has won the Student Lighting Designer of the Year Award, his winning design was an elegant combination of minimal aesthetics and simple functionality. John has worked really hard this year and produced a portfolio of highly distinctive and innovative new products, he richly deserves the recognition he is beginning to receive."

Catherine Bailey, who also studied furniture and product design at Nottingham Trent University, was named the Best Flatwork Award winner earlier in the competition, for her 'Mr and Mrs' lights.

Source:www.ntu.ac.uk|

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