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It’s exciting to see
ideas realized

Rebecca Sykes - New Design Group, United Kingdom

Great interest in design

REBECCA SYKES - DESIGNER | Rebecca has always had a great interest in design. For many years, she worked with making jewelry but decided to take the next step. In 2015, she left the University of Lincoln with a 1st Class Honours Degree in Product Design BA(Hons).

What attracts her most is the overall problem-solving work, seeing improvement opportunities, and seeing ideas realized. This is also evident outside of work. Even at home, new furniture and clothes are created while old items are given new life.

During her time at New Design Group, a lot happened in just a few years.

The products I have developed for New Design Group include:

  • Trio tables - these were designed to offer a softer aesthetic to New Design Group’s café furniture.
  • Dotty - the cable holder designed to be seen.
  • Trio stools - these were developed to complement the Trio tables.
  • Frank table and bench range. With a focus on environmentally friendly and recycled materials.

New Design Group's goal is to design and manufacture expressive office furniture that makes users’ work lives as easy as possible. The group consists of Ryan Furniture, Chorus Furniture, and Cambridge Park. Important products they have released over the years include the Mi Chair, SW19, Theo chairs, and Frank.

Today, Rebecca has moved on as a Design and Costing Engineer at Phoenix Case Goods Ltd.

Rebecca on plastic materials

New Design Group builds furniture in wood, steel, and textiles. There are many different types of plastic, including in some upholstery and small details like furniture feet. There is a very active debate in the UK about how plastics affect both the climate and nature.

As a leading manufacturer of contract furniture, we take the work of protecting our environment very seriously. In this work, we use ISO’s environmental management system. We also choose to work with suppliers who demonstrate an understanding and commitment to sustainability and the use of recyclable materials. Another more concrete example of action is that when we carry out an installation ourselves, we return all packaging to our factory for reuse.

Rebecca on Ackurat

We at Ackurat regularly visit New Design Group in Gainsborough (in the middle of the UK). They also have a login on Ackurat’s website where, in addition to all standard products, they can also see the company’s prices, Ackurat’s stock levels, New Design Group’s own special products, and order history.

Ackurat’s catalogue and website are really easy to use. Getting product samples is also very easy, which is really helpful when we develop new products. We get the samples quickly while also receiving good advice. The advice I get from Ackurat’s team always feels well thought out. They take the time to look at the problems from all angles so that we don’t miss anything. This really creates a sense of security that I haven’t encountered anywhere else.

Finding our own prices directly on Ackurat’s website means I don’t have to write and wait for quotes. Pricing is a very important part of product development. If a price is missing or the information is uncertain, the development process can come to a complete halt. I don’t think, off the top of my head, that there is anything I can suggest Ackurat could do better.