Stellar names light up AHEC design project

Provisionally called "What I've Always Wanted Is", the idea for the design challenge grew out of conversations between the LDF and design guru Sir Terence Conran. He invited leading architects and designers among his friends to come up with a specification and sketch for a product they'd like personally. They would then work with one of a group of emerging young designer/maker talent to bring their chosen item to reality.

The 'commissioners' who accepted the invite are fashion designer Paul Smith, artist Allen Jones and architects Sir Richard Rogers and his son Ab, Sir Norman Foster, Dame Zaha Hadid, John Pawson, Alex de Rijke, Alison Brooks and Amanda Levete. Sir Terence will also commission a piece.

AHEC, which has worked on showcase projects with the LDF for a number of years, was asked to collaborate and advise on materials choice.

"This is a tremendously exciting group of people to work with," said AHEC European director David Venables. "And the items they've come up with are really diverse. The challenge for our designers now is to make them into a true collection of pieces for the exhibition at the V&Albert Museum during the LDF in September. But it will really capture popular imagination and open the eyes of everyone taking part to timber's potential."

The project is also informed by AHEC's earlier Out of the Woods exercise, which challenged Royal College of Art students to design a chair that performed aesthetically and technically, but at the same time built in its life cycle analysis data to minimise environmental impact. All the "What I've Always Wanted" items will incorporate LCA.

The designer/makers will work with Benchmark Furniture managing director Sean Sutcliffe and his team to make their commissoner's creations at Sir Terence Conran's own studios and be invited to explore the full range of US hardwoods.

Timber for the project is being contributed by James Latham plc and, once the LDF is over, the exhibition may go on tour.