Design duo hope British humour will pay off

Oct 23 2009 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

A FURNITURE design firm run by Northumbria University graduates is hoping to land a £100,000 deal to supply its bespoke products to US university Yale.

Newcastle-based deadgood, founded by Elliot Brooks and Dan Ziglam, is also aiming to raise more finance, fill a sales and marketing position and take on a team of emerging designers as it looks to tap into global interest in its designs.

Last year the company secured £150,000 from the Design and Creative Fund managed by North East Finance (formerly NStar) which has helped commercialise its new collections.

It has since received growing interest from a number of international markets and was recently recognised by influential publication Design Week in its list of 50 people making a difference in design.

Elliot Brooks said: “Americans like the quirkiness and sense of humour in British design. Business is really taking off with interest from them and the biggest department stores in Hong Kong and Milan.

“Our contract work is our biggest earner – we’re currently trying to seal the deal with Yale University, which is interested in placing an order for £100,000-worth of Timber Stacker chairs.

“We try to offer something different – not selling by volume, but by building integrity and credibility.”

Yesterday the five-year-old business opened its doors to the public for a four-day exhibition of its designs as part of Design Event 09 which runs until Sunday. For more information go to www.nebusiness.co.uk/events