Aberdeen-based Glencraft, manufacturer and supplier of bespoke and handcrafted beds and mattresses, has revealed the winner of its collaborative design competition with North East Scotland College (NESCol).
Twenty-four-year-old Janice Linton was given the title in recognition of her Scottish heritage inspired mattress headboard, which she worked on over a three-month period as part of NESCol’s Fashion Design and Manufacture course’s Creative Textiles module.
The project was launched last year with students being given an interactive tour of the social enterprise’s factory, where 46 craftspeople with a variety of abilities and disabilities, are employed. From there, the importance of design, costs, practicalities and deadlines were highlighted and discussed to give students a realistic reflection of design in practice.
Over 16 students submitted their designs for consideration before they were judged by Glencraft’s chairman, Duncan Skinner and general manager, Graham McWilliam.
Of her win, Janice Linton said: “This is the first time the Fashion Design and Manufacture course has been involved in such a project, which was an excellent opportunity for me to apply my skills to a real-life design concept. I was so impressed and enamoured by Glencraft’s people, and their values, that I was determined to submit an idea I felt reflected the quality of mattresses produced.
“Considering the standard of my fellow students work, I’m delighted to have won the competition and I’m excited by the potential opportunities which may come from this and support my future career.”
Glencraft’s general manager Graham McWilliam said: “Given our employees motivation and attention to detail, Glencraft serves as a fantastic place for design inspiration and the level of work submitted by each student reflected this. Each offering was outstanding - we were so blown away by the talent that picking a winner was no easy task!
“We felt that Janice’s work really aligned with Glencraft both in terms of the Scottish heritage concept, but also the quality and the skill. I’ve since taken Janice’s work with me to local suppliers – and I’m confident that we are going to be able to utilise her concept in some capacity, further demonstrating the practically of her design. I’m confident that she has a bright future in the design-sphere.”
Glencraft has been producing a range of high quality, handmade products since 1843. As a registered charity all profits are re-invested to provide career opportunities for disadvantaged, disabled and visually impaired employees.
The social enterprise currently supplies mattresses to leading hotels including Gleneagles, The Bonham, The Chester Residence and the Marcliffe. The business holds a royal warrant and, by providing expertly designed and manufactured mattresses, has helped four generations of the Royal Family at Balmoral get a good night’s sleep.