Design Guild Mark opens 2027 entries with 29 January deadline

The Furniture Makers' Company has opened entries for the 2027 Design Guild Mark, its recognition programme for British industrial design, with a final deadline of 29 January 2027 across three categories.

The categories are Furniture, Lighting and Interior Design Elements, the company said. The Design Guild Mark's own application page confirms applications are open for 2027.

Unlike a conventional competition, the scheme does not select a single winner. According to The Furniture Makers' Company, every design that meets its standard of originality and innovation in industrial design receives a Mark.

Alex Crofts, chairman of the Design Guild Mark and CEO of Crofts & Assinder Ltd, said: "The Design Sector is a major contributor to the UK economy and the DGM continues to promote UK design as a leading global creative force."

How entries are judged

The Design Guild Mark said entries must demonstrate excellence in design, materials, manufacture and function. Judging is in two stages: all applications are first presented to the Design Guild Mark committee, and approved designers then present their design in person to the judges.

Recipients in each of the three categories are also put forward for the Jonathan Hindle Prize for Excellence, the company said.

The Furniture Makers' Company said the Design Guild Mark was established in 2008 as a not-for-profit recognition programme. The Design Guild Mark describes itself as a non-profit awards programme set up to champion British industrial design.

New committee member

Amy Heffernan, formerly Interiors Director at Wallpaper*, has joined the Design Guild Mark committee, the company said.

She said: "I am delighted to work with the Design Guild Mark. Their mission to elevate and celebrate the exceptional creative talent working in contemporary UK furniture, lighting, and textiles is incredibly important."

The 2026 awards

The 2026 Design Guild Marks were announced at a ceremony at the Arper UK showroom during Clerkenwell Design Week, according to The Furniture Makers' Company.

The 2026 Jonathan Hindle Prize went to Knit One in the Furniture category, Pattern Play in Interior Design Elements and the Modernist Collection in Lighting. The Design Guild Mark's prize page records Knit One as the work of Paul Crofts Studio for Isomi.

The organiser

The Furniture Makers' Company describes itself as the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry. It said a charity has supported people working in the furnishing industry for more than 100 years.

The 2025 cycle used the same three categories, with an early bird deadline of 24 November 2024 and a final deadline of 19 January 2025, according to the Design Guild Mark. For the 2027 cycle, the final deadline is 29 January 2027.