Third year University of Johannesburg Industrial Design student, Roland Richartz, is a finalist in the 2011 ELLE DECORATION Solve New Talent Search. Now in its tenth year, the competition, which attracted over a hundred entries, aims to attract and showcase new South African design talent.
The designs submitted needed to be structurally sound and be marketable. The winning design will be made up as a prototype by Boardmans, with the chance that it will be put into production.
‘Timbr’ by Roland Richartz
Richartz has just completed his third year of the National Diploma in Three-Dimensional Design at the University of Johannesburg. He believes that many consumers would like to see simplicity and honesty in their furniture. The spelling ‘Timbr’ relates to its quirky elements of the design such as its chunky volumes – implying that it doesn’t take itself too seriously.
According to the media release by ELLE DECORATION: ‘What caught the judges eye - this stool is commercial and will appeal to a wide spectrum of consumers. Pine is an abundant and inexpensive local resource. It is slick, well considered, comfortable and easily marketable.’
Judges of the 2011 competition include Trevyn and Julian McGowan of Source Design, designers Haldane Martin and Porky Hefer, Scott Murray of Boardmans and Rossouw.
The 2011 SOLVE winner will be revealed in the next issue of ELLE DECORATION, available from 23 January 2012. For more information visit www.elledecoration.co.za.