You may have noticed from quite a few of my product round-up posts that I’ve always been a bit of a fan of MADE.COM (affiliate). Ever since I first discovered MADE.COM back in 2010 and interviewed their co-founder Ning Lee in 2011, I have been a big fan of the company and the products that they sell. I’ve always admired their mission which was, at the time, to bring original design to the masses by stripping out the middlemen and connecting consumers with the furniture makers directly.
Clearly, the company has evolved and changed over the years and the range of products that MADE stocks has grown significantly. But the aim of bringing high-end lifestyle design to everyone, everywhere at a fair price has remained. And MADE is one of my first ports of call when I’m scouting for unique designer pieces that don’t blow the bank balance completely out of the water.
What I really like about MADE though is that it works with some really well known and celebrated designers to create its product range. On its books you will find the likes of Ptolemy Mann, Sir Terence Conran, Kate Watson Smyth, Felix Conran, Lindsey Lang, and Niki Jones. But alongside these established names, MADE is championing new designers and that is what I wanted to talk about today.
TalentLAB (affiliate) is MADE.COM’s new crowdfunding platform that provides an opportunity for new designers to launch their careers with the help of potential MADE customers. The platform allows designers to submit their designs for consideration by MADE’s Design Director, Ruth Wassermann, and her team who shortlist 15 to 30 designs every two months. Then the shortlisted designs are prototyped, photographed and added to the TalentLAB website.
Once online, MADE’s customers are able to pay a small refundable deposit of £5 to show their interest in a certain product. The products that receive the most interest and reach 100% of their funding target will be manufactured and sold by MADE. So you can see how this process supports a new generation of up-and-coming designers, helping them get a foothold in the industry.
But it also enables consumers to get their hands on original designs that can’t be found elsewhere. What’s even more appealing is that those people who have shown interest in a design that is eventually manufactured will then be able to purchase them with a 30% early-bird discount on the final MADE price. And if they change their mind and no longer want to purchase the design they will be given a full refund on their deposit.
The idea for TalentLAB (affiliate) came out of the MADE Emerging Talent Award, which is an annual competition for up-and-coming designers to break into the industry and get their product made and sold. Each year, MADE received thousands of incredible entries – but only one piece could win. The winning product for 2016 was the Cairn side table by KIMXGENSAPA, which was such a hit with MADE customers that it is now one of their best-selling products. Launching TalentLAB was an obvious way to ensure that more new designers could be discovered and get their products made.
And it’s not just trained designers who can take advantage of TalentLAB. Anyone can submit an idea, as long as they are able to represent that idea visually through a detailed drawing, a photograph or a render. The only restriction is that the idea must fall within the general product types that are currently sold on MADE.COM, which are furniture, home accessories, tabletop and kitchenware, bathroom accessories and textiles, bags, games, and sports equipment.
Anyone who submits a product idea to TalentLAB will get the opportunity to have their designs seen by MADE’s expert design team and, if successful, to work with the buying team and suppliers through the product development stage to come up with a sample of their product. They basically get to work with the MADE design team just as any regular designer already on their books does. This provides them with some extremely valuable experience that will stand them in good stead for their future career.
The launch collection was extremely successful with 11 of the 17 shortlisted designs being fully funded. The latest collection, which is currently seeking funding, is the Ready-to-Work Collection which features lamps, coffee tables, benches rugs and more. Three products have already hit their funding target and others are well on their way. So if you want to help a new designer launch their career and get their product manufactured and sold by MADE, get your deposit paid now. This could change someone’s life and the products are all so lovely, it’s a win-win situation.
Let me know which of the TalentLAB (affiliate) products above is your favourite and which ones you think will go into production.
Have been looking at the Talent Lab for some time, I think it’s great that brands provide a platform to young designers. Obviously consumers are really interested in fast design (i.e. available to purchase now) but hopefully, the designs will appeal to many who are willing to wait for them!
I agree Jenny. I’d definitely be willing to wait for a great design from a new design talent.
Love that red chair thank you for this post.
Glad you found something you like Julita.
Nice products. I love that watering can, its awesome. Share more products. Thank you.
That watering can is one of my favourites too.
This is such a great initiative given just how many talented designers just need that one good opportunity to change their lives!
Totally agree Nicola. This could be that defining opportunity for a lot of undiscovered design talent
Such a great initiative from Made.com. I love the Carola bench!
Me too Donna. I love it all actually.
I love the fact that Made.com offer this opportunity for new designers to help them get their careers off the ground. We have such an amazing amount of talent in this country which we need to keep hold off! I literally don’t know how they decide on a winner though every entry is a display of creativity, craftsmanship and design skill. So I’m going to say all of them ;)
That’s the beauty of it Maria, there is no winner as such. Every design that gets fully funded will go into production. I agree though that they are all lovely!
This is a brilliant idea! Some great designs x
Isn’t it? I love how crowdfunding opens up so many opportunities these days!
What a fantastic idea to use crowdsourcing in this way! Some real talent here and that Carola bench looks beautiful!
It’s inspired isn’t it? It’s also great for MADE as they know in advance which products will be popular!
I’ve been a fan of Made.com for a while and have some very nice pieces of furniture and lighting from them. My favourites here are the Ayrmer chair, Lumo table lamp and the watering can.
I love so many of their products too Fiona!
Wow! What a great idea. It’s so hard to get through in the design world so what they’re doing is brilliant and it’s such a help and an opportunity for them young designers. I love that Memphis table clock and that gold watering can 😍
Anything that gives new designers a hand up the ladder is great in my book!
This looks absolutely amazing and that red accent chair is to die for… where was this post when I was looking for a new armchair :-) Thanks for writing!
Hi Jumi, it’s such a nice idea, isn’t it? Sorry I didn’t write the post earlier lol! Maybe you could find room for another armchair?