FURNITURE FASHION

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31753, 9 August 1968, Page 2

FURNITURE FASHION

“I should like furniture to be as everchanging as fashion. In recent years the process has vastly speeded up,” says Mrs Jean Schofield, a young London furniture designer.

Jean Schofield is earnest and impressive, with none of the superficial aggressive qualities sometimes found in a successful woman in a man’s world. She says she has been lucky—but it may be her confidence in the importance of good design, and the sense of personal involvement she brings to her work, that are building her reputation as a designer. Her reason for becoming a furniture designer is an unpretentious as her work. “I loved making things as a child,” she says. “It seemed natural to choose a career where I could produce objects, both functional ahd beautiful.” She studied first at Leeds and then in 1960 won a highly competitive scholarship to the Royal College of Art, London, for three years. In 1965, after working with an achitect for a year, she joined up, with a former colleague, John Wright. They re-evoked simple functional forms sought before the Second World War and were criticised for being too “thirties.” Now, ironically, the mood in design has swung strongly that way. SIMPLICITY

Talking of her aims as a designer, Miss Schofield said, “I always like the furniture and interiors to interrelate, to be considered together as part of the whole. I like a room to grow outwards. I am itifluenced by the clarity of modern painting, sculpture and architecture." Thus the designs she produces have integrity and grace, yet are simple in form. I asked whether being a

woman in a mostly male field was a disturbing or influential factor in her work. She thought not She said: “Since student days I have been the lone female. I now hardly notice it Occasionally clients register surprise, but this prejudice drops when the work is under way.” John Wright agreed. He rejected my suggestion that Jean was possibly drawn towards the more feminine side of a project They became partners because of mutual fundamental beliefs and work equally on all aspects of a problem, discussing purely as thinking artists. NO BREAK As Jean Schofield’s husband is a builder the appreciation of form and structure is a continuous process. If she has children she does not feel there will be any serious break in her career. The search to strengthen her understanding of design can be continued within the home.

Last year Jean Schofield and John Wright brought in a third partner, Derek Walker, an architect and now hope they have the right balance of skills to run their own business.