design profile

MEET THE NEWEST STARS IN THE WORLD OF INTERIORS – THE FABULOUS WINNERS OF OUR INCLUSIVITY COMPETITION

- Pip McCormac

Last year we launched a competition we hoped would open up the design industry to some of those who might not otherwise find an easy way in. From how much wealth you need to do unpaid internships to the connections you might require to open doors, it has led to a relatively homogenous workforce. And so, we offered the chance for three winners to develop their products alongside Habitat’s design team, to be paid a fair wage, to see their products on the shelves – in around a year’s time – and to hopefully propel them into big careers.

DHARMA TAYLOR

Bold colours, graphic shapes and inspired by the Greenwich architecture she grew up around, Dharma Taylor’s rug design rose quickly to the top of her category. ‘It could be a centrepiece to rest a dining table on, or a fantastic wall tapestry,’ she says. ‘I hope people will appreciate the simplicity in its choice of materials, and feel like they own something special and timeless.’