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attractive and sustainable. The red oak, sourced from forests
in the Northern Appalachians, is notable for its rapid rate of
regeneration. Despite the fact it makes up around 18 percent
of the hardwood forest of North America, it is massively

underused, making its usage in ILE a net benefit in terms
of making a more sustainable use of the forest.

The Cherry Project: Kingston students champion
sustainability in hardwood furniture design
As a timber, high-grade—i.e. knot-free—cherry is widely used
by interior designers and architects in high-end joinery and
interior architecture. Lower grades provide equally beautiful
and sustainable wood and are a great choice for projects that

don’t require very long sections, such as kitchen cabinetry,
furniture parts, and flooring; however, they are less popular.
To ensure sustainability, it is crucial to use all parts of
a harvested tree, not just the premium grades. To promote
this approach, Kingston’ students were challenged to create
furniture using lower grades of American cherry. By embracing
lower grades, the design community can lead the way in The result is an extraordinary collection of furniture and

sustainable practices, achieving both cost-effectiveness and objects that offer fresh, practical and creative perspectives on
environmental stewardship. an overlooked material. From stools and shelving to benches
As part of their ‘Intelligent Making’ module, 50 second- and even a playground see-saw, the body of work produced
year students of Kingston’s Product & Furniture Design course showcases both the versatility of cherry and the visionary
were presented with offcut low-grade cherry and invited to talent of the emerging design generation.
create new design forms.
“The next generation of designers, more than any
“Working directly with materials and exploring before them, will need to adapt to a new way
processes is critical to our student experience. The of thinking about the materials they use and the

physical investigation of materials enables new ideas environmental impact of the designs they produce. This
to emerge. Having a good amount of hardwood to play project has given these students a valuable experience
with has allowed us to explore structure and prototype of working with a timber species that is currently out
freely, both at scale and full size. This means every of fashion but has the potential to offer so much to
student has had the opportunity to establish their own the world of product design. It has also shown that,
structural principles and to manufacture their own full- with imagination, you can make beautiful products from
size finished prototypes to a high standard.” what would be rejected as unsuitable in the commercial
– Carl Clerkin, Tutor, Product & Furniture Design, world.”

Kingston University – David Venables, European Director, AHEC