Yorkshire tile manufacturer, the CP Group, has clinched a national design award for its innovative new Unity range.
Demonstrating the progression and potential of tile design, ‘Unity’ was named ‘Best in Wallcoverings’ at the prestigious ELLE Decoration Design Awards in London and will represent the innovative UK tile industry in the international design awards in Milan next April.
The awards, which were judged by a panel of industry experts including Sir Terence Conran and Tom Dixon, celebrate the best British interiors designs launched within the last 12 months. Shortlisted designs had to be original, beautiful, smart and stylish and have the vital ‘x-factor’ as well as being designed and made in Britain.
The Unity collection by the CP Group was the only tile range to make the shortlist for this year’s awards and beat off stiff competition from big name wallpaper companies Osborne & Little, Interiors Europe and Loophouse to take the title in its ‘wallcoverings’ category.
Unity is a collection of five different sized glass tiles which have been designed to work together in unison. Sizes range from 10x10cm right up to 40x30cm and can be arranged in a variety of patterns and designs ensuring no two rooms need ever look the same.
Available in 16 standard, four metallic and four iridescent colours as well as three different textures – plain, ridged and speckled – Unity offers the ultimate artist’s palette, as each colour and texture has been developed to work in harmony with many others in the range.
Commenting on what made Unity stand out from the competition, Chair of the judging panel and Editor of ELLE Decoration, Michelle Ogundehin said: “The great thing about these glass tiles is their jewel bright lustre and the way their five varying sizes allow you to arrange them in any number of truly individual, very architectural configurations. Available in a mixed palette of colours including metallic and iridescent hues and three textures, they can be used alone or combined with plain ceramic tiles for instant impact.”
Jayne Adamson of the CP Group, who designed the Unity range and was presented with the award by Michelle, said: “We are delighted the Unity collection has achieved such huge recognition nationally and are thrilled to be taking a British tile design out onto an international playing field next year. The range is very important to us as a company as it demonstrates the sheer scope, potential and expanding role that tiles have to play in current interior design trends.
“Thanks to modern manufacturing techniques and the calibre of young designers coming into the industry, tiles are becoming increasingly innovative and I’m delighted we’re putting British tiles firmly on the global map.”
Unity and the other eight category winners from the UK event will represent the British nominations for the ELLE Decoration International Design Awards, competing against nominations made by 22 international editions of ELLE Decoration magazine. The winners will be announced in April 2007 during the Milan Furniture Fair.