Maxton Fox and Western Sydney University launched their student designed chair collection, made by Maxton Fox Australia. The innovative designs – ‘Ada’, ‘Sínte’ and ‘Super Tree Stool’ by students Meg Dortmans, Harry Williams and Anthony Cham – were selected through a unique competition, and are set to pique interest among the architecture and design community.

Dennis Hall, Founding Director of Maxton Fox, said: “As a family-run Australian manufacturing business based in Western Sydney that has been manufacturing furniture and joinery for over 50 years, we’re pleased to partner with Western Sydney University, to support the next generation of emerging designers.” In 2020 (pre-COVID-19), second year Industrial Design students from Western Sydney University’s School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment were briefed on-site at Maxton Fox’s factory facility. Forty students responded to the brief: ’Design a feature chair that could work across a variety of commercial or residential spaces, making sure that designs incorporated in-house capabilities of the Maxton Fox factory,’ submitting a 4:1 scale model, CAD drawings, and a pitch video of their chair as part of their entries.

Designs by 12 students were shortlisted, in which a select group of architects, interior designers, and Maxton Fox management chose their top three designs. Karen Yévenes, Lecturer and Academic Course Advisor in Industrial Design, said the program at Western Sydney University is committed to providing students with rich opportunities in work-integrated-learning.

“Our partnership with Maxton Fox has been a very rewarding experience for our talented young designers; students have applied their understanding of product semantics, sustainable materials, and lean manufacturing processes to create unique and functional products, as delineated by the client brief. We’re proud of the students’ achievements and in the collaboration with vibrant local industries such as Maxton Fox.” The winning designs have been manufactured and launched to market by Maxton Fox.

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Maxton Fox is proudly Australian made and Australian owned. In addition, they guarantee and certify that each new chair in this collection has the Australian made seal. Made by Maxton Fox in their Western Sydney manufacturing facility. To view the winning chair designs, please visit www.maxtonfox.com.au