People / Jacob Marks
Jacob Marks (b. Manchester, 1999) is an emerging designer and maker who graduated from Kingston University’s Product & Furniture Design degree in 2022, and whose studio is now based in Peckham, South London. His work focuses on the expressive reimagining of natural materials, often using those that are overlooked or disregarded to produce defined and distinctive contemporary works. Fundamental to his practice is research into the landscapes materials are harvested from, and how design can be used as a tool to address a range of complex social and ecological issues. Projects so far have seen him exploring how a revival of the pine resin industry could provide a renewable and carbon negative material that rivals plastic, and how thoughtful timber selection can support mixed British woodlands. He has been included in a range of exhibitions, such as those at the Staffordshire Street Gallery, Somerset House and Garrison Chapel. In 2024 he was nominated for the Design Museum's Ralph Saltzman Prize, and his work continues to be featured in publications such as Crafts Magazine, Wallpaper Magazine and Design Milk.
Pine Rosin Faces
Pine Rosin Faces are decorative wall pieces, made by pouring pine rosin onto timber. This is a technique I discovered when trying to overcome a key limitation of pine rosin; its brittleness. By pouring the molten rosin directly onto the timber, a natural composite is created, with the rosin being far stronger and more resistant to impact.
As a furniture maker my natural inclination was to use this technique to cover a large surface. However, juggling commission and freelance work leaves me with very limited time and resources to put into a speculative project like this.
The scale of the faces felt much more manageable, as well as the fact they could be made entirely out of offcuts. This – evident in the face’s objects, but also true of the wooden base and surround – meant that other than my time there was no big financial risk in making these works.
A Seat at the Table: Chair 13
The Pitch Stool
‘The Pitch Stool’ is a simple experiment into what happens when four legs are ‘pitched’ at an angle. The 6° wedges increase the footprint and structure of the seat, while also creating an ergonomic, faceted seat top.
Isles Shelf
Oak, sycamore, Douglas-fir, elm 2048 x 173 x 293mm
Made out of boards of white oak which have been inlaId with an array of sweet chestnut, sycamore, Douglas-fir and elm patches. ‘The Isles Shelf’ is a new addition to the ‘Isles Collection’ and seeks to highlight the rich array of species that are available in Britain, whilst signifying the importance of variety in maintaining mixed, healthy woodlands.
The two offset tiers allow for more dynamic display, with books, records and objects capable of being both housed within the shelf, as well as laid across them.
The Belsize Hook
Beech or ash
35 x 90 x 125mm
‘The Belsize Hook’ follows in the vein of the wider collection, fusing contemporary geometric forms with a more traditional vernacular design language.