23 September 2009

Cafe twigs on to Dundee design duo

Photo/interview opportunity - 3pm, Thursday September 24th,
The Parlour, Old Hawkhill, Dundee

A pair of designers from the University of Dundee have completed their first major commission within months of graduating, notching the latest success in their fledgling business careers.

The dynamic duo of Louise Forbes and Susan Younger have formed their own business, TWIG (Two Witty Intelligent Girls), designing and making their own furniture and lighting. They launched the company on the back of a hugely successful Degree Show exhibition in May, where their work was an instant hit.

One of their customers at Degree Show was Gillian Veal, owner of The Parlour Café in Dundee, who bought a set of lights for her home and then set the girls a greater challenge - to help carry out a major refit of the café itself.

'I really liked the girls’ work and I thought they would be up to a bigger job so I asked if they would be interested in doing the lights and tabletops for our refit,' said Gillian.

'I’m delighted with how it has turned out. The girls were brilliant to work with and the furniture and lighting they have designed for us is already a big talking point among the customers. I am a Duncan of Jordanstone graduate myself so I know the talent that is coming out of the art college and am more than happy to support it any way I can - we also have another student doing our website and design, and we are going to sponsor an annual prize at the college.'

For their part, the TWIG duo were thrilled to get a sizeable commission even before their final year degree show had closed.

'It has been fantastic for us to get a big job like this so soon,' said Susan. 'When you are starting out you really have to work hard to get your name known and find customers, but we have been very lucky to get a commission like this from Gillian. The coffee and cakes are great here as well, so it’s been a great place to come in and work!'

The Parlour job adds to an exciting start to business life for the girls, who have seen interest in their work surge as soon as they opened their exhibit at the University’s Degree Show for students from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design.

'We sold dozens of our lights at Degree Show, which was very encouraging,' said Louise. 'It gives you a great confidence boost to find people really like the work so much that they are willing to part with their cash for it! Moving straight from being a student to running our own business is a huge step but we feel we are off to a great start.'

Louise (21), from Aberdeen, and Susan (23), from Stirling, were initially paired to work together on a project in the 3rd year of their Interior & Environmental Design degree course at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design. The pair have been inseparable ever since.

The refit of The Parlour will be marked with a party in the cafe this Saturday evening.

For more on TWIG see www.twigdesign.co.uk.

For more on the Parlour Cafe see www.theparlourcafe.co.uk.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07800 581902