Bethan Laura Wood

{{Infobox artist

| honorific_prefix =

| name = Bethan Laura Wood

| birth_date ={{birth year and age|1983}}

| death_date =

| nationality =British

| alma_mater = Royal College of Art
University of Brighton

| known_for = multi discipline design

| awards =

| website =

}}

Bethan Laura Wood (born in Shropshire, 1983{{cite web |url=https://www.pamono.co.uk/designers/bethan-laura-wood |title=Bethan Laura Wood |website=Pamono |access-date=11 March 2020}}) is an internationally-recognised English designer of jewellery, furniture, decorative objects, lighting and installations. She has designed for media such as glass, laminates and ceramics. Work produced by her studio, WOOD London, is characterised by colour, geometry and visual metaphor,{{Cite web|title=How Bethan Laura Wood and Abet Laminati created a two-part coffee table|url=https://www.wallpaper.com/design/side-show-coffee-table-by-bethan-laura-wood-and-abet-laminati|last=McCann|first=Paul|date=9 November 2011|website=wallpaper.com}} pattern and marquetry. She has been described as "[re-contextualizing] ... elements from everyday objects, often focusing on the pattern and coloration of objects as indicators of their origins, production, and past usage."

Biography

Wood was diagnosed with dyslexia at sixth-form college.{{cite news|last1=Love|first1=Emma|last2=Treggiden|first2=Katie|date=21 January 2017|title=The future's bright: 2017's biggest new design talents|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/jan/21/biggest-new-design-talents-of-2017|access-date=11 March 2020}} She studied 3D design at Brighton University,{{Cite journal|last=RYDER|first=BETHAN|date=Spring 2018|title=Bethan Laura Wood on the creative inspiration behind her Hackney design studio|url=https://theglossarymagazine.com/homes/bethan-laura-wood-design-studio-inspiration|journal=The Glossary}} then studied at the Royal College of Art in 2007, tutored by Dutch designer Jurgen Bey and the Italian Martino Gamper.{{Cite web|date=2019|title=Dezeen Awards 2019|url=https://www.dezeen.com/awards/2019/judges/bethan-laura-wood/|website=Dezeen}}{{Cite web|last=Pippa|first=Brooks|date=12 August 2017|title=The Wylde Interview: Bethan Laura Wood|url=https://wyldemag.com/interviews/2017/8/12/the-wylde-interview-bethan-laura-wood|website=Wylde}}{{Cite news|last=MORRIS|first=Tom|date=12 September 2016|title=Is Bethan Laura Wood British Design's Brightest New Spark?|work=Newsweek|url=https://www.newsweek.com/2016/09/16/bethan-laura-wood-bright-product-designer-milan-london-studio-497446.html}}{{Cite news|last=Conlon|first=Scarlett|date=23 May 2020|title=Rhapsody in blue: a Milanese apartment|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/may/23/an-apartment-in-the-heart-of-milan?page=with%3Aimg-3}} While still a student, she founded her studio, "WOOD London", in 2009. She was a designer in residence at the Design Museum, London. Wood has been commissioned by a variety of international companies to create works and installations, including Abet Laminati, Moroso, Valextra, Perrier Jouët, Bitossi Ceramiche, Tory Burch, cc-tapis, Tolix Rosenthal and Hermés. Her work has been exhibited in institutions such as V&A Museum of Childhood, Swiss Institute Contemporary Art New York, Daelim Museum and Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo.{{Cite web|date=August 2020|title=Gallery Talk: Bethan Laura Wood|url=https://designmuseum.org/whats-on/talks-courses-and-workshops-3/gallery-talk-bethan-laura-wood}}{{Cite web|date=9 August 2020|title=Rijksstudio Award 2020 The international design competition of the Rijksmuseum.|url=https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/rijksstudioaward}} Wood was named in the Wallpaper* Power 200, which ranks her "among the world’s pre-eminent design talent".{{Cite web|date=20 September 2019|title=Bethan Laura Wood|url=https://www.wallpaper.com/tags/bethan-laura-wood|website=Wallpaper Magazine}}

In February 2025, the Design Museum in London launched a new initiative called PLATFORM, "an annual display dedicated to showcasing contemporary design practice", the inaugural edition focusing on Wood's work and career.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=PLATFORM: Bethan Laura Wood |url=https://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/platform-bethan-laura-wood |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Design Museum |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-02-18 |title=Bethan Laura Wood's first solo UK museum show is a "living body of work" |url=https://www.dezeen.com/2025/02/18/bethan-laura-wood-design-museum-presentation/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Dezeen}}

Awards

class="wikitable sortable"

!Year

!Award

!Category

!Piece

!Result

rowspan="5" |2019

|German Design Awards

|Outstanding Product{{Cite web|date=17 February 2020|title=Rosenthal x Bethan Laura Wood: Bauhaus inspired art of weaving|url=https://www.2luxury2.com/rosenthal-x-bethan-laura-wood-bauhaus-inspired-art-weaving/}}

|Tongue with Rosenthal

|{{won}}

The Design Museum

|Beazley Designs of the Year{{Cite web|date=10 September 2019|title=Beazley Designs of the Year 2019 shortlist announced|url=https://www.wallpaper.com/gallery/design/beazley-designs-of-the-year-2019-shortlist-annoucement|website=Wallpaper}}

|Super Fake with CC-Tapis

|{{nominated}}

EDIDA Design Awards{{Cite web|date=2019|title=SUPER ROUND|url=https://www.edida-awards.com/winner/2019-floor-covering|website=EDIDA Awards}}

|Floor Covering

|Super Fake with CC-Tapis

|{{won}}

The ELLE Decoration British Design Awards{{Cite journal|date=6 December 2018|title=THE ELLE DECORATION BRITISH DESIGN AWARDS 2019 – WINNERS!|url=https://www.elledecoration.co.uk/design/people/a27527318/the-elle-decoration-british-design-awards-2019-winners/|journal=Elle Decoration}}

|Floor Covering

|{{won}}

The ELLE Decoration Japan EDIDA Design Award{{Cite web|date=1 November 2018|title=EDIDA JAPAN* WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT|url=https://www.edida-awards.com/news/edida-japan-winners-announcement-2}}

|Floor Covering

|{{won}}

2017

|The Design Prize

|Artist Realm{{Cite web|date=14 April 2017|title=and THE DESIGN PRIZE winner is... report from the award ceremony in milan|url=https://www.designboom.com/design/the-design-prize-winner-04-14-2017/|website=designboom}}

|{{nominated}}

rowspan="2" |2016

|London Design Festival, London Design Medal{{Cite web |title=London Design Festival 2016 Medal Winners |url=https://londondesignfestival.com/london-design-medals/ldf16-medal-winners |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=londondesignfestival.com |language=en}}

|British Land Swarovski Emerging Talent Medal{{Cite journal|last=GRIFFITHS|first=ALYN|date=20 September 2016 |title=Sir Kenneth Grange, Bethan Laura Wood, David Adjaye and Daan Roosegaarde win London Design Medals 2016|url=https://www.wallpaper.com/design/kenneth-grange-and-bethan-laura-wood-celebrate-their-london-design-medals-2016-wins-alongside-david-adjaye-and-daan-roosegaarde|journal=Wallpaper*|volume=W*211}}

|{{won}}

Hublot Design Prize{{Cite web|date=10 June 2015|title=Second round of the Hublot Design Prize|url=http://en.worldtempus.com/article/events/arts-and-culture/hublot-second-round-of-the-hublot-design-prize-19483.html|website=World Tempus}}

|{{nominated|Finalist}}

rowspan="2" |2013

|Design Miami

|Designer of the Future{{Cite journal|date=18 June 2013|title=Designers of the Future|url=https://www.domusweb.it/en/news/2013/06/17/w_hotels_award.html|journal=Domus}}

|{{won}}

W Hotels Designers of the Future Award{{Cite journal|last=THOMPSON|first=HENRIETTA|date=15 April 2013|title=Winners announced for the W Hotels Designers of the Future Award 2013|journal=Wallpaper*}}

|Making Connections

|Site-specific installation|

rowspan="2" |2012

| rowspan="2" |The Design Museum

| rowspan="2" |Design of the Year – Furniture

| rowspan="2" |Moon Rock{{Cite journal|last=Etherington|first=Rose|date=11 January 2012|title=Design Museum announce shortlist for Designs of the Year 2012|url=https://www.dezeen.com/2012/01/11/design-museum-announce-shortlist-for-designs-of-the-year-2012/|journal=Dezeen}}

|{{nominated}}

Accolades

2019 – Judge for 2019 Dezeen Awards.
2013 – Abet Museum – Play time table purchased for permanent collection.{{cn|date=May 2024}}
2012 – MUDAC – Totem no.5 purchased for permanent collection.{{cn|date=May 2024}}
2012 – One of 850 alumni invited to Diamond jubilee Royal academy of Arts Gala in attendants of the Queen.{{cn|date=May 2024}}

Select exhibitions

8 March to 28 April 2018: Aram Gallery – Designers select designers.{{cite web |url=https://www.dezeen.com/2018/03/13/former-aram-gallery-exhibitors-nominate-emerging-designers-new-exhibition-design/ |title=Thomas Heatherwick, Bethan Laura Wood and more nominate emerging designers for Aram Gallery exhibition |last=Yalcinkaya |first=Gunseli |date=13 March 2018 |website=Dezeen |access-date=11 March 2020}}
22–25 September 2016: Designjunction – Dyslexic Design.{{cite news |url=https://www.newsweek.com/2016/09/16/bethan-laura-wood-bright-product-designer-milan-london-studio-497446.html |title=Is Bethan Laura Wood British Design's Brightest New Spark? |last=Morris |first=Tom |date=12 December 2016 |work=Newsweek |access-date=11 March 2020}}
20 September: The British Land Celebration of Design awards exhibition in Broadgate, London.
2011: Nilufar gallery during Salone del Mobile with pieces such as Totem, a lighting collection made from Pyrex in collaboration with master glass-blower Pietro Viero.{{Cite web|title=TALKING COLOUR WITH BETHAN LAURA WOOD|url=https://www.livingetc.com/style/bethan-laura-wood-219373|website=Livingetc|date=28 September 2019 }}
September 2013: Aram Gallery – Solo show.{{Cite web|last=Browne|first=Alix|date=July 23, 2013|title=Bethan Laura Wood: Designer of the Future|url=https://www.wmagazine.com/story/bethan-laura-wood-artist/}}

Collections

Wood's works can be found in the permanent collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London,{{Cite web|title=Search the Collections|url=http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1532629/prototype-bag-handle-for-valextras-design-wood-bethan-laura/|date=2 May 2020|website=Victoria & Albert Museum Collections}} the Wellcome Collection in London{{Cite web|url=https://wellcomecollection.org/exhibitions/XNFfsxAAANwqbNWD|title=Being Human|website=Wellcome Collection}} and the Abet Laminate Museum in Italy.{{Cite web|title=Museo Abet Laminati|url=https://abetlaminati.com/app/uploads/2016/04/MUSEO-Abet-Laminati_2016.pdf|date=2016|website=Abet Laminati}}

References

External links

{{Official website|http://www.bethanlaurawood.com/}}
[https://grantondesign.com/Bethan-Laura-Wood Bethan Laura Wood on laminate] (interview by Grant Gibson)

Category:1983 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century English women artists

Category:Alumni of the Royal College of Art

Category:Alumni of the University of Brighton

Category:English designers

Category:Artists from Shropshire