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Interior Design student creates winning headboard for Vispring’s range of luxury beds
Tuesday, 7 December, 2021 — BA (Hons) Interior Design & Styling graduate Phoebe Leader has won an exclusive competition with luxury bed maker, Vispring
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.plymouthart.ac.uk/courses/undefined/ba-hons-interior-2021">BA (Hons) Interior Design & Styling</a> graduate <a href="https://www.instagram.com/leaderdesigns/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Phoebe Leader</a> has won an exclusive competition with luxury bed maker, <a href="https://www.vispring.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vispring</a>. Designing a headboard for a collection of luxury beds, Phoebe won the competition after Vispring collaborated with Plymouth College of Art to bring real industry experience to students.<br /></p>
Phoebe with the Kew headboard
<p dir="ltr">Established in 1901, Vispring make luxury beds and mattresses, even creating beds for the likes of the Titanic. In 1971 Vispring’s factory relocated from London to Plymouth, on the South West coast where, to this day, the same time honoured skills are employed by its 200 skilled craftsmen and women to make every bed, by hand. From their factory in Devon, the luxury brand has stores and stockists all over the world. Senior Brand Manager at Vispring, Victoria Soares said, “Phoebe’s design captures Vispring’s timeless aesthetic with a modern twist, and we’re delighted to be able to include it in our core range.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">“With our factory based in Plymouth, supporting the progression of local design talent is important to Vispring; the collaboration with Plymouth College of Art has enabled the students to showcase their skills and with fantastic results.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">“The Kew”, inspired by the mohair fibres of Vispring’s luxury mattress, was selected by a Vispring judging panel including designer and stylist Despina Curtis and founder and director of London based PR agency, Tomorrow PR, Neil Bryne, along with Vispring Managing Director Jim Gerety and Operations Director Chris Harrison.<br /></p>
Phoebe Leader
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.plymouthart.ac.uk/people/cathryn-bishop">Cathryn Bishop</a>, senior lecturer and Subject Leader of <a href="https://www.plymouthart.ac.uk/courses/undefined/ba-hons-interior-2021">BA (Hons) Interior Design & Styling</a> at Plymouth College of Art said, “This competition has been an amazing opportunity for our Interior Design and Styling students.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Working with real briefs from industry leaders like Vispring is what our programmes are all about at Plymouth College of Art, giving our students an experience, as close to being in a real design studio as possible.”<br /></p>
Cathryn Bishop (left) with Phoebe Leader (right)
<p dir="ltr">Phoebe, who graduated in 2021 with a First Class honours and finds inspiration from natural surroundings such as the local countryside and wildlife, said, “My initial inspiration came from one of the core fibres used in Vispring’s luxury mattresses - mohair. This natural fibre comes from the angora goat, which has beautiful, characteristic horns. The shape of my design echoes the natural slope of the horns, and the asymmetrical shape offers a modern, on trend twist for what will now be a core collection headboard.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">Phoebe said of the win, “I’m thrilled, not only to have won but to know that my design has been sold all over the world - it is so exciting and beyond what I could have imagined.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">The Kew headboard, designed by Phoebe, will be available from all Vispring retailers from January 2022.<br /></p>