To be successful, furniture designers must have that indefinable X-factor.

One student who has that talent in spades is Gordon Young from Edinburgh.

His beautiful and functional desk in oak and flamed beech is sinuous, tactile and hugely practical.

Gordon, who has a Masters degree in civil engineering from Heriot-Watt University, is someone who has always been a natural at making things.

That is evident in his desk, and the way the two contrasting woods converge on the top.

They’re joined together with a seam of macassar ebony veneer.

It’s a design flourish that adds drama and beauty, made more special by the seam also falling down the side of the desk.

It’s the addition of the ebony veneer to weave the woods together that gives it enormous aesthetic appeal.

He also demonstrated a real talent for gilding on the course, particularly his parquetry chess board framed in oak.

Gordon gilded his chess board frame with copper, then treated it with alcohol to create an aged effect.

This was then sprayed with copper nitrate acid to turn Verdigris, which describes the resulting green pigment,

Gordon is setting up Twin Tree Design, and intends to pursue a career in general bespoke fine furniture.

We’re delighted that he has chosen to stay on at the Chippendale school and work from our on-campus incubation space.

This allows our professional course graduates to immediately get started in their new careers.

It also gives them access to the school’s equipment, machinery and tutor support.