Designer Lou Christie and Designer/Maker Andy Dix were asked by AHEC to produce a new speakers Lectern for The Hay Literary Festival. The Lectern would be a key piece of furniture to be used on the two main stages at the May 2011 Festival. If successful, the lecterns would be used for Segovia and other European events run by Hay Festival organisation. The Design needed to provide a means of showcasing the qualities of American Hardwood. We were given an open brief and asked to provide a new and fresh approach for consideration.
After consultation with the festivals technical team, it became apparent that the design would have to incorporate bulky electrical equipment and their consequent trailing cables. In addition, Peter Florence (Director, Hay Festivals) had intimated that speakers tended to ‘hide’ behind the lectern and he would prefer them to be more exposed to the audience. At previous events, speakers of a shorter stature had been obliged to stand on a box, a solution that was clearly inadequate. There was a requirement for signage and the speaker would need room for a lap top and notes. This new piece would not be standing in isolation, but would need to sit with the current chairs and backdrop.
Result
"The design team we selected rose to the challenge of producing a lectern that not only looked contemporary and different but also provided all the technical detail required by the Hay Festival in terms of AV and signage. What impressed us was the way they worked closely with the Festival organisers to deliver a workable solution in a very short time frame, without compromising in any way the quality or function. The pieces were made and finished to the very highest standard and not only complimented the existing stage furniture but also helped lift the whole visual appearance of the stage set. The end result was a strong design, brilliantly made, that performed and looked fantastic, the solution found to provide high quality interchangeable signage was particularly inspirational, we couldn't have asked for more" - David Venables, European Director, American Hardwood Export Council
The Lecterns will be used at Hay Festivals worldwide showcasing American Hardwoods across the globe
Solution
An elegant form, simple and contemporary, providing a new interpretation for an often uninspiring and bulky piece of furniture. This is primarily achieved by creating a hidden storage area under the top surface, meaning the requirement for a heavy base is no longer necessary and so giving the opportunity to reduce this to an ‘empty space’. Four legs to elevate the top to speaker height. The tapered legs maintain lightness and allow for secretly concealed cable management to either side, so it can be positioned on both sides of the stage. To address the problem of varying heights of speakers two sets of detachable legs give two heights, having the added advantage of easy shipping and storage. A soft form is given to the top, which feeds into the curve and tapering of the legs. The sides of the top also taper down to the base of the speakers lap top rest, giving a resting place for the hands. The top piece is segmented into bands of wood, providing a link with the top of the leg
