WHAT ARE MODERN DESIGNERS DOING ?
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—In reference to furnishing and your question, "What are our modern designers doing ? " the reply of Commander David Joel, R.N., is interesting. With the modesty charac- teristic of a bold bad sailor he tells us that together with Gordon Russell he is producing a modern period of furniture.
Further, he is flattered to see that everything he produces is immediately copied by the trade. This is an astonishing statement and deserves examination. The largest factories produce sets of living and bedroom furniture. The designs are innumerable and the sales each week run into thousands. Now if the statement of Commander Joel means anything at all, it means that his creations influence this, the greatest portion of the trade. The idea is fantastic. A word on " copying." Some while back a friend bought a boat. A wonderful boat, all complete and fitted with a stern—and a propeller in it. And, Sir, believe it' or not, the very first boat he met on the water that also had a stern—and a pro- peller in it !
A designer to one of the largest firms in 'the country 1 confess to a total ignorance of the Joel uplift movement. Living in the wilds of Buckinghamshire has its compensations.
—I am, Sir, &c., L. G. BARNES. The Bungalow, Terry Road, High Wycombe.
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