Former Matlock pupil wins prestigious John Lewis design award

Oliver Hrubiak’s design will be on sale in John Lewis from the autumn under the ‘Design Collective’ label.

Now based in Nottingham, Oliver gained a first class degree in furniture and product design at Nottingham Trent University. He has also won Lighting Association’s 2012 Student Lighting Designer of the Year Award and House Beautiful Magazine’s 2012 Designer of the Future Award.

Passionate about encouraging new designers, Oliver visited Highfields School recently and held a workshop to develop ideas and creativity with A level design and technology students.

He demonstrated his own A level designs he produced a few years ago while studying at Highfields, as well as his later university work, to give an insight into how his creative process has developed.

Andrea Thompson, head of design and technology at Highfields, said: “It is wonderful to see our design students go on to succeed in the way Oliver Hrubiak has. He has been a real inspiration to our students, to show what can be done beyond school. His passion for innovation is infectious, and we are looking forward to him returning in September to work again with our sixth form.”