Furniture maker wins design award

Wellingtonian businessman Rick Wells, whose company Formway Furniture created former United States president Bill Clinton's chair of choice, has scooped the outstanding individual award at this year's Design in Business Awards.

The Formway chairman and former chief executive, who along with partner Alan Brow bought the Petone business in 1981, was thanked for his strong leadership and tireless commitment to raising awareness of design in business.

Mr Walls is credited with taking a 12-person locally focused furniture company and turning it into a global export business, with more 200 staff and the biggest furniture design studio in New Zealand and Australia.

"For many of us in the design and business community, you are an icon," Judith Thompson, director of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise's Better by Design, said at the awards ceremony in Auckland.

"New Zealand needs more business leaders of your calibre and we are both proud and immensely grateful for the inspiration your achievements provide."

Formway is no stranger to awards. In 1999, it took the overall Design in Business Award - won this year by Auckland-based shower and tapware manufacturer Methven.

The ZAF chair, Formway's first fully designed and manufactured product, won the Prince Phillip Award for excellence in product design, not to mention an order for two chairs from the prince himself.

And in 2002, the company launched LIFE chair, the seat of choice for Apple boss Steve Jobs and Mr Clinton.