Henry Gurney – Hidden Treasure

Hidden genius within ranks

Yesterday the BCFA had a members business forum event in which the last speaker Alistair Gough (Managing Director of OCee Design) told  an amazing story of hidden genius within his ranks.

Henry Gurney the creator behind the HenRay collection at OCee, graduated from Loughborough University with a degree in Industrial Design. He first joined Ocee as a sales and administration assistant but after coming to grips with the office industry he soon realised that he had product ideas that could enhance the Ocee range.

Encouraged by Product Development Manager Ray Hills, Henry presented his designs to the Ocee team; the acclaim for his first concepts resulted in the HenRay.

Henry’s design ethos is to create products that will stand the test of time through solid build quality and uncomplicated design. Having worked in the sales office Henry has first hand experience of customers’ needs and the importance of practical design. The success of the HenRay in the demanding social areas of universities is tribute to Henry’s understanding of his marketplace.

Classical proportions and the ability of nature to create beauty through simple harmony drives Henry’s concepts. Henry is inspired by Leonardo da Vinci who used observation, an understanding of internal workings and nature’s evolution as key design principles.  A more holistic approach to design and an understanding of user interaction with the product is essential. Henry’s products are designed to encourage people to rethink how they interact with their environment and each other. He aims to create workplace solutions that provide new ways of working, socialising and interacting.

The amazing thing about this story was that the creativity and great design was already at the business and sometimes we just need to bring that out of people and really give people a chance to be creative, you never what could come of it.

 

All Images © OCee Design 2014