Draff

Originally from Marboz in France, Aymeric Renoud is a Dundee based designer and fabricator.

His career in 3D manufacturing began at Moissonnier a renowned French furniture house, where he worked as a traditional cabinetmaker for seven years.

Aymeric relocated to Scotland in 2013 to study interior design at Duncan Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD). After graduating in 2015 with a Bachelors of Design, he remained within DJCAD as the Designer in Residence for two years.

The idea for a draff material came from a curious interest in brewing and distilling technologies combined with a passion in eco conception. Aymeric started to explore the possibilities of reusing the wastage from alcohol production as a material.

In November 2017, Aymeric opened draff Studio, a Dundee based design workshop that champions innovation in materiality. Using locally sourced waste from the gin, whisky and beer industries, the studio has experimented, developed and fabricated a sustainable sheet material that can be used in a variety of design projects, from pieces of furniture, product to decorative cladding. Lee Johnstone joined Draff Studio in May 2020 and works alongside Aymeric.

After years of experimentation the studio has discovered the perfect formula to turn spent grain and botanicals into a material that is durable, sustainable and unique.

The journey of their draff material begins straight after the mashing or distilling process. The grain and botanicals are collected and dried out as quickly as possible in their workshop. Heat and high pressure are then applied to the raw ingredients. This process is a key factor in creating a dense and reliable material. The look of the material varies depending on the grains and botanicals used to make it such as barley, juniper berries, lemongrass and citrus leaves. The heating process also influences the colouring of the material making each furniture piece made from it truly unique.

From their Dundee workshop, Draff Studio creates bespoke pieces of furniture and is frequently involved with local projects as well as distillery and brewery collaborations.