About Us
N16 Design combines innovative production techniques with contemporary design to offer stylish and well-built modern furniture at prices within reach of most. N16 Design reconciles the tensions between form and function to produce robust furniture which looks fantastic too - furniture that stands the tests of time physically and aesthetically.
Today’s consumers have an appetite for design. From clothes to cars and gadgets to interiors, you see it in the products on the market and the daily choices people make. Consumers want furniture that is not only functional and aesthetically-appealing, but makes a statement which reflects something about themselves. N16 Design brings distinctive furniture products and homewares to design-conscious consumers across mass and niche markets. Oliver Peake’s (see below) designs for N16 Design’s 2009 collection reflect a vogue for sensual curves, arcs and rounded biomorphic forms. The trend in part reflects advances in industrial design which have made such forms easier to manufacture.
At N16 Design, we have developed an innovative manufacturing process, combining vacuum-forming and cavity-filling, which brings with it a number of benefits in terms of cost and flexibility across design and manufacturing. The process allows us to produce furniture that is more competitive than fibreglass alternatives, but with comparable durability.
Additionally, the low upfront tooling costs required to go into production mean that we have a high degree of flexibility in design and manufacturing with which to respond to market demands ensuring the viability of production volumes ranging from small batches for specialist pieces, to large-scale production satisfying mainstream markets.
For retailers, a further attraction is our ability to fulfil significant orders from our East London workshop on a 'just-in-time' basis, thereby reducing their need to hold stock.
Oliver Peake
N16 Design's chief designer is Oliver Peake with more than 25 years' experience. Oliver graduated from Middlesex Polytechnic with a First Class degree in Furniture Design in 1985 and won the national Student of the Year award at SIT 85.
Following his degree, Oliver continued his training in Milan under the tutelage of Alessi designer, Massimo Morozzi, one of Italy's leading product designers. Oliver worked on diverse themes, including storage, lighting and textiles, from initial concept to production detailing.
For most of his career, Oliver has been an independent designer-manufacturer producing batch volumes and one-off commissions for private and commercial clients. He has sold his own product ranges via major retailers including Heals, Conran, Liberties, Purves and Purves as well as many small 'independents'.