Collate Lobby curates fictional 1930s hotel suite to launch its first editions collection

Over 30 designers, makers and studios have created limited-edition and prototype furniture and objects for Lobby, a new design platform launched by recruitment agency Collate Form during London Design Festival.

Collate Lobby’s debut exhibition takes the form of a fictional hotel suite and foyer, inspired by the fashion and interiors of the 1930s.

Almost everything on show was developed by designers especially for Lobby, with standouts including a polished metal mirror by Jaclyn Pappalardo, a chainmail partition screen by Edward John Milton and a lounge chair by Matthew Coules.

The collection also includes small objects and accessories, including a lacquered resin lamp by Alexander Shayle, a cast bronze table lighter by Thomas Wheller, colourful silk scarves by Les Keepers and espresso cups by Maison S Sommet.

Founder James Garis conceived Lobby as a platform for emerging and established designers to develop new product concepts and test them on the market.

It is intended to be a platform that sits somewhere between a brand and a retailer, giving designers freedom to experiment but maintaining a degree of curation.

“I’ve met so many amazing, talented designers and makers over the years, but they have nowhere to funnel their work through in any sort of a controlled sense,” Garis told Dezeen.

“There are services and websites that any decent designer can put their work on, but they aren’t curated, so it never feels like a brand,” he said.

Lobby’s model differs in that, for each product drop, participating designers and makers are asked to respond to a distinct theme.

For the inaugural drop, Garis asked for an object that deserves to live in a Parisian “boudoir-like” hotel. He then worked closely with participants on the final stages of product development.

All objects are available to order, with Lobby holding exclusive rights for a minimum of three years.

Those that prove most successful will become part of Lobby’s core collection.

“So many people in the industry get screwed over by brands, but we’re trying to be as fair as possible,” said Garis.

“I’m not a designer, but I am a furniture geek, and I understand what sells,” he added. “[This model] gives me a chance to see what I can do for these designers, and if it doesn’t work, then they can take the idea somewhere else.”

Lobby is presenting its debut exhibition at Yorkton Workshops, the home of design studio Pearson Lloyd. Spread across two rooms, it includes a reception area, a lounge space and a bedroom.

More than 40 objects are presented across these different areas, with key themes including art-deco style and material experimentation.

One example of this is Josh Page‘s Acid floor lamp, which combines a base of carved teak-veneer plywood and a poplin shade with a blue embroidered seam.

Others include Charlie Humble Thomas‘ Fred lamps, which pair sculptural blown-glass shades with blocks of polished British marble, and Odd Universe‘s tetris-like aluminium side tables.

Other notable pieces include a textile wall hanging by Andrew Pierce Scott, a pair of tassel pendulums by Christopher Kelly, oak stools with pewter inlays by Theodóra Alfreðsdóttir and textured ceramic sconces by Stine Keinicke.

Lobby is on show at Yorkton Workshops in Hackney from 12 to 20 September as part of London Design Festival. See Dezeen Events Guide for more architecture and design events around the world.

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