The Collective are a UK-based design and manufacturing studio for acoustics. Set up by founder Lucy Abraham in 2014, the business began with the mission of bringing environmentally sustainable choices to the commercial interior market. Since then, year on year growth has resulted in The Collective becoming a great example of a forward thinking, dynamic UK born company.
Lucy now runs the company with husband Steve Lewis, who brings with him over 20 years experience from within the commercial interiors industry, and a questionable sense of humour.
Our head office is based in the seaside town of Folkestone, and our London studio is in Shoreditch. We welcome visitors with good coffee and home made banana cake and our office dog Loki loves visitors, so please do let us know if you would like to come and say hello.
Lucy studied interior design at RMIT in Melbourne, and moved to the United Kingdom in 2010 on the quest for adventure and fine weather.
After working in the interior sales industry for 6 years, Lucy founded The Collective in 2014 which was fuelled by seeing the significant lack of design focused products on the market which have genuine, sustainable initiatives and ethics.
Loves: Cloud watching
Not so keen on: Eating noises
Really quite good at: Assembling flat packed furniture
Steve Lewis, AKA Stevo, has worked for some of the best design-led brands in the commercial furniture industry, with his personal highlight being 'Head of the Architecture and Design Team' at global design legend, Vitra.
Stevo has always had a passion to create opportunities for new talent, and to give people a platform; a risk many people may be unwilling to take. This passion continues strongly at The Collective, whether it be designers, staff, or suppliers - we want people to grow and be part of this journey with us.
He likes all things loud, like himself, drums, cars….traffic cones.
Phil's career in the interiors industry began at renowned furniture brand Vitra, focusing predominantly on the D&B market. The desire to be closer to warmer oceans took Phil over to Sydney where he managed international markets for Australian furniture manufacture 'Thinking Works'.
After 2 years on the road (and some very persuasive negotiations from Steve) it was time to return home and begin a new challenge with The Collective.
Loves: Anything with an engine that goes fast (electric, of course)
Not so keen on: English winters
Really quite good at: Barbequing
After graduating in 3D Design, Caroline focused her career on marketing within the commercial interiors sector, working at leading design-led brands including Vitra (UK & Middle East), Bene, Allermuir and the Design Council.
Caroline enjoys working with like-minded individuals to communicate good design, creating strategic, impactful and fun marketing campaigns along the way.
Loves: ‘Pancake Friday’ breakfasts
Not so keen on: being patient with technology
Really quite good at: knocking up a banquet from an empty larder
After finishing her A levels and needing employment, Sara took a temporary book keeping role which then transpired into a successful career within finance. Sara studied for the Associated Chartered Certified Accountants qualification, achieving full ACCA membership in January 2019 and joining The Collective during February 2020.
Originally from Oxfordshire, Sara moved to Folkestone in 2014 to be near her family and the sea.
Loves: Eating out and spending time with friends and family
Not so keen on: Getting up when my alarm goes off...I am not a morning person
Really quite good at: Keeping houseplants alive
Sophie is a French native who spent her childhood in Spain. She studied Product Design, ticked off three more countries during her studies, and finally settled in London in 2017.
Sophie has experience in Product and Retail design as well as project management, in both the furniture and retail industry.
Loves: Dancing
Not so keen on: Ironically, not a big cheese fan
Really quite good at: Making flower arrangements
Iain studied at The Batley Art College and then joined a small joinery contractor in York in 2001 as a designer, moving up to Estimator and PM for MoD over six years.
In 2006 Iain moved to Slovenia to enjoy cold winters and hot summers, building his own house and working alongside a flooring contractor. In 2010 Iain moved back to the UK for the birth of his first daughter, returning to the construction industry. Iain joined The Collective in August 2020.
Loves: Chocolate (and my children)
Not so keen on: Slow drivers
Really quite good at: Baking
With over eight years of logistics experience Kasia loves organising and planning. She recently completed her Prince 2 Qualification and is looking forward to utilising her learnings in her work at The Collective. Having studied in Poland, then Scotland, before completing her MA in Belgium she has lived in England since 2013. She loves exploring her local area of Folkestone...especially when walking her beloved golden retriever Holly.
Loves: Travelling & Nature.. especially that ‘top of the world standing on a mountain peak’ feeling.
Not so keen on: Wasting time, especially on the daily routine of getting ready.
Is really quite good at: Finding deals on anything and everything.
Nick started as an apprentice engineer in the construction industry in 2010 and went on to study civil engineering at university. He has worked in various roles in engineering and project management, building electrical substations, and working on the railway.
Nick joined DEKA in October 2022 and will bring his problem-solving skills and project coordination into the manufacturing side of the business.
Loves: Sunday lunch at the pub
Not so keen on: Dill
Really quite good at: Spreadsheets
La'tia joined The Collective in March of 2020 as an apprentice. She is passionate about working for a company that has such wonderful environmental ethics and is keen to grow her knowledge in the industry.
Loves: Plants
Not so keen on: Spinach or mushrooms
Really quite good at: Cutting/dying her own hair
Following completion of his A-levels in 2018, Ben had a keen interest in construction, although was unsure of the role that would suit him best. An opportunity came up at a local design and fit out company where Ben joined as a trainee project manager.
Three years later, and now at The Collective Ben is still loving his job and looks forward to what the future brings!
Loves: Playing Golf
Not so keen on: Cold, dark, early winter mornings :(
Is really quite good at: DIY (Getting my hands dirty!)
Helen has worked in growing small businesses for over 15 years and has a background in finance, data analysis and systems management. Working across different departments in a small organisation has given her varied experience and a love for getting stuck in (and an excel spreadsheet)!
Originally from Lincolnshire, Helen moved to London to study Forensic Science in 2004 where she stayed for many years before relocating her young family down to be by the seaside.
Loves : Sea swimming and good food
Not so keen on: Wasting time and cucumber!
Really quite good at: Making jewellery
Chloe graduated in Product Design from the University of Brighton. At the end of her studies, she went on to coordinate Modus Furniture's Design and Marketing teams. Alongside, organising exhibitions, events, and socials for Southwest Creatives.
Chloe has four years of experience spanning furniture design, spatial design, creative content production, and art direction and is excited to assist DEKA with building an extensive portfolio of well-designed products.
Loves: Festivals, live music, and long Somerset walks!
Not so keen on: Cotton wool (*shiver*)
Really quite good at: Retail therapy
Before starting at The Collective, I was a self employed builder and turned my hands to anything with a passion for carpentry, which combined with my social and problem-solving skills has led me down the route of sales. I play football 5 times a week and would be a lot better at it if I didn’t like cake so much.
Loves: Football, Go-Karting, Formula 1.
Not so keen on: Taramasalata.
Is really quite good at: Building houses and problem solving.
Before joining TCA to assist the Project Team with their big (and exciting) workloads, Treena previously worked in various sales and admin jobs. With her keen interest in meeting new people and interior design, she finally decided to leave Wales and make the move to the big city to develop on her previous experience.
The Collective Agency seemed like the perfect fit.
Loves: Nature, pretty lights, summer
Not so keen on: The cold (yuck) and shellfish (yuckier!)
Really quite good at: Making the PERFECT eggs in any way, shape or form
Helena graduated in Interior Design and Environmental Architecture at Ravensbourne University in 2022, where she discovered her passion for design.
With her previous experience in the design industry as an assistant, she was thrilled to join The Collective Agency in July 2022 as a Junior CAD Technician.
Through her time at The Collective Helena has evolved into our Project Designer and is excited for all the new projects and challenges ahead.
Loves: Travelling, Being with Friends and Family and Random General Knowledge
Not so keen on: Mean people
Really quite good at: Making plans/organising and chatting too much (oops)
Background; Jack spent the majority of his career in lighting, having succesfully established his own consultancy within the field. He "switched" to the commercial side of the industry within fabrics/wall coverings, as he had lost the "spark" for lighting, puns intended.
Jack is passionate about design, so the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, of different specs, keeps him on his toes.
Loves: Coffee, Wine, Golf
Not so keen on: waiting for my luggage at baggage reclaim.
Really quite good at: Putting flat pack furniture together.
Born in Liverpool, Henry moved to London at the age of 4, for a year, and then to Kent, where he grew up. After he left school, Henry started a Flooring apprenticeship, for 2 years, where he received a fully qualified Level 2 NVQ.
Following his apprenticeship, Henry went self-employed for 2 years, which saw him complete a project for The Collective's office, and later become a full-time installer for TCA at the start of 2022.
Loves: Liverpool FC, holidays & his dog Reggie
Not so keen on: Cold days, mushrooms & uneven Skirting
Really quite good at: Football & Pool
Jamie started in the world of CCTV and data installation, whilst dabbling with some construction but there were too many hardhats and little too much dust!
In August 2022, Jamie joined the ever-growing TC team as an Estimator and is now an integral part of the office.
Loves: Football, Cheese, Clothes, and all things alcohol based
Not so keen on: Deep sea (who knows what's lurking in there)
Really quite good at: Riddles and rollerblading
Tom grew up in north London, studied at Coventry and Copenhagen university and graduated with BSc in Disaster Management.
After graduating, Tom established himself as a carpenter, and ran his sole trading company for 6years prior to starting at The Collective in 2022.
Loves: Cooking, coffee and the feeling of stepping out of the airport in a new country.
Not so keen on: English winters, decorating and tequila.
Really quite good at: Chess, poker and swimming.
Bethany finished her A-levels in June 2022, and swiftly joined The Collective in September of the same year to complete an apprenticeship in business administration. The alignment was born from her interested in learning and growing within the interiors industry.
Loves: Shopping!!
Not so keen on: Early mornings (definitely not a morning person)
Really quite good at: Dancing (danced for 15 years)
