Block1: Design
Block1: Design is a London-based boutique interior design studio serving hospitality, retail, and commercial clients across the UK and Europe, with a specialism in franchise and multi-site restaurant design including Island Poké, Nando's, and On the Bab.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Block1: Design does
Block1: Design is a London-based interior design studio founded in 2014 by co-founders Laura and Justin, operating as a boutique firm with 1-10 employees. The firm delivers end-to-end design services across four integrated pillars: interior design (from strategic briefing and concept through 3D visualisation and technical drawings), planning and implementation (including landlord submissions and planning applications), FF&E sourcing and procurement, and branding services (logo, identity, web, signage, packaging, print). Its core specialism is franchise and multi-site restaurant design, exemplified by its long-running partnership with Island Poké, where it has contributed to the brand's rollout across 18+ stores, and by its template-driven approach that scales from small kiosks to large dine-in restaurants while preserving brand identity.
The studio serves a predominantly UK and Western European client base, with recent projects in Paris and stated experience in Asian and South American markets. Its named clients include major UK hospitality brands such as Nando's, Gunpowder, On the Bab, Blacklock, Flat Iron, Butchies, 26 Grains, Buvette, SubCult, and Mustard Diner, plus retail work for fashion chain Joy across multiple UK cities and the Korean skincare brand Moida. The firm's work has been recognised at the Muse Design Awards (Gold, 2020) and the Restaurant and Bar Design Awards (shortlisted 2018 and 2019).
Revenue is generated on a project-based, custom-quoted basis with no disclosed pricing tiers, and the go-to-market is direct client engagement from initial brief through to handover. The firm maintains construction delivery partnerships with BlueCrow, Metz Construction, and AMD Contractors to support multi-site rollouts. The company is privately held, founder-owned, has no external funding, and operates entirely on organic client growth, with no technology platform, mobile app, or AI-driven product behind the design work.
Block1: Design firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Block1: Design
- Legal name
- Block 1 : Design
- Website
- https://block1design.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Block1: Design is a London-based boutique interior design studio serving hospitality, retail, and commercial clients across the UK and Europe, with a specialism in franchise and multi-site restaurant design including Island Poké, Nando's, and On the Bab.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Block1: Design industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Interior Design Services
- NAICS
- Interior Design Services (54141), Interior Design Services (541410), Graphic Design Services (541430)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM)
Keywords
Where Block1: Design is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Block1: Design business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Design Services: Project-based design services including interior design, branding, FF&E sourcing and planning/implementation. Services delivered from concept to completion.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | — | Custom project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Block1: Design product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Block1: Design provides integrated interior design, branding, FF&E sourcing, and franchise design services for hospitality, retail, commercial, and residential clients. The studio manages projects end-to-end from strategic briefing and concept design through FF&E procurement, planning applications, and final handover. Specialized franchise design capability enables scalable restaurant concepts adaptable from small kiosks to large dine-in venues while maintaining brand consistency across multiple locations.
Product overview
Block1: Design is an interior design firm based in London offering a unified suite of design services rather than a modular software product. Their core service offering comprises four integrated pillars: Interior Design Services (strategic briefing through technical drawings), Planning and Implementation (project delivery and handover), FF&E + Sourcing (furniture, fixtures, equipment procurement), and Branding Services (logo, identity, web, packaging). They specialize in franchise design and development, creating scalable restaurant concepts that can be adapted across multiple locations while maintaining brand identity, exemplified by their ongoing work with Island Poké (18+ stores). Their portfolio spans hospitality, retail, commercial offices, and bespoke residential projects across UK and European markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Interior Design Services Comprehensive interior design services for hospitality, retail, commercial, and residential clients spanning strategic briefing, concept design, customer journey mapping, 3D visualizations, landlord submissions, detailed design, full technical drawing pack, and bespoke joinery design.
- Planning and Implementation Services Project delivery services including scope of works, design coordination, planning applications, design production support, implementation of project, and handover to client.
- FF&E + Sourcing Furniture, fixtures and equipment design, sourcing and procurement services including reclaimed and antique procurement, and design specifications for hospitality and retail projects.
- Branding Services Brand identity services including logo creation, brand identity development, web design, signage and wayfinding, packaging design, and print design for hospitality and retail brands.
- Franchise Design and Development Specialized franchise design service for high capacity, quick turnover restaurant offerings in small, medium and large spaces. Includes concept development, material palettes that scale from kiosk to large dine-in restaurants, and full design service to franchise partners.
Companies that use Block1: Design
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Block1: Design technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Block1: Design partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- BlueCrowminorConstruction delivery partner for Moida project. Also delivered Templar project.
- Metz ConstructionminorConstruction partner for Pastino project at Tottenham Court Road.
- AMD ContractorsminorConstruction delivery partner for Flat Iron basement refurbishment project.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Block1: Design competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- B3 Designers: UK-based hospitality and retail interior design firm. Comparable service offering covering concept through implementation for restaurant and retail operators.
- Macaulay Sinclair: London hospitality interior design studio serving restaurant groups, hotels, and F&B operators in the UK and internationally. Highly comparable offering — interior design, FF&E, and branding for restaurant chains — and competes for the same enterprise hospitality clients.
- DesignLSM: UK-based interior design and branding agency specializing in hospitality, retail and leisure. Direct competitor in the same boutique-to-mid hospitality design space with comparable client profile (restaurant groups, hotels, retail brands).
- Shed Design: London-based hospitality-focused interior design studio working with restaurants, bars and hotels. Comparable boutique profile, similar sector specialization and project-based delivery model.
- Russell & Hobbs: London interior design studio serving restaurants, hotels and retail brands. Comparable boutique-to-mid positioning in the UK hospitality design market.
- Black Sheep (BSE3D): UK hospitality interior design agency serving restaurant groups and QSR/fast-casual operators. Comparable end-to-end service model and similar focus on multi-site brand rollouts.
- Fraher & Co: London design practice focused on residential and commercial interiors with strong hospitality work. Comparable boutique studio profile and similar mix of concept-led interior design for restaurants and lifestyle brands.
- FormRoom: London interior design studio specializing in hospitality, retail and leisure environments. Comparable boutique scale, project-based model, and similar client mix of restaurant groups and lifestyle retailers.
- Alinea Design: UK hospitality and leisure interior design agency with comparable client mix of restaurants, bars and hotels. Similar project-based delivery and brand-environment focus.
Emerging players
- Maple & Birch Interiors: Smaller London boutique interior design firm serving restaurants and lifestyle retail. Comparable scale and design-led approach though narrower client portfolio than Block1.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Block1: Design social profiles
Digital presenceBlock1: Design financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Block1: Design leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Block1: Design funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Block1: Design M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Block1: Design
What does Block1: Design do?
Block1: Design provides integrated interior design, branding, FF&E sourcing, and franchise design services for hospitality, retail, commercial, and residential clients. The studio manages projects end-to-end from strategic briefing and concept design through FF&E procurement, planning applications, and final handover. Specialized franchise design capability enables scalable restaurant concepts adaptable from small kiosks to large dine-in venues while maintaining brand consistency across multiple locations.
Is Block1: Design a public or private company?
Block1: Design is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Block1: Design founded?
Block1: Design was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Block1: Design based?
Block1: Design is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Block1: Design make money?
One revenue line is on record: design Services.
Who are Block1: Design's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are B3 Designers, Macaulay Sinclair, DesignLSM, Shed Design, Russell & Hobbs, Black Sheep (BSE3D), Fraher & Co, FormRoom and Alinea Design. Maple & Birch Interiors is listed as an emerging player.
Does Block1: Design have an API?
No public API is recorded for Block1: Design.
What industry is Block1: Design in?
Block1: Design's product category is Interior Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAB, Interior Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAM, Industrial/Product & Furniture Design. Its NAICS code is 54141.