MatterDesign(UK)

What MatterDesign(UK) does

First Works Co. is a London-based creative design and fabrication studio that produces bespoke furniture, sculptural interventions, and custom-built environments for brands and institutions. Operating for over 10 years from a workshop in Peckham, the company runs a four-stage process covering concept, design, production, and installation, handling delivery, assembly, lighting integration, control systems, and on-site handover. Its core technical capabilities span metalwork and welding, joinery, plastic fabrication, electronic prototyping, and electrical installation, with a specialization in integrating lighting and responsive technology (motion sensors, sound-responsive LEDs, control systems) into physical builds. The studio targets luxury fashion and retail brands (Alexander McQueen, Loro Piana x Harrods, Converse, Pandora), events and hospitality operators (Barclaycard British Summer Time, Rosewood, Amazon Prime), creative agencies, and cultural institutions.

Name

MatterDesign(UK)

Legal name

First Works Co.

Website

https://mttr.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

First Works Co. is a London-based creative design and fabrication studio that designs, builds, and installs bespoke furniture, sculptural interventions, and branded environments for luxury fashion houses, retailers, events, and cultural institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Design and Fabrication Services

NAICS

Industrial Design Services (541420), Interior Design Services (541410)

SIC

Miscellaneous Furniture & Fixtures (2590)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Custom Cabinet Design & Build (HSAPAIAA)

Keywords

• Custom fabrication services
• Bespoke furniture design
• Sculptural installations
• Lighting integration
• Design fabrication studio

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Fabrication Services: Project-based custom fabrication services including design, concept development, production, and installation for bespoke furniture, sculptural interventions and spaces. Revenue generated through direct client engagements with repeat clients and new project acquisition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

First Works co. designs and fabricates bespoke furniture, sculptural interventions, and custom-built environments for brands and institutions. Delivered through four sequential stages — Concept, Design, Production, and Installation — the studio combines creative direction with multi-disciplinary technical expertise in metalwork, joinery, integrated lighting, electronic prototyping, and electrical installation to produce one-off statement pieces and environments.

Product overview

First Works co. is a London-based creative design and fabrication studio offering a comprehensive suite of services for bespoke furniture, sculptural interventions, and custom-built environments. The company operates across four key stages: Concept, Design, Production, and Installation. Their core service offerings include Design & Concept Services (creative strategy, moodboards, engineering, visualizations), Production & Fabrication Services (metalwork, joinery, integrated lighting, electronic prototyping, electrical installation), Installation Services (delivery, assembly, lighting integration, control systems, safety compliance), and Lighting Integration as a specialization. The company specializes in integrating lighting and technology into furniture and sculptural interventions, supported by their in-house workshop facility in Peckham. Their portfolio spans multiple product categories including responsive light features, VIP lobby installations, sensory booth experiences, architectural light tunnels, mirror tunnels, sound-responsive installations, marketing suites, illuminated sculptures, cladding and visual identity systems, retail shop fit-outs, window displays, facade installations, and event hospitality environments. Working primarily with luxury brands, fashion houses, and cultural institutions, their projects include Alexander McQueen window displays, Loro Piana x Harrods installations, Amazon Prime exhibition structures, and Covent Garden seasonal sculptures.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Design & Concept Services Creative strategy, moodboards, design development, visualizations, renders, floorplans, engineering, and schematics delivered as the Concept and Design stages of a bespoke fabrication project.
• Production & Fabrication Services Multi-discipline production covering metalwork and welding, joinery and furniture making, integrated lighting, plastic fabrication, electronic prototyping and development, electrical installation, and complex assemblies, delivered through a network of trusted specialist makers.
• Installation Services Full installation service covering delivery, placement, assembly, fitting, lighting integration, control systems, safety compliance, and final handover of completed fabrications on site.
• Bespoke Furniture Fabrication Handcrafted bespoke furniture designed and fabricated to client specifications, working with materials including timber, metal, and composites.
• Sculptural Interventions Artistic sculptural installations and interventions for commercial and institutional spaces, often incorporating lighting and mechanical elements.
• Custom-Built Environments Complete custom-built environments and spaces for brands and institutions, delivered from concept through installation.
• Lighting Integration Specialized integration of lighting and technology into furniture and sculptural interventions, including LED installations, control systems, and electronic prototyping.

Named customers16 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• M Worldwide: Larger London-based brand experience and retail design agency producing flagship stores, pop-ups, and installations globally. Comparable retail/luxury client mix but broader agency model versus First Works' in-house fabrication studio approach.
• Rockwell Group: International design firm specialising in hospitality, retail, and cultural interiors with integrated fabrication and technology capabilities. Overlaps with First Works in bespoke luxury environments and integrated lighting/sculptural elements, but at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Bompas & Parr: London-based experiential design studio producing bespoke multi-sensory installations for luxury brands, events, and cultural venues. Comparable in the bespoke-installation-for-luxury-clients niche and emphasis on lighting/sensory experience design.
• Jason Bruges Studio: London-based design studio specialising in site-specific sculptural and architectural installations that integrate light, technology, and fabrication — directly comparable in scope, client mix (luxury/retail/cultural), and technical approach to First Works co.
• Universal Design Studio: London-based design practice delivering interiors, brand experiences, and bespoke installations for high-end retail, hospitality, and cultural clients — overlapping significantly with First Works' custom-built environments and luxury client base.
• Random International: London-based studio producing large-scale immersive and interactive sculptural installations involving light, movement, and technology for cultural and commercial clients. Comparable in combining sculptural fabrication with integrated electronics/lighting.
• Ben Kelly Design: London-based design studio working across interiors, furniture, and branded environments with a strong track record in retail and hospitality. Comparable in bespoke environment design and long-standing luxury/commercial client relationships.
• Pineapple (formerly Pineapple Contracts): UK-based bespoke furniture and joinery manufacturer serving hotels, restaurants, retail, and luxury commercial clients with concept-to-installation service. Comparable in custom fabrication of statement furniture and interiors for premium brands.

Emerging players

• Studio Fractal: London-based design and fabrication studio producing bespoke retail interiors, window displays, and brand activations for fashion and luxury clients — partial overlap in custom retail environments and London fashion clientele.

Regional players

• Tourism & Events Queensland (Branding & Activation Suppliers) - using Peppermint Creative as example: UK-based bespoke event and experiential fabrication agency producing branded environments for festivals, launches, and hospitality activations — comparable in project-based custom build work for event and retail clients, though typically more agency-mediated than First Works' direct brand relationships.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/firstworksco
• Instagraminstagram.com/firstworks.co

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MatterDesign(UK)