SUCK UK is a duo of designers named Sam and Jude. They graduated in 1996 from Central Saint Martins in London with BA’s in Product Design. They design and produce everything from furniture, lighting, interior products and accessories.

THE BEGINNING… Their story begins in North London when they started working on commissions from architects and other designers. These jobs were usually one-off eclectic projects that never led to producing actual commercial products. It was actually the gaps between these jobs usually working on low budget film, TV, or interior jobs that gave them the idea of something more. SUCK UK was established in late 1999 from humble beginnings, their first studio was the kitchen floor in their flat. They worked on their own concepts making stuff for no-one in particular: products with glamour and pure industrial forms, off-the-wall and unnecessary functionality, things to grab your attention without resorting to kitsch or parody. They obsessed about processes and materials, always working towards elegant yet affordable production solutions.

Working in this cramped environment with no outside support made learning hard and fast. They worked (unfortunately for the neighbors, who eventually gave them the boot) through the night and filled their days with dead-end jobs to buy materials and pay the phone bill. Money was unbelievably tight and a unique ability to utilize their surroundings and whatever tools they could get became a way of life. Everything they did was mostly trial and error yet they would scrounge for professional expertise as often as possible.

It was fast becoming evident that their makeshift studio was completely inappropriate, new premises were required and with no money the solution came in the form of an empty room in a squatted embassy building in Primrose Hill. The only room without boards at the windows provided a lot of space and soon became their studio and a nearby pay phone the office. It was at this time that they really started to develop their products, banging together prototypes and attempting some sort of small-scale manufacture.

Just as SUCK UK really started making progress, developing products that wouldn’t look out of place in London’s clubs and galleries but also fit into people’s houses... production was set back by an unexpected eviction late one night. Most of their old equipment was lost but the prototypes were salvaged before the police officers got to them. They made it out with a new determination and confidence to quit their day jobs and put all their energy into developing the brand. Two moves later and they are now based in an East End studio like proper designers.

SUCK UK is not a craft-based company, they design based on their knowledge of how, why, where and what is possible. They work closely with specialist manufacturers in many fields getting the benefit of years of manufacturing expertise without having to physically learn the craft. As time passes a more recognizable SUCK Style is emerging, already ditching some of their earlier products which helped launch the company. Their products are attracting a lot of attention from the public as well as the press, they have appeared in all the usual interior mags and have even represented the face of "contemporary design" on the BBC. Public reaction to their products was fantastic when they launched at MODE in June 2000. They were presented the award for 'Most Innovative New Product' by Terence Conran and “Best in Show” at MODE. Their products are sold all over the world but they are never content, and the next few months will see a release of some of the best new products to come out of the UK in a long time...