The C.O Designs Story
Founded in 1994, C.O Designs has established itself as a manufacturer in the furniture business that differentiates itself with quality and innovation. Engineering the Evolution of Workspaces.
Our story
Founded in 1994 by Raymond Ellerbeck in Somerset West, C.O Designs began with a simple yet powerful idea: to reimagine home office furniture at a time when personal computers were becoming household staples. One of its first innovations, The Box Office, was licensed to Makro in 1995, setting the tone for the brand’s future in scalable, functional design.
As demand grew, so did the company moving to larger factory premises in 1996 and again in 2001, and evolving its focus from home offices to large-scale corporate and educational clients. Key leaders like the late Peter Pillon and current director Graham Radford played a pivotal role in driving expansion, including landmark projects like the furnishing of Sanlam Investments’ London offices.
Through challenges and milestones, the company continued to grow, opening its Johannesburg office in 2013 and welcoming Debbie Radford as Director.
Today, C.O Designs stands at the forefront of corporate office furniture manufacturing in Southern Africa and now enters a bold new chapter. In 2025, the company became 52% Black Female-Owned, welcoming respected industry leaders Bernadette Isaacs and Lerato Moledi as majority shareholders. Their vision, paired with the deep-rooted experience of Ellerbeck and Radford, forms a united leadership committed to innovation, inclusivity, and transformation.
With over 30 years of experience, C.O Designs remains true to its promise of Engineering the Evolution of Workspaces—delivering functional, modern, and sustainable office solutions for a changing world.
Our Company Profile
Our Purpose
To make a positive contribution to the high levels of unemployment in South Africa by assisting our clients to grow sustainably, becoming more successful & increasing their profitability by enhancing levels of productivity. This growth will create opportunities for our clients to employ more people. C.O Designs will benefit by securing the employment of existing staff and the potential growth will create more job opportunities in the company.
Vision
Creating productivity enhancing furniture products for workspaces.
Mission
C.O Designs’ mission is to consistently be the leading South African designer, developer, manufacturer and supplier of privacy & focus enhancing furniture and acoustic solutions that contribute to the wellbeing and increased productivity of a company's employees.
Sustainability
We strive to protect the environment through developing low carbon footprint products through low carbon operations.
Values
Excellence
Being specialists by way of focus.
Winning Team
We work together to meet the needs of our customers and to help the company win.
Dynamic
We make small continuous improvements in all aspects of our business.
Positive Discontent
We can always do better.
Nurturing Partnerships
We develop relationships that make a positive difference in our client’s, supplier’s and employee’s lives.
Integrity
We uphold the highest standards of integrity in all of our actions.
Our Journey
New Ownership - Black Female Owned
Acquisition of 52% of Group shares by Bernadette Isaacs & Lerato Moledi via BEE Trust (Majority Black female-owned office furniture manufacturer)
Launch of SkyLite™ Privacy Pods
Launch of CitiPod™ Phone Pod
Cost effective value engineered phone pod.
Introduction of Upgraded ChatterBox Classic™ 4.0 Privacy Pods
Introduction of Upgraded ChatterBox Classic™ 3.0 Privacy Pod
Introduction of Updated ChatterBox Classic™ 2.0 & ChatterBox LITE™ 2.0 Privacy Pods
Launch of ChatterBox LITE™ 1.0
Launching a more cost effective range of privacy pods.
Introduction of Upgraded ChatterBox Classic™ 1.2
Launch of First Designed & Manufactured Privacy Pod in South Africa. ChatterBox Classic™
C.O Designs Attends Orgatec Furniture Fair
Strong presence of Privacy Pods at 2018 fair.
Graham Radford Relocates to Cape Town - Debbie Radford joins as a Director.
Designed, Manufactured & Installed first QuickPod™ Room-in-Room solution.
C.O Designs Attends Orgatec Furniture Fair
First Exposure to the growing trend of Privacy Pods.
C.O Designs Factory Grows to 3000 Square Meters
Graham Radford Joins C.O Designs as Shareholder & Partner
Opens Johannesburg Office and Showroom.
C.O Designs Signs Exclusivity Agreement with Caimi Brevetti
C.O Designs signs an exclusivity deal with Caimi Brevetti for the South African Market.
Peter Pillon Passes Away
C.O Designs Relocates to a Larger Factory
C.O Designs relocates its manufacturing facility to a larger 2000 Square Meter factory in Epping 2 - Industria.
Our First Export Project - London
C.O Designs furnishes the London office for Sanlam Investments.
Peter Pillon joins as Shareholder & Marketing Director
C.O Designs Relocates to Bigger Premises
C.O Designs relocates is manufacturing premises in Parow. Turning focus to Corporate Office Furniture manufacturing.
Compact Office Designs changes name to C.O Designs.
Sakkie Meyer sells stake in Compact Office Designs.
Sakkie Meyer sold his stake in Compact Office Designs to Raymond Ellerbeck. Making Raymond Ellerbeck majority shareholder.
'Box-Office' Licensed to Makro
C.O Designs Founded (Trading at Compact Office Designs)
C.O Designs founded by Raymond Ellerbeck in partnership with Sakkie Meyer in Somerset West. Designed 'Box Office' targeting home office market.
Meet our Leadership Team
With a combined legacy of leadership and a renewed vision for transformation, Raymond Ellerbeck, Graham Radford, Bernadette Isaacs, and Lerato Moledi now lead C.O Designs together—championing innovation, inclusivity, and sustainable growth as they shape the future of workspace design.
Raymond Ellerbeck
Graham Radford
Bernadette Isaacs
Lerato Moledi
The C.O Designs Team
Meet the amazing team that is behind the continued success and growth of C.O Designs.
Our Production Facilities
Our Clients
The key to our success has been the exceptional relationships we have built with our customers over the years.
