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 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.

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.