In the Belmont Cragin neighborhood is a workshop like any other—yet within its walls lies the recipe for successful collaboration. Dock 6, a collective of six designers, makers and fabricators, has perfected the art of showcasing individual aesthetics within a shared venture. Now, after a decade of churning out custom furnishings for the likes of Revival Food Hall and more, these creatives put forth their first collection.
Standout items from the Dock 6 Collection include the Rokkå rocking chair, Orbit shelf, fi re screen and Humboldt Schoolhouse series of chairs—from Seth Deysach, Zak Rose, Carson Maddox and Dan Sullivan, respectively. PHOTO BY JOE TIGHE
Celebrating the harmony of teamwork while respecting self-expression, the 11-piece collection is the culmination of works from Dock 6 members Zak Rose (zakrose), Andrew Kephart (-ism Furniture), Carson Maddox (Carson Maddox Studios), Dan Sullivan (Navillus Woodworks) and Seth Deysach (Lagomorph Design). “We have spent years working side by side, admiring and critiquing each other’s work,” says Sullivan. “At the same time, we respect that authorship and final decisions must come from one voice. That voice is the individual designer and, ultimately, the collection itself.”
With the makers at its core, the collection is an ode to craftsmanship, spotlighting refined minimalism. “We are modernist furniture designers. We respect the best techniques and material use of the past, and traditional craft and labor,” the group notes. After presenting the single product representative of their aesthetic, the designers spent weeks workshopping and paring down the collection into a cohesive line of furnishings that were at once fundamental components and striking additions to any space. “Excess ornamentation is stripped away, and materials and construction are featured, even celebrated,” Sullivan says. “Yet there is a familiarity to our designs—practicality and utility are guiding principles. The goal is for our furniture to distinguish itself through taste and careful decisions.”
Seth Deysach of Lagomorph Design crafted the walnut and veneered bent plywood Rokkå. PHOTO BY JOE TIGHE
Of particular note are the Rokkå, a walnut and veneered bent plywood rocking chair with tufted leather cushion from Deysach; the Axis credenza, a midcentury-leaning walnut unit with strategic cutouts revealing teal powder-coated steel from Rose; and the Franklin dining chair, a stained walnut chair crafted with unique angles that recall midcentury design from Sullivan. “It’s exciting to see them truly finished and in a much sleeker, refined format than where they began,” Rose adds.
The stained walnut Franklin dining chair from Dan Sullivan of Navillus Woodworks. PHOTO BY JOE TIGHE
Launched in fall, the collection is now on view at Montauk Sofa through March 28. “Maria [Giangrasso, Chicago showroom manager,] and her team there have been great allies throughout the years, and it’s culminating in this event,” Rose says. “It’s a great way to show the first collection to a different audience and give us an opportunity to speak with clients in a different setting than at Dock 6.”
The walnut and steel Element bar stool designed by Carson Maddox of Carson Maddox Studios. PHOTO BY ERIKA DUFOUR
Both Sullivan and Rose hint at more furniture designs in the near future—keep eyes peeled for case goods and tables. “Design and craft are our passions,” Sullivan concludes. “We draw upon our years of experience, individually and collectively, to realize our designs and hope to connect with people who share our values and passion for timeless heirloom-quality furniture.” Stand by as we impatiently await what Dock 6 will dream up next. Montauk Sofa, 1229 W. Lake St., Chicago, montauksofa.com; Dock 6 Collective, 2100 N. Major Ave., dock6collection.com
