Images Courtesy Nine6
Of the many things to call this era, we could call it the era of downsizing. In 2017, more than in any other year, people are leaving 5,000-square-foot houses for urban condos and choosing apartments that just fit their basic needs or their budget. The term minimalist no longer refers to just fashion but also to lifestyle. Essentially, we are choosing to occupy less physical space, and we are looking for items that match this simplicity.
Joe Greenberg and Matthew Campbell recognized this niche several years ago, just when the minimalist trend took hold. Greenberg and Campbell met in graduate school at Morgan State University while both studied architectural design. They bonded over their shared value of executing a project from beginning to end. While many designers focus on either the initial sketch or the final construction, Greenberg and Campbell cherished the full process—from sketch to prototype to sales. After earning their master’s degrees, Campbell stayed in Baltimore while Greenberg moved back to York. However, Greenberg struggled to secure a fulfilling career due to the architecture industry’s crash in 2008. Eventually, Campbell relocated to York as well, and the pair reconnected.
In 2011, Greenberg and Campbell partnered to form their design business, nine6. Joe describes the nine6 philosophy as design that is meant to fit small spaces. Both he and Campbell had lived in apartments for most their lives and were drawn to the simplicity of urban architecture. They, like many others across the nation, had consistently chosen smaller spaces that fit their single, ready-to-move lifestyle. This mindset fueled the nine6 mission (nine6.com). Greenberg explains that each piece is designed for functionality, sketched with clean lines and a modern style. He says that they are not concentrating on surface decoration or superfluous detail, but rather they aim to create simple, practical pieces. They believe furniture should easily move in and adjust to a person’s living. At the time Greenberg and Campbell began developing their brand, the mid-century modern trend took control of the architectural industry. This clean, refined style matched the nine6 mission perfectly, and Greenberg considers Campbell and himself lucky that nine6 made its debut alongside this trend.
They first presented nine6 at Yorkfest in August of 2011, unsure of how the community would respond to their designs. But they received an overwhelmingly positive reaction and moved on to an international show in North Carolina, where they received another unpredictably optimistic response. Greenberg and Campbell continued to represent nine6 at similar shows, trying to break into the competitive national industry of architectural design. Consistently, the team received encouraging reactions; they then began selling the pieces online through larger distributors such as Amazon and Wayfair. Plus, their work was being bought by various boutique shops coast to coast, from California to New York City. Though while attempting to achieve recognition amidst big-name designers, nine6 had “no local footprint,” Greenberg says. He calls this their greatest mistake. Although nine6 was building an online presence, they had few supporters who truly knew the brand. “We started backwards,” Greenberg says, and they had to revert their sales technique to match their design philosophy: small scale.
Now, Greenberg and Campbell are working to establish a local marketplace for nine6. They operate in a downtown York studio space located behind the Color Works building—one of York’s architectural gems. That means that every one of their pieces is sketched, constructed, revised and finalized in York by Greenberg and Campbell themselves. Because they personally execute every step of the design process, the pair works from a made-to-order model, creating the furniture as it is ordered rather than mass producing items. This allows them to relish in the process. Greenberg describes that process as first hand-drawing a piece, then creating a 3-D rendering model, constructing a prototype, evaluating and revising that prototype, and constructing a final version. If they do not achieve their desired outcome on the first attempt, the designers will craft as many prototypes as necessary until they are fully pleased with the piece. “We figure out what’s worth keeping,” Greenberg says. For example, they are able to judge a piece’s functionality, its scale, or its fulfillment of their desired concept and then alter the piece based upon those judgments. “Being so small makes us more nimble,” Greenberg says.
One of nine6’s most popular pieces is the magnetic sketch wall, geometrical-shaped wall hangings that are coated in dry-erase material so they can act simply as décor or as to-do lists, notes, or fun playroom additions. Another popular item are the Marlowe chairs, a collection of steel and wood chairs well suited for a studio apartment dinner table or a small patio. Like the sketch wall, the chairs can be made in many colors from neutral to orange to blue. Additionally, nine6 produces series of modern housewares, bistro tables, benches and other small furnishings.
Greenberg and Campbell also offer contract services like interior design, custom furnishings and installation. They have worked with the York favorite House of Yoga, the offices of YRK Magazine and RGS Associates. At House of Yoga, nine6 created honeycomb-shaped, magenta ceiling panels; a custom check-in counter; the elephant branded signage and other metalwork details. Greenberg explains that these intimate, custom projects are the most exciting for nine6 because they are able to produce something new and be trusted with their creative talents. In addition to local endeavors, Greenberg and Campbell have designed pieces for national events like the International Ballet Competition, a Miranda Lambert concert and an extravagant wedding in Jackson, Mississippi.
By working with such clients, nine6 is thrilled to finally be establishing their own product line and lifestyle brand. They have used their experience as minimalist dwellers to accommodate the growing community of those interested in small-scale living. There is no room for fuss in their design or in their lifestyle.