We are Puzzlebox and we come from a very varied background 

Richard and James founded Puzzlebox largely out of frustration with an industry that has been satisfied to churn out products that offer short-term solutions and leave ever-lasting environmental impact. Rather than just complaining about it, they resolved to do something about it. Putting their varied talents to use, they developed an innovative range of flatpack furniture that takes a decisive step away from the disposable culture currently associated with it.

Richard and James have been colleagues for over 10 years, having met while working for a company that produced some of first UK made electric trucks, contributing to a sustainable future for UK logistics.

James is the innovator behind Puzzlebox. His career in design and engineering spans over 30 years. His university studies in Product Design culminated in a final year project involving creating a flatpack chair that could be sustainably manufactured from cardboard. After graduating, James embarked on a diverse career that gave him a broad overview of mechanical and electrical design and the impact that poorly conceived design can have on maintenance and repair. While working with Richard, James found countless solutions to engineering design challenges (often rapidly mocked-up from a lump of wood for proof of concept). He has worked in outdoor advertising infrastructure, railway rolling-stock systems, and industrial machinery. Along with Richard, James played a pivotal role in getting zero-emission multi-drop logistics vehicles developed, deployed and running on UK roads. Behind the scenes, James would build bespoke furniture (and the occasional speaker cabinet) for his home and/or office. He is a Member of the Institution of Engineering Designers.

Richard, Co-Founder (and generally mildly grumpy realist) is the business brain needed to back up and balance James’s creativity. He has a passion for knowing how things work. Starting at university in Automotive Design and Manufacture before working at Ford, Jaguar, and Landrover. Upon discovering that he didn't like doing the same thing day in and day out, he went to work in a variety tech startups. As such he’s been instrumental in the creation of new technologies in various sustainability areas such as carbon saving through driver behaviour, electric and zero emission trucks, and electric motor development. It's Richard’s job to make sure that the business side runs smoothly, and that we fulfil our promises to you.

Emma is Puzzlebox’s Artist in Residence (AiR). She addresses aesthetic or informational gaps in James and Richard's work. She is responsible for creating artistic impressions of James’s concepts and occasional behind the scenes views, archiving our early steps, conducting behind-the-scenes research, and dealing with Puzzlebox’s branding and early marketing activities. She started her career working as a Photographic Technician in the press industry. At the same time, she was also freelancing doing art, photographic restoration, and other odd-jobs involving photographic technologies. For various reasons, she left the press industry in 2005 and has never looked back. She has since worked in many more areas such as branding, product labelling design and compliance for the pet care sector, administration, and art education for both adults and children.