Based in Manchester, YOUTH is an award-winning design studio driven by a strong desire to create spaces that connect people to place, purpose and each other
Photography by TDM.Space featuring the Adanola retail space in Selfridges designed by Manchester-based interior design studio YOUTH
Words by Roddy Clarke
‘It was never about building a big studio, but creating something exciting that people could connect with,’ says Liam McGroarty, one half of YOUTH, the Manchester-based interiors studio delivering a wide scope of projects across the retail, residential and hospitality sectors. Co-founding the studio with Oliver Collinge in 2016, their human-centred approach to design has earned them significant recognition across the industry, winning multiple awards along the way.
Having developed a signature style that juxtaposes materials with a refined and elevated aesthetic, the creative duo state they are driven by a belief in refined rawness. ‘We seek to balance craft and clarity with a respect for material honesty, emotional resonance and purposeful design,’ comments Collinge. ‘Every project is an opportunity to create spaces that are not only well-resolved but also feel good to be in.’
Photography by YOUTH featuring the studio’s founders, Liam McGroarty and Oliver Collinge
While centred on design, the duo’s entrepreneurial spirit stems from YOUTH’s very early beginnings when McGroarty and Collinge met at the Manchester School of Art. ‘We were students with big ambitions, not just as designers but as entrepreneurs,’ continues Collinge. ‘For two years we worked nights in cafes and bars, building the studio after hours while holding down full-time design jobs.’ Initially taking on commissions for small hospitality spaces for friends, the duo used this as an opportunity to develop their creative dynamic before going on to win two larger projects which cemented the studio within the global industry. ‘Things changed when we secured Manchester’s largest multi-residential project at the time,’ explains McGroarty, ‘alongside a veterinary hospital in Saudi Arabia. We started with no titles, no ego – just a desire to create spaces that felt genuine and human.’
Photography by YOUTH featuring the reimagined interiors of independent wine shop KERB, designed to bring its audiences and clients together in a meaningful way
Working across sectors has also been a chance for the studio to show its versatility, while displaying how a human-centred approach translates within different environments. ‘Each sector brings out a different side of the studio,’ says McGroarty. ‘While our aesthetic threads through everything we do, each context allows us to explore new ideas and ways of thinking.’ Keen to expand their hospitality portfolio, the duo feel their design style translates well within such spaces. ‘We’ve built a reputation for creating spaces that feel grounded, elevated, and culturally aware,’ says Collinge. ‘There’s a clear convergence between multi-residential and hotel design and we see that crossover as a strength we’re well-positioned to explore further.’
Photography by YOUTH showcasing the recently completed interior setting for Voodoo Running whose mission is to go beyond the store experience and create a cultural hub and community space built for runners
Alongside their own intuition and desire to create spaces that enhance wellbeing, they also have noticed an increasing awareness and need from clients in creating spaces that enhance social connection, particularly post-pandemic. ‘Clients are more attuned to tactility, light, material provenance and neurodiversity,’ says McGroarty. ‘We’re seeing more openness to spaces that prioritise feeling, not just function.’ Applying a conceptual thought process when planning a space, which then takes form within the physical space, has allowed the team to execute ideas that push these boundaries of sensorial design while integrating a strong narrative into a space. ‘It’s about bringing a story to life, thoughtfully and with purpose.’
Photography by TDM.Space featuring the retail space for sportswear brand Adanola within Selfridges where YOUTH opted for elevated surfaces that juxtaposed each other beautifully, allowing the space to stand out while reflecting the brand’s grounded aesthetic
Looking ahead, the duo’s vision is to live and work with more creative freedom. ‘We want to stay independent while scaling internationally,’ says Collinge. ‘We can then grow a body of work that reflects care, intelligence and a distinct point of view. We have a very exciting venture launching later this year in Europe; a step that brings this vision even closer to reality.’ Speaking of the wider industry, he goes on to say how we need a higher standard of design, not just in concept but also in execution. ‘Too often there’s a gap between bold ideas and how they’re delivered on-site. For us, good design means both: clear thinking and the technical ability to realise it with precision and intent.’
With community at the heart of what YOUTH does, the studio’s bold foresight and creative sensitivity is exciting to witness, especially in a world where connection is needed more than ever. ‘Our spaces are designed around people. How they move, gather, pause and reset,’ concludes Collinge. ‘Rigid systems or over-layered hierarchies do not bind us. That gives us the space to take risks, challenge briefs, and push for outcomes that feel more human, more intelligent, and more distinct.’
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