Featured
BCFA Member of the Month: Roca
Design Insider is pleased to announce February’s Member of the Month, Roca. Kicking off the year with an exciting new collection, we caught up with David Bromell and discovered the inspiration behind the Ona collection, how Roca have been addressing sustainability throughout their manufacturing and some exciting new projects launching this year. [Find Roca on… Read More >
BCFA Member of the Month, Hypnos Contract Beds
As we enter the new year, we have a lot to look forward to and plenty to work towards, turning a new leaf and wiping the slate clean. For many, however, the January blues are beginning to set in, and this can often take a lot to shake off. In light of this, we welcome… Read More >
BCFA Member of the Month: Amtico Flooring
Autumn is officially here! As we watch the leaves fall and colours warm to hazel hues we welcome October with our new Member of the Month, Amtico. We had the absolute delight of speaking with Lorna Williams, Head of Product Design and Visual Creation, about their holistic approach to design, the inspiration behind Amtico’s award… Read More >
Q&A with Herman Miller: BCFA Member of the Month
Design Insider is so excited to announce our new BCFA Member of the Month, Herman Miller. With over 100 years in business, Herman Miller has inspired furniture design for decades, placing their importance on design, the environment, community service and the health & well-being of their employee’s and customers. We caught up with European Ancillary… Read More >
Q&A with Astro Lighting: BCFA Member of the Month
Summer is finally here; despite the somewhat glum weather in the UK, things are beginning to open up again after an extremely challenging year for the Architect and Design Industry. But, even without the sun our next BCFA Member of the Month, Astro Lighting, have been shining a light through it all, powering on with… Read More >
Clerkenwell OPEN – 9th & 10th September 2021
Clerkenwell OPEN – 9th & 10th September 2021 Organised by BCFA and WOD The time has come to mingle with like-minded people and network in real time again. This new two day ‘OPEN’ showroom trail event, running on Thursday 9th & Friday 10th September aims to provide a focus and a clear statement that Clerkenwell… Read More >
Q&A with ROCA: BCFA Member of the Month
Easter, lockdown easing and the dazzling sun shining – the perfect time to celebrate the next BCFA Member of the Month, Roca. Throughout April, Design Insider will showcase Roca on all of our platforms; we began April 2021 by speaking with Mark Poulain, the Commercial Specification Director at Roca. Please can you tell our readers about Roca? Roca started life as a family business and… Read More >
Curtis Furniture at The Amba Hotel Grosvenor
Curtis Furniture is a UK’s specialist manufacturer of bedroom case goods to the hotel industry. Curtis Furniture has been turning designs into beautiful contract quality furniture for 21 years and now have an impressive client list. The team have been busy working on stunning new projects; such as The Amba Hotel Grosvenor. [Find Curtis Furniture… Read More >
Designing in Turbulent Times
Like me, you may be one of the many who were taught about the affects of climate change at school. You may even be a parent whose own children are being taught about the same human-made issues today. Perhaps you joined the many millions who left their schools and workplaces to take part in the… Read More >
The influence of New Ideas & Techniques
When I entered it straight from college in 1970, despite the relatively long intervening period, the office furniture industry was in terms of design and output only just beginning to shake off the shackles of dull, post-war austerity. This was driven in part by ideas on how offices might be laid out in a more… Read More >
Vive the entrepreneurial spirit!
What does it mean to be entrepreneurial? Well, it begins with spotting an opportunity and having clarity about what you’re proposing, whether it’s a new value, service, product or method for being more innovative or efficient. Next, you have to commoditise your vision. You’ll need to be more than just motivated to create change – and… Read More >
Work internationally. Travel light
Many years back, before setting up Istoria Group, I finished a particularly exhausting work run and needed to get away. I joined a yacht crew and sailed round the world, taking only essential belongings with me in a small backpack. Later, when I set up my own company, the vision was to be global, but… Read More >
The Power of the People
In an earlier column on sustainability, I focused on process and waste, but sustainability is about so much more than material life-cycles. Successful sustainable businesses also need to perform financially, culturally and socially. It’s about taking the long-term view – and, in my view, the greatest asset to help you achieve that is your people…. Read More >