People
Interactive Retail & the High Street
Retail is now becoming a lot more interactive, what does this mean for the high street and online outlets? Britain’s high street has been in steady decline in recent years, with profit slumps forcing mega brands such as House of Fraser and New Look to close a large number of their stores across the UK…. Read More >
ONE: CLAIRE VALLIS
Continuing with our popular series, we invited Claire Vallis to take part in ONE, where you can glimpse the passions, interests and unexpected choices of the individuals behind the UK’s design and manufacturing sectors. Claire Vallis is Creative Director of Brands at Style Library and is responsible for six of the most iconic British brands in… Read More >
The effect of space planning theory and practice on office development
In the 70s the ideals of office landscape design were wholeheartedly adopted by a management anxious to retain employees in an era of high employment and staff mobility. Individual space standards were generous and furniture budgets were on the up. Although this might have provided a convenient excuse for the furniture providers to adopt a… 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 >
Spectacular Speckles
The last couple of years have born witness to a seemingly unprecedented rise in the use of the speckle within the world of interiors. Noticing this set me to wondering why this might be; it feels like quite a specific aesthetic after all. In truth, the speckle has a deep-rooted history within our built environments…. Read More >
ONE: Julian Evans
Continuing with our new series, we invited Julian Evans to take part in ONE, where you can glimpse the passions, interests and unexpected choices of the individuals behind the UK’s design and manufacturing sectors. Julian is the Senior Designer at BroomeJenkins and has a very broad role within the company. His technical skill, market experience and competence in… 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 >
ONE: Matt Hayes
We continue to enjoy learning more about UK based designers in our ONE series, today we meet Matt Hayes, Design Studio & Product Manager at Muraspec Wallcoverings. In his role as Design Studio & Product Manager at Muraspec Wallcoverings, Matt manages the creation and production of commercial and residential wall coverings for worldwide markets including hospitality, office,… 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 >
ONE: Pippa Nissen
We continue to enjoy learning more about UK based designers in our ONE series, today we meet Pippa Nissen, Director at Nissen Richards Studio. Pippa Nissen is a Director of award-winning, cultural collaborators Nissen Richards Studio, working with many of the world’s greatest institutions. Pippa studied architecture at Cambridge University and took a Theatre Design… Read More >
ONE: Gavin King
Continuing with our new series, we invited Gavin King to take part in ONE, where you can glimpse the passions, interests and unexpected choices of the individuals behind the UK’s design and manufacturing sectors. Gavin is the Director at SpaceInvader Design Ltd. He has 25 years’ experience of designing inspirational commercial environments for leading UK… 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 >