No matter how careful or experienced you are, working as an interior designer carries certain risks. Business insurance is designed to protect you from these risks, but it can be difficult to know how to get the right cover.
To make things a bit easier, we created this guide together with our insurance partner, Superscript. Here, we walk you through the basics of insurance for interior designers, outlining all the things you need to consider when choosing cover or renewing a policy.
Head to the Superscript website to find out more about the insurance solutions they offer and get in touch to redeem your exclusive discount today!
Business insurance is an umbrella term for a range of covers, each designed to protect you from different risks.
Some risks are more common in certain industries or sectors, while other risks are shared by most businesses. The risks you face are likely to change as your business grows – and they can even vary from project to project.
It’s therefore important to think about the risks involved with your work and to make sure you have the relevant covers in place at the right time. Here are some common covers you might want to consider:
Professional indemnity insurance
A must-have for SBID members, professional indemnity insurance is designed to protect you if a client claims they lost money because of problems with your work, your mistakes or negligence.
This cover can pay your legal fees, as well as compensation awarded to the client. It can also protect you against claims of copyright infringement, unpaid client fees and reputational damage.
You might see professional indemnity insurance referred to as PI or errors and omissions insurance.
Public liability insurance
In-person consultations in your office, visits to clients’ homes, trips to shops and showrooms – working as an interior designer often involves coming in close proximity to members of the public.
If you accidentally cause an injury or damage someone’s property while you’re working, public liability insurance can cover the cost of compensation claims and legal fees.
Employers’ liability insurance
If a member of staff gets injured or ill because of the work they do for you, employers’ liability insurance can cover your legal costs, as well as compensation awarded to the employee.
In the UK, this cover is a legal requirement for most businesses that employ other people – whether those staff are contractors, apprentices, full- or part-time employees, temporary or permanent workers.
Business equipment insurance
From everyday essentials to specialist gear, every interior designer relies on their equipment. Business equipment insurance can cover the cost of repairing or replacing your kit if something gets lost, stolen or accidentally damaged.
It can cover items that stay in one place (such as machinery), as well as portable equipment like laptops and smartphones. And if you have employees, it can also cover their items too.
Cyber insurance
There’s a common misconception that only large tech businesses are affected by data breaches, cyber attacks and hacking. In reality, these are risks for any business that uses technology and the internet.
Designed to protect you from these risks, cyber insurance can cover your legal fees, compensation claims and costs related to notifying those affected. It can also provide protection in the event of extortion, breaches of data protection laws and financial losses caused by system downtime.
There are two main reasons for needing certain types of business insurance: membership requirements and legal obligations.
Firstly, like many other professional bodies and trade associations, the Society of British & International Interior Design has specific insurance requirements for its members. As outlined in the SBID Code of Conduct, all members must have professional indemnity cover. So if you want to join the SBID, it’s essential that you get the right insurance – and maintain your cover throughout your membership.
Secondly, employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement for the vast majority of businesses that employ members of staff. There are exceptions for businesses that only hire close family members or staff who work abroad. But if anyone else works for you, chances are, you’ll need to get covered. If you don’t, you could be fined up for £2,500 for each day without employers’ liability insurance. The law requires a minimum £5 million limit of employers’ liability cover and Superscript include a £10 million as standard.
Although you might not technically need other types of business insurance, there’s one very good reason to consider getting broader cover: the price of insurance is usually far less than the cost of a claim. And insurance can give you peace of mind that you won’t be left picking up the bill for things like broken laptops or data breaches.
As an interior designer, you know the value of tailoring your work to a client’s taste and preferences. And Superscript knows the value of personalised cover, made to suit your business’ needs.
With Superscript, you can:
Contact us to find out more about Superscript’s flexible, customisable business insurance – and their exclusive offer for SBID members.
About Superscript
Every business – from micro to multinational – should be able to get the right cover, made to suit its needs. Superscript is here to keep businesses moving. We qualify, quantify and offer insurance using data, analysis and technology, but we serve a huge number of business types, from dog walkers to dieticians, landlords to locksmiths, crafters to cryptocurrency exchanges.
If you’d like to feature your product news here, get in touch to find out more.
If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.
On International Women's Day, we wanted to recognise female entrepreneurs in the industry. This year, we would like to shine a spotlight on Honghui Liang, the Managing Director of Liang & Eimil. A husband-and-wife team of two, Honghui and Frank established their company to bring much-needed modernity to the interior design industry in a world dominated by ornate furniture and shabby chic homes.
Liang & Eimil takes pride in creating expertly crafted designer furniture, lighting and accessories. They offer clients innovative solutions for interior design and hospitality sectors. “We pride ourselves on the fact that we constantly innovate and bring new designs to our customers, exploring new materials and styles.”
Commemorating the feminine spirit, Liang & Eimil sheds light on the affects that build the environment every day, not just on March 8th. The choice to highlight Honghui and her dedication to embrace equity was taken for this year. Join us as we investigate methods for fostering inclusion, inspire you to start your own business, and offer you curated content that includes an exclusive interview.
According to Honghui, being a successful entrepreneur requires dedication, hard work, and perseverance with a strong will. It must serve a purpose. She is most proud of building Liang & Eimil from the ground up during a ten-year period.
Honghui explains how she has always been very independent ever since she was a child. She is a doer and achiever, always keen for an adventure. In 2009, she relocated to London to join her husband, Frank Eimil’s business and says, “I adore interior design and the pieces my husband creates. He is a wonderful designer, and I am good at running a business, so we are a perfect combination”. She adds that she is extremely proud of the brand they have both built together, claiming that their complementary skills are the key that has led them to where Liang & Eimil is today.
Prior to moving to the UK over ten years ago, Honghui worked in a variety of fields. She was a consultant for many Italian companies looking to expand into China, and she also ran her own business with a friend in the oil and gas industry. She says, “I am enjoying more of what I am doing now because I believe I am creating something meaningful.” Liang &Eimil’s mission is to bring luxury lifestyle into the lives of people and change the way they live and feel at home. Their objective is to make an ordinary day a memorable one, with the luxury of comfort, elegance and enhanced way of living.
When asked about the gender shift in leadership roles, Honghui believes she has seen a transition from male dominant to more female leaders since starting the business, as she noticed an increase in the number of companies led by women. “I believe the difference between male and female leaders is that women prefer a more collaborative approach of leadership by nature, whereas men tend to lean towards a command-and-control style.”
On the topic of fair and equal working environment, Honghui encourages impartiality by ensuring that no hidden characteristics are used to discriminate against employees. She also proposes that equal access to benefits and working conditions for all employees, as well as fair and consistent hiring and promotion procedures be established. Lastly, fair processes and procedures are to be set for dealing with employee grievances and disciplinary issues.
Often, there is the double-bind dilemma for women in leadership. Gender stereotypes frequently undermine women’s ability to lead. Men are seen as being strong, decisive and assertive when they take charge, while women are seen as competent but unpopular when they do the same. Women leaders frequently exert twice as much effort as males for the same accolades. Honghui thinks this needs to change as she stated, “to give more women the chance to succeed at all levels, in all occupations, and in all spheres of life, it is time to rethink what it means to be a leader. We ought to evaluate each employee according to the same criteria.”
The most difficult challenge they faced was when their warehouse caught fire. All their inventory was destroyed, but they remained calm and overcame the hurdle. They were lucky that everyone around them were very understanding and supportive, including their customers. “While faced with a challenge, it is important to discuss transparently to arrive at a solution.”
Work life balance is also another of Honghui’s constant battle. Being a family orientated individual, Honghui tries to spend as much time as she can with her family while balancing the two things that are most important to her: her family and her business. But how does she manage it? She says, "It's nearly impossible to strike a balance with only 24 hours in a day, so I devote more time to my family by sacrificing on my sleep." She expects to be able to devote more time to her family and children as more mid-level managers join the team and Liang & Eimil expand.
As SBID is the accreditation body for interior design, we had to talk interior. As Honghui enjoys reading, her most important pieces of furniture in a home are chairs and shelving. “Reading a book in a comfortable chair with shelving to display all of your favourite books and most treasured photo frames of your loved ones, where you can keep all of your beautiful memories, are most precious."
Honghui's favourite interior style is a cross of Art Deco and Mid-Century Modernism. Her home includes a variety of colour schemes as every room should tell a different story. From Liang & Eimil's over 1,500 product line, Honghui’s favourite piece is the Brutalist sideboard as she likes the texture, use of the geometric patterns and the subtlety of its golden brass trims.
Honghui advises young female entrepreneurs who want to start their own business venture and succeed in business to “Identify a market. Take action to start out courageously. Take the chance and push yourself. Keep your vision clear. Be observant. Have faith in yourself and always stay positive.” She adds, “It’s important to create a great team by hiring good people. Take advice from your employees and consumers as well as from your mistakes.”
Honghui's last message for aspiring female entrepreneurs is to have a purpose and be passionate. “Always maintain your confidence. Empower yourself to face challenges and risks without fear. Be creative as it allows you to concentrate on reforming and breaking through instead of solving problems. Be collaborative while also developing self-awareness. Self-awareness enables us to see things through the eyes of others. Determination. You will always go the extra mile and do whatever it takes to make it happen if you have a strong determination."
Cover image: Featuring Liang & Eimil’s Lapis Sofa, Lapis Occasional Chair, Montier Mirror, Luca Floor Lamp, Icardi Pendant Lamp and accessories.
About Liang & Eimil
Liang & Eimil, a British brand that specialises in furnishing design for the residential and hospitality sectors, believes in making ordinary moments remarkable. Renowned for producing expertly crafted furniture, lighting and accessories, they take pride in offering innovative solutions that can be tailored to any interior design aesthetic.
If you’d like to feature your project news here, get in touch to find out more.
If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.
Whilst the majority of Britain is working from home, it is more important than ever to create a bedroom that is serene and harmonious. Your bedroom is not only where you sleep but where you begin and end the day by reading, meditating or simply unwinding. We have put together this guide on how to create a relaxing and restful bedroom.
When trying to establish the key elements to change or improve in your bedroom take some time to clear the room by removing items that you no longer want and ensure that everything is put away. This will help you see the room as a blank canvas and make gaps or missing items clear.
Select a colour that is the most calming for you. A neutral base palette, such as ivory or sand, will open up the space making it feel clean, light and bright. It will also give you maximum flexibility with your space. If you do not like neutral colours then consider muted colours such as sage green or duck egg blue. To give your bedroom a refined and sophisticated finish choose a fabric wallpaper to bring texture and warmth to the space.
Position your bed against a wall, with space either side, and select an upholstered headboard with piping or studs to add an element of detail. To recreate a 5-star hotel feel at home use a mattress topper and double up your duvet inside the covers for a sumptuous sleeping experience. For maximum comfort, invest in the best bedding you can afford with a high tread count. Add to your bed by selecting some decorative cushions with small scale patterns or textures with a cashmere throw at the end of the bed.
It is important that you do not have too much furniture in your bedroom as this will make it feel cramped. Think carefully about what is important to you. If you have limited storage space then choose a beautiful chest of drawers or if you want a space to get ready at then choose a dressing table and chairs. Consider the furniture’s size and shape so that it fits within the proportions of the room. When accessorising your bedside table carefully select some key pieces, such as a jewellery dish and a candle, so that you do not clutter the space.
Your bedroom should aim to connect all your senses seamlessly to evoke the feelings and emotions you desire. By bringing scent into the bedroom you can set the tone and mood in your bedroom. You should consider picking a scent that is appropriate for the season: light and floral scents of the summer, deep autumnal and forest scents for autumn and spicy, festive scents for the winter.
Lighting is important to create a calming ambience in your room. Having a dimmer switch on the main light in your bedroom will help to create softer lighting. If this is not possible, you can create a restful environment by turning off the main light and utilising reading lights on your bedside table for warmth and comfort.
Tips provided by Alexandra Jurkiewicz, Creative Lead, Helen Green Design.
About Helen Green Design
Helen Green Design is proud to be one of Britain’s most respected luxury interior design practices. Over the past 19 years, the team has developed an invaluable reputation for creating elegant, sophisticated, and timeless interiors for our international private clients. The portfolio includes prestigious developments, luxury penthouses, townhouses, boutique hotels and country estates, with recognition for our work in Super – Prime London. Founded by the late Helen Green in 2002, the studio creates luxurious, yet liveable, residences and strives to deliver exceptionally high, personalised levels of service – values which lie at the very heart of our business.
If you’d like to feature your product news here, get in touch to find out more.
If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.
In this week's interview with SBID Awards Product Design judge and Founding Partner of Oliver Burns, Sharon Lillywhite shares her approach to creating unique design narratives, enhancing user experience through design, and talks about finding the balance between beauty and functionality.
When we are designing a space, I spend time getting to understand what environment and atmosphere the client wants to create. As Coco Channel once said, ‘An interior is the natural projection of the soul’. To achieve this, our design studio always uses a multi-sensory approach to enhance any surroundings. A powerful design tool to achieve this is colour, which plays a central role in influencing our moods and the atmosphere within a space. In one of my projects for ‘Veterans Aid’ I used colour psychology to transform the existing space into a warm and inviting home for 55 former members of the British military who were in crisis. The result was a warm, welcoming space with elements of discreet luxury that inspires confidence in the residents.
Our designs are born out of a story that either the property or the client wants to tell, making it a space with a unique narrative. This concept drives the requirement for bespoke pieces with the highest level of craftsmanship and design. Our clientele are seeking exclusivity and exceptional quality, and this is where we enlist the skill of artisans and craftsmen to create something extraordinary. From hand-painted wallpapers to embroidered linens, we feel very proud to work alongside these specialists to deliver something truly outstanding.
At Oliver Burns, our ethos is ‘Thoughtful Luxury’, where design goes much deeper than just the aesthetic to reflect deeper values and meaning. The concept of Thoughtful Luxury underpins everything we do. It is reflected in our designs, from the concepts we develop, and is demonstrated in the unique understanding we have of our discerning clients and translated in our vision of client care. From concept to completion, this approach ensures that all of our projects are thoughtfully designed, thoughtfully built and thoughtfully finished.
A space is to be enjoyed and lived in and I don’t believe that there should be a compromise when it comes to beauty and function. If there is a piece that I know will work well aesthetically but may not be the most functional, then I will always try to work with designers to create something bespoke that I know will deliver on both elements.
Make sure that your project stands out and has a unique element to it. It needs to be inspiring and innovative, presenting something that we have not seen before. I am always looking for attention to detail, so make sure that every product and finish counts.
Questions answered by Sharon Lillywhite, Founding Partner, Oliver Burns.
Sharon Lillywhite is Founding Partner of Oliver Burns, a multi-award-winning architectural interior design studio that thoughtfully designs the world’s finest homes. Working across an exclusive portfolio of international turnkey projects, the team has a world- class reputation for bespoke commissions, super-prime developments and elegant spaces that are synonymous with a luxury lifestyle. Their exceptional architectural, creative, and development credentials together with the highest levels of personal service, enable them to act as trusted advisors to discerning private clients, developers and luxury brands.
In this week's interview with SBID Awards Product Design judge and Creative Director at Casa Forma, Carolina Sandri defines contemporary luxury, and shares how approaches to design differs around the world to compliment client lifestyles.
All nationalities have their own culture that shapes their lifestyle preferences, while in university to get my architecture degree I enjoyed reading about people’s history and their cultures, how they lived and worked.
In my studio in Brazil, I learned that Interior Design and Architecture is about much more than designing for aesthetic appearance. It has to consider communication and the key user experience - from how people move around space and interact with objects or people, to how the spaces work according their cultural choices.
When I moved to London, which has been home for me for the past 17 years, I was very proud to be working in the centre point where international design and vision comes together. London is the place where the biggest window to design is!
Most of our clients are global citizens and have homes in many different places, the majority have the same “international” taste when it comes to design, but what we always take in consideration is that, despite having a taste that focuses on unique items of high quality, they are also individual people that have their own cultural preferences that need to be taken in account.
During the years we developed a well-selected supplier database of the best craftsmen and artisans that can bring things from different parts of the world to help us transform our visions into reality. We live in a world where you can go all over and come back with the most amazing materials and fabrics - its remarkable of what we can do.
The most important characteristics that we look for in a product is the superior quality, intrinsic durability, and uniqueness that the product has.
One of the most important steps in the design process is to spend time with the client at the beginning of the project to fully understand the brief, listen to the client’s journey and history so we can be assured that he design decisions that we will help them make along the way are the correct ones.
These decisions are very important as they have the power to influence the users’ experiences and compliment their lifestyles. Through furniture choice and layout, lighting, finishes and acoustic design, we can influence how people will be using the spaces.
Integrating elegance and technology in a well-resolved balance that culminates in a space that is both stylish and usable is contemporary luxury to me. I believe that expectations of luxury are very individual, as each person have their own taste and style, so they also have their own definition of luxury. What may be considered as luxury for one person may not be for another.
Everybody is unique and to ensure a client-driven approach to our projects, we focus on fully understanding the life and needs of a particular space, concentrating entirely on what’s important to the client and their lifestyle.
Trust your vison and listen to learn. We live in a world of inspiration and creativity and if you work with passion, you can create a design that is truly special and will be well recognised.
Questions answered by Carolina Sandri, Creative Director, Casa Forma.
Carolina has more than a decade of experience on the design and implementation of high-end interior design and architecture projects in London and around the globe. She is the Creative Director at the award-winning luxury design studio Casa Forma and is responsible for delivering leading-edge residential schemes for international high-net-worth individuals and property developers. Her passion for design excellence and extensive knowledge in the luxury global market, makes it possible to transform any client’s aspirations into a truly bespoke and luxurious space. Her architectural background gives her a combination of creative design skills with a wide range of technical knowledge.
In this week's interview with SBID Awards Product Design judge and Chief Executive at Scott Brownrigg, Darren Comber talks about the power of innovative design thinking, its role in future proofing our environments, changing and enriching our lives. He also shares what role the sustainable aspect will play in his judging process.
Innovative design has the power to help address the climate emergency, future proof our built environment, and ultimately enrich lives. We need holistic, culture-led approaches that look beyond aesthetics and current trends in order to create spaces that people choose to be in. The pandemic has caused a significant shift in our thinking; people want to occupy spaces that have been designed with sustainability in mind, and flexible enough to suit their needs. Inclusive spaces that can support a range of communities and cultures are fundamental.
The vast majority of people engage with the built environment in one way or another, and can therefore experience the benefits of good design. It’s not just about new innovations, but thinking critically about how we do things already – and looking for opportunities to make them better.
Good design could play a crucial role in addressing key challenges we face today, such as the rise in the cost of our energy bills. By changing our mind set on what’s considered the norm, we can improve the quality and efficiency of our homes. Residential planning in the UK often discourages predominantly north facing apartments in favour of dual aspect or south facing aspects. But maybe this should be challenged? South facing apartments often feature smaller windows as a means to manage excess heat gain. If we were to embrace north facing residential design innovatively, it could be a simple way to create comfortable living environments that cost less to light, heat and cool. With bigger windows and better connections to the outdoors.
It can also help us reduce the embodied carbon of our buildings – our design for CABI Headquarters features a stunning exposed steel and concrete interior which saves resources, is sound absorbent, assists with cooling and requires little maintenance. The internal layout is also extremely flexible to reduce need for future fit-out.
Sustainable solutions can be perceived as the expensive option, so it is up to us to promote the benefits of sustainable design and demonstrate long-term value to our clients and that good sustainable design does not ultimately cost more, but actually less. Sharing knowledge, collaboration and open debate is key to moving the industry forward – ultimately the whole consultancy team needs to be on board and aligned when it comes to meeting the sustainability goals of the project. These goals need to be embedded in the concept and thought about at every stage of the building process; during construction, operation, and what happens once the design reaches end of life. Whole life cycle cost and carbon assessments can help us make more informed decisions when it comes to the design, and the materials and products we specify.
We can also strive to meet benchmark sustainability and wellbeing standards such as Passive House and WELL Certification as we design. Our fit out of EQT Partners London Headquarters was the second London office to achieve a WELL Building accreditation, having successfully tackled issues such as a lack of natural light, poor acoustics, and fitting a variety of functions into a limited space. Challenges we are keen to see addressed during the judging process.
Interiors tend to have a shorter lifespan than the fabric of the building, changing with occupant need and aesthetic requirements often leads to the interior design being changed many times across the lifespan of a building. Product innovation is therefore crucial in helping us to improve sustainability of the spaces we create. We need to make sure that materials sourced are as sustainable as possible, taking into account the embodied carbon required to make, transport and when the time comes, to reuse, recycle or readapt at end of life.
A much closer relationship between designers and the whole consultancy team is required in order to ensure the design is sustainable, affordable and fit for purpose – fulfilling client (and often, their end user) ESG goals and commercial requirements. We will reach a point where we will need to know the embodied carbon associated with every nut and bolt in order to meet these goals, and the manufacturers buy-in to this process is crucial. With digital twins, we already have the ability to monitor and store data such as predicted lifespan and embodied carbon associated with the building structure – using the same technology for our interior components could help us increase the long-term sustainability and financial viability of our designs too.
The scheme needs to clearly demonstrate its concept and what’s special about it. This should be impactful and easy to explain in no more than 30 seconds. Blue sky thinking is great but we also need innovation that can be implemented – we want to see schemes that are logistically viable yet set new standards of design. All while keeping sustainability and designing for the life cycle of the project in mind.
Cover image: Strata House © Khoogj.
Questions answered by Darren Comber, Chief Executive, Scott Brownrigg.
Darren has Strategic Board responsibility for the quality of design across the practice and has been at the forefront of many of the practices high-profile projects within the UK and internationally. With experience in a broad range of sectors including commercial, education, residential, hospitality and retail, Darren instigates a fresh enthusiasm for modern architecture, innovative ideas and a sensitive concern for the environment. More recently he has been working on how to encourage vitality back into our Cities, creating alternative uses for empty retail units and how to provide healthy destinations that support new existing and businesses.
In this week's interview with SBID Awards Interior Design judge, Director of Research at Brunel Design School and Brunel University London, Vanja Garaj discusses the use of technology in design and how it affects every aspect of the industry. He also shares what he is most interested to see in this year's Awards design submissions!
For me, the baseline for good design still is the famous: “form follows function”, which absolutely must come hand in hand with human-centredness and preferably extend into the “less is more” aesthetics. However, the real power stems from the big idea or, at least, a spark of design innovation that sets the product apart in terms of use scenario, functionality, materials, technology solutions and/or form factor.
My judging process is informed by the experience of practicing, researching and teaching design over the years. By combining these activities, I keep up to date with the latest developments and trends. As a designer, I am particularly interested in the interplay between design and technology and the design-led technology innovation that can improve the quality of life in its various aspects. This interest guides what I am looking for in the designs submitted to the SBID Awards.
Technological innovation can greatly facilitate the design process; e.g., the immersive technologies of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are very handy when it comes to conceptualising and visualising new interior design ideas and communicating or co-creating the ideas with clients.
I am also curious to see how the immersive tech-powered Metaverse will develop in the future and to what extent it may become a venue for interior designers to practice their trade. This social 3D digital “real estate” and its promised fully functioning economy may create demand for the design of virtual interiors for the “living” and working spaces within the platform. Some interior design professionals are already getting ready to benefit from this potential opportunity; e.g., see here.
The environments will become ever smarter, with the advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) permitting us to achieve even better energy efficiency and further improve the ability to personalise interiors for comfort and well-being (e.g., air quality) and visual ambience (e.g., lighting).
There are also advances in biophilia and biomimicry and the application of these concepts and the related technologies in interior design. Both concepts promote sustainability and it would therefore be extremely useful to have them gain more traction within the interior design profession. Having said that, I was really pleased to see Ko Tu Elpo – “a smart air biofilter that improves indoor air quality by combining technology and the power of nature”, win in the Interior Technology category at the SBID Awards 2021 for Product Design.
It is very important to clearly present the novelty and innovative aspects of the submitted work. Why do you think your design stands out in the market?
Questions answered by Dr Vanja Garaj, Director of Research, Brunel Design School and Brunel University London.
Dr Vanja Garaj is Head of Design at Brunel University London, where he also contributes to the Professional Design Studio module within the MSc Integrated Product Design programme.
Dr Garaj’s research is aimed at design, development and evaluation of innovative systems, products and services, with the focus on digital and digital-physical domains and the application of the latest technology.
In this week's interview with SBID Awards Interior Design judge, Head of Cities Solutions Europe at Jacobs and Co-Chair of the ULI UK Infrastructure and Urban Development Council, Carlo Castelli discusses the change in development of post-pandemic cities, highlights the benefits of holistic approach to design, and shares valuable insight for designing workplaces that attract employees to come back to the office.
Thinking holistically about design ensures social, environmental and cultural considerations are embedded into solutions. We have a great opportunity to blur the boundaries between inside and outside, public and private by creating hybrid spaces. For example, in Union Street, Aberdeen, we created a flexible urban space capable of supporting on-street activities and allowing ground floor activities to spill out on streets, all while considering inclusive design. We see the street being multi-functional, resilient and contributing to the wider transformational change in Aberdeen.
Taking an integrated design approach means all these considerations are used to create a space which is flexible for those using it on a daily basis and is a sustainable addition to the community. It also means that we can create and measure wellbeing and quality of life value substantially changing the way we look at projects and programmes.
Cities have existed for millennia and consistently maintain a fundamental role in our society. They will become more resilient, with the influence of the changing climate and increasing technological innovation.
Successful cities in the future will celebrate social, environmental and cultural differences. We don’t have to choose between a ‘working from home’ or ‘15 minutes city’ model. We can embrace complexity and recognise individual lifestyle choices within inclusive societal progress.
Live, work and play conditions have changed globally. The pandemic and environmental concerns have seen a significant change in how people view work-life balance and commuting. As we come out of the last two years there’s a significant appetite for flexibility in our spaces. For example, unused shipping containers units are being converted into retail units, and workshop space, rooftops into urban farm, and ground floor spaces into housing. This allows for creativity and flexibility in our designs, as well as optimising space usage and future proofing our cities. It is critical to imbed generosity into our buildings and places.
The opportunity for designers is to use their innovative thinking to create solutions that contribute to the challenges we are facing. They are often uniquely placed to work from ideation all the way to delivery so they can meaningfully work with the entire value chain to create better cities and places, integrating nature-based solutions and circularity early into their designs. With nature at the forefront of design, we can plan and develop climate-smart, nature-positive building and infrastructure solutions which enhance quality of life and make our future more resilient.
During the past two years, workers have become used to working away from the traditional office, so there needs to be a draw to bring them back. Quality, variety and generosity are now key. Workplaces need to provide enhanced environmental quality and a greater variety of spaces. Improvement in interior design can also allow for a boost in employees’ health and wellbeing.
Design of workplace should include elements of nature, natural lighting, diverse spaces, and areas for employees to relax and manage anxiety about their return to the office. There should now be heavier emphasis on the type of spaces needed for collaboration. Offices should offer a broader range of experiences than sitting at a desk all day, something people could easily do from home. Workplace design should also facilitate work-life balance and promote a sense of community to encourage employees to return.
For me, what really matters is to work with stakeholders and communities and that designers are true to themselves, values and passions. Passion goes a long way in my mind and that needs to be communicated to our changing audiences.
Questions answered by Carlo Castelli, Head of Cities Solutions Europe, Jacobs and Co-Chair, ULI UK Infrastructure and Urban Development Council.
At Jacobs, we make the world smarter, more connected and more sustainable. Challenging today is our response to the increasing complexity our world is experiencing, putting our knowledge and imagination together to reinvent the way we solve problems and shape the next generation of innovative solutions.
Reinventing tomorrow is our promise and an invitation to raise the bar in everything we do. From the brilliant solutions we create with our clients, to the open and inclusive culture we create for our people. From the positive difference we make in our communities, to the added value we deliver to our shareholders.
In this week's interview with SBID Awards Interior Design judge and Design Director EMEA at Tetris, Nuno Fernandes discusses the connection between technology and built environments. He shares his insights on specifying products for different environments and gives valuable advice for approaching design projects.
Innovation is the overarching priority when responding to our clients. Now more than ever it’s about connecting people to the building be that a residence or an office and technology should make people’s lives comfortable and easy.
The metaverse really opens a whole new world of work opportunities for designers and architects. We can now also offer our clients a digital experience as there will be a transition between physical and digital in our day to day lives moving forward. Perhaps, for culture and identity consistency, those two projects are designed concurrently.
Yes, it differs. Whereas in hospitality there is a big effort in economy of scale and procurement optimization, for retail, at the high end as is our case, many elements are custom built or even one-off’s. Workplace product specifying is now becoming much more diverse meaning that in one project we have now more products driven by all the different work environments within the same project.
A combination of rational and emotional is our weapon. Our designs should be anchored on the needs of the clients and the users of that space hence why our design is data driven, we then love to tell a story that meets the business and users’ needs while close to their hearts.
Always push your concepts beyond your comfort zone, design is about innovation whilst providing a solution.
Questions answered by Nuno Fernandes, Design Director EMEA, Tetris.
We don’t just create inspiring spaces for businesses. We create inspiring places for people.
As a leading design and build company with global reach, we create environments that are beautiful, functional, inspirational and sustainable.
We deliver our services to businesses of all sizes on projects in the office, retail and hotel sectors, among others, counting many of the world’s most iconic brands as our clients.
In this week's interview with SBID Awards Interior Design judge, Chief Executive at the Design Council, Minnie Moll discusses how the interior design industry can work towards combating climate change and the importance of good design, sharing details about the Design Council's mission toward more sustainable design practices.
Good design makes life better. It makes things easy, attractive, comfortable, beautiful. And often inspiring and joyful. You don’t always notice good design. It’s bad design that gets noticed because it doesn’t work, or it’s ugly. Good design is inclusive design and people centred.
The climate crisis is the biggest challenge of our era. Design has been part of what got us to this place and it has a critical role to play in achieving net zero and beyond. Our Design for Planet mission seeks to support and galvanise the 1.97 million people in the UK design community to put planetary concerns at the heart of their work. Design shapes the world we live in, and designers have huge power and responsibility to use design as a force for good.
It starts with the brief. Give the planet a seat at the briefing meeting and make sure planetary needs are considered. Being informed and intentional about use of materials – hard to keep up to speed on this I know. Thinking in a circular economy way. How long will this last? Can it be modular and easier to fix/update/refurbish? Understanding the supply chain and sustainability implications of all the elements of a proposed design.
The interior design of the places we live and work has become even more important since covid. We understand even more how important it is for our homes to be a sanctuary – a comfortable and relaxing place to be. And in a hybrid world our workplaces need to be attractive, enjoyable and magnetic places that colleagues want to come into. In both instances great interior design can be sustainable and attractive and aspirational.
If design shapes the world, then the design of the spaces where we live, work and play has such potential to shape how we interact with each other, and how we feel. It can inspire and bring joy. These exciting and high profile awards are a chance for the best design to shine so it's important to showcase the value your entries provide and explain key design considerations clearly.
Questions answered by Minnie Moll, Chief Executive, Design Council.
Design Council’s purpose is to make life better by design.
They are an independent charity and the government’s advisor on design. Their vision is a world where the role and value of design is recognised as a fundamental creator of value, enabling happier, healthier and safer lives for all. Through the power of design, they make better processes, better products, better places, all of which lead to better performance.
