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The SBID International Design Awards introduces an exciting new panel of expert judges to join its' impressive and international jury for 2021. Meet and discover more about the diverse panel of judges who are set to evaluate the Interior Design & Fit Out categories for this year's SBID Awards!

Interior Design & Fit Out Judges:

Alija Baxter

Alicja Baxter 

Property Services Lead - London & South East

Department for Education, Capital Group

Alicja started her career in the built environment back in 2003 working for construction companies in Europe, USA and Caribbean assisting on delivery of commercial and residential build projects. She joined the DfE’s Property Services team in 2015 to manage property aspects of the Free Schools, delivering over 800 new schools across the country to date, providing diversity and improved quality of education for primary and secondary aged children.

"I am excited to join the judging panel because it is an opportunity to have a good look at the design projects delivered around the globe and celebrate achievements in this area. It will be a pleasure to be part of this amazing event and apply my affinity for a great design into a good use." - Alicja Baxter 

Andrew Katz - Axios Blackstone

Andrew Katz 

Partner

Prospect Hotel Advisors LLC

Andrew is a partner at hospitality asset management firm, Prospect Hotel Advisors LLC. Prospect Advisors is responsible for The Blackstone Groups hotel portfolio globally, overseeing the exclusive consultant partners that support the portfolios as well as providing third party asset management services for other Real Estate firms. As part of this role, Andrew oversees Axios Hospitality Real Estate, the London-based provider of Asset Management Services to The Blackstone Group in Europe and the UK, where they own 60 hotels. Prior to this, Andrew was Senior Vice President of Asset Management for Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide.

Ben King - Buzzfeed

Ben King

Design Director

BuzzFeed News

Ben is the Design Director for BuzzFeed News, where he leads the art desk and works across the newsroom to visualize, design, and present our journalism to a broad audience. In his time at BuzzFeed News, Ben worked on the launch of BuzzFeedNews.com, designed and art directed articles that have been won awards from the Society of Publication Designers, American Illustration, and the Society of Illustrators, as well as being selected as finalists for the Pulitzer prize.

Bethan Ryder - WGSN

Bethan Ryder

Executive Editorial Director

WGSN

As Executive Editorial Director of WGSN Bethan oversees the content produced by WGSN. Collaborating with a global team of senior strategists, analysts, and consultants, Bethan is the lynchpin working across content, marketing and product, ensuring that WGSN continues to lead the way as a world-class trend forecasting service. Bethan has over 20 years’ experience as a design, luxury and lifestyle journalist, contributing to numerous publications including Architonic, Hole & Corner and The Observer Design magazine, holding senior positions at Telegraph Luxury, Wallpaper* and ELLE Decoration. A design-lover, Bethan has also written several books on hospitality interiors and sporadically hosts a podcast interviewing female architects and designers.

Carlo Castelli - Jacobs

Carlo Castelli

Head of Cities Solutions Europe

Jacobs

Carlo Castelli is an architect and masterplanner. He studied architecture in Genoa, Italy where he completed a masters Degree in architecture and in 2011 he completed a Master in ‘City Design and Social Science’ at the London School of Economics and Social Science. Through 20 years’ experience on diverse urban contexts and complex buildings, Carlo has acquired a great understanding of how the various systems and processes shape the urban environment. He is accustomed to integrated, inter-disciplinary design development at various scales, managing interfaces, coordination and brief interpretation towards the creation of successful urban environments. As Head of Cities Solutions for UK and Europe, Carlo leads the team of urban thinkers, masterplanners and urban designers that deliver exemplary projects in the UK and internationally.

Carol Doering - AAHID

Carol Doering

Certified Healthcare Interior Designer

American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers

Carol is a senior interior designer, who has been involved in the design of healthcare environments for nearly 40 years when healthcare facilities were bland, uninspiring places to receive treatment, not places of wellness and engagement as they have become today. Project experience includes hospitals in small communities and large metropolitan areas, outpatient offices for single providers as well as multi-discipline ambulatory care centres with places for engagement and education as well as long term care communities where our seniors live in a variety of settings.

Christopher See - Amazon

Christopher See

Creative Director

Amazon

Christopher See is a Creative Director at Amazon. Wielding over 10 years of brand identity design experience, he is currently a global design lead for the Prime brand, running onsite experiences, campaigns and retail projects. He has created unique brand visions in 3 different continents, encompassing all touchpoints from print to digital, sonic logos to airline cabin interiors, car launches to the biggest billboards in the world. Prior to Amazon, Chris was the Design director at Hyundai, in charge of crafting and launching the Hyundai rebrand, and a senior designer at branding firm, Landor.

Damien Bourke - British Council

Damien Bourke

Director of Major Programmes

British Council

Damien is the Director of Major Programmes at the British Council. Amongst other projects, Damien has delivered the relocation of the British Council’s HQ to the Olympic Park in Stratford. He is currently in the process of delivering the relocation of the British Council Art Collection to the former IKEA building in the centre of Coventry. Prior to this, Damien worked at Tameside Council and during his career, has also undertaken roles with the Northwest Regional Development Agency and with the Cabinet Office where he worked in the PM’s Strategy Unit as well as the Home Office for Jim Reid and Charles Clarke.

Helen Brocklebank - Walpole

Helen Brocklebank

CEO

Walpole

Helen Brocklebank is CEO of Walpole, the trade body for the British luxury industry. Helen is a specialist in luxury media brands, building her career at Esquire and Harper’s Bazaar. During her ten year tenure, Helen founded the highly successful, multi-platform brand extension ‘Bazaar At Work’ for Omega and created enduring content partnerships with iconic brands including Bentley’s sponsorship of Bazaar Art and Esquire’s Man at the Top Awards for Glenmorangie. Most recently Helen established a content consultancy for luxury brands working predominantly with retail and media clients, including Liberty and Boat International. She brings to Walpole a deep understanding of, and passion for, the business of luxury, an unerring ability to conceive creative and impactful initiatives and an entrepreneurial spirit that drives their successful delivery.

Jalaj Hora - Burberry

Jalaj Hora

Senior Vice President, Raw Materials, Product Engineering & Quality

Burberry Plc

An Engineer and a futurist, Jalaj Hora is also the Senior Vice President of Innovation, Engineering and Quality at Burberry. Leading a team of professionals to work on luxury products; Jalaj’s most significant achievement has been to enable the convergence of design and engineering for the brand. Jalaj drew on his background in consulting, manufacturing and retail to create an innovation team at Burberry to support the ambitions and to deliver newness for a fast growing and iconic luxury brand. He leads the technical design and product engineering department across all product categories. He also overseas the end to end quality organisation from materials and product to after sales. A champion of responsible manufacturing, he has directed the elimination of hazardous chemicals from Burberry’s supply chain and driving some industry leading work in reducing the water and energy footprint in manufacturing. Prior to joining Burberry, Jalaj was the Senior Group Director of Product Development and Design at Target Corp.

Jenny Kwon - Tiffany

Jenny Kwon

Global Store Design Manager

Tiffany & Co., LVMH

Jenny Kwon is the Manager of Global Store Design at Tiffany & Co., specialising in retail interior design standards and new initiatives, dedicated to the art of storytelling through space. Previously, she was a lead creative and branding expert for experience-driven clients in luxury hospitality and retail, such as The Peninsula Hotel, Hilton, Sephora, Blue Mercury, Museum of Ice Cream, Macys, as well as for high-end residential developments in New York and Hong Kong. She has also completed urban planning projects while living abroad in Montreal, Istanbul, and Rome. Kwon is an architect by training, and received her Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University. She also finished further education at Mimar Sinan Güzel Sanatlar Üniversitesi and New York University for subjects in marketing and branding.

Jeremy Lindley - Diageo

Jeremy Lindley

Global Design Director

Diageo

Jeremy is responsible for transforming the Design capability and output of Diageo’s current brands and new products worldwide. Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business. He is passionate about the impact Design has on business performance and the way Design Thinking leads to breakthrough ideas wherever it is applied. Standout projects include Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Tanqueray 10 and the Johnnie Walker Brand Home in Edinburgh which opens in 2021. Prior to joining Diageo Jeremy was Head of Design for Tesco, responsible for the portfolio of 19,000 private label products and for leading the Store Formats and Design teams. He is a Board Director of the Design Business Association, part of the Design Commission advising the UK government on design policy and a visiting Lecturer at INSEEC Business School.

Kar Hwa Ho - Zaha Hadid Architects Profile Image

Kar Hwa Ho

Head of Interior Architecture

Zaha Hadid Architects

Kar first worked with Zaha Hadid Architects in 1985 following his studies with Zaha Hadid at the Architectural Association. After completing his studies in the UK and USA, Kar worked on projects around the world for Kohn Pederson Fox and Louis Vuitton Malletier, with a focus on interior architecture, commercial developments and retail design before re-joining ZHA as Head of Interior Architecture in 2014. His residential interiors, in particular, have won numerous awards and have been widely published.

Joe Ferry - Belmond

Joe Ferry

Art and Design Director

Belmond

Joe Ferry is a multi-award winning creative leader with extensive experience working within hotel groups and airlines. He is Art and Design Director for Belmond which has a global portfolio of luxury travel experiences including hotels, trains, cruises and safaris in some of the world’s most inspiring destinations such as Belmond Cipirani, Venice, Belmond Grand Hotel Europe, St. Petersburg; Belmond Copacabana Palace, Rio de Janeiro; and the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train. Joe previously served as Head of Design for Virgin Atlantic Airways before becoming SVP of Design for IHG, after which he was Head of Guest Experience for Etihad Airways. He is a passionate advocate for the benefits of good design and has been a trustee of the UK’s Design Council and an executive board member of the D&AD.

Justin Hills - House of Lords

Justin Hills

Head of Property and Office Services

House of Lords

Justin is the Head of Property and Office Services for the House of Lords, responsible for property and facilities management services to Members and the administration. He also acts as chair and senior responsible owner on large projects across the Parliamentary Estate, either bicameral or specifically House of Lords projects. These have included building refurbishments and the conservation of the historic Westminster Hall, internal hammerbeam roof and two of the internal courtyards within the Palace of Westminster. He also attends bicameral boards for a number of Parliamentary projects including Elizabeth Tower. His previous experience within, projects, property and facilities management has been working for a London Borough and a large County Council.

"I have worked in property and facilities management for 16 years and design has always been an integral part of building refurbishment, either external or internal. I enjoy all the stages of the design journey and it will be a privilege to be part of the judging panel. I am looking forward to viewing the exciting projects put forward to the panel for this year’s award." - Justin Hills

Laura Binbaum - London Fire Brigade

Laura Birnbaum

Head of Property

London Fire Brigade

Laura specialises in leading and developing the real estate function within corporate organisations to deliver property strategies, in accordance with wider business plans. As the Head of Property at the London Fire Brigade this includes both the strategic development of real estate scenarios, the execution of approved projects and transactions and the delivery of facilities management. She is experienced in leading large multi-disciplinary teams and can manage complex stakeholder environments to effect change. Her previous roles include Deputy Director for Her Majesties Courts and Tribunal estate and the JLL transactions lead for multi-national corporations.

"The importance of design being focused on the end user and supporting the vision of the organisation is very important in corporate real estate. Effective design can impact on the ways of working and corporate culture and I am looking forward to ensuring these elements come through in the winning design." - Laura Birnbaum

Mulianto Halim - Disney

Mulianto Halim (Moel)

Interior Design Principal

Walt Disney Imagineering Asia

Trained as Architect, having to work in both Architecture and Interior Design for over than 20 years, Moel is a Hong Kong-based Interior Designer who currently holds the position as Interior Design Principal in Walt Disney Imagineering Asia, Ltd. Moel achieved a BS in Architecture degree from Tarumanagara University, Jakarta – Indonesia. Before joining Disney, he was working with notable Architecture and Interior Design Firms in Jakarta, China & Hong Kong, mostly working with high-end luxury residential, hospitality and entertainment. Moel joined Walt Disney Imagineering in 2015, when his main specialty was working to build thematic and storytelling base interior spaces.

"I am honoured to be selected as a judge in this diverse competition - being someone who works in the theme design world I want to share my knowledge and experience for the whole SBID judging panel. I look forward to seeing the extraordinary design work from gifted people and design firms, and I hope I can be a fair judge in this difficult task." - Mulianto Halim

Paola Tassara Oromí - Starbucks

Paola Tassara Oromí, AIA

Design Director

Starbucks Coffee Company EMEA

Paola Tassara Oromí, AIA, is an architect and designer based in London. Paola started her career working for numerous architecture practices in France and the Netherlands prior to moving to Los Angeles. There, she worked for Frank Gehry, collaborating on the design of several museums and cultural institutions worldwide. Having established a solid foundation in architecture, Paola then began to focus on interior design. With NYC-based ICRAVE Design and later, her own firm, Tassara A+D, her work expanded to restaurant, nightclub, boutique hotel and retail design. Since 2016, Paola has been a Design Director for Starbucks Coffee Company, currently leading the design for the brand’s stores in EMEA.

Patrick Taylor - Taylist

Patrick Taylor

Managing Director

Taylist Media

Taylist Media is the publisher of the leading magazine and event brands in the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom sector. These include Kitchens, Bedrooms & Bathrooms consumer magazine, which has been the leading title in the field for nearly 25 years, as well as business title kbbreview which is currently celebrating 30 years in print. Managing director and founder Patrick has over 30 years’ experience in the media industry – spanning magazines, newspapers, TV and radio.

Rav Hayer - Quintessentially

Rav Hayer

Global Growth Director

Quintessentially Group

Rav Hayer has 15 years experience deploying global staff and customer engagement programmes for a plethora of different industry sectors; with specialist focus on financial services, technology and online gaming. After working as a graduate in the city Rav went on to become a Director of Red Letter Days leading their B2B business to great success and working with Theo Paphitis. Subsequently he moved to become Senior Vice President of Blackhawk Network, a large San Francisco NASDAQ listed fintech business where his team were involved in the acquisition of Grassroots. This then lead him to a global role at Quintessentially where the company deploy largely customer engagement solutions using their large global footprint of 60+ offices coupled with their concierge, events, travel and agency businesses to look after the world’s leading luxury brands.

Tim James - Former HM Courts

Tim James

Property Director

Former HM Courts & Tribunals Service

Property Director with experience of establishing property functions and capitalising on opportunities to maximise shareholder and stakeholder value during times of change. Tim has variously worked in food and drink, fmcg, leisure, manufacting, financial services, construction materials and automotive; Tim has also spent time working in Central Government and selling country houses. Most recently, Tim was Property Director at the Courts & Tribunals Service, setting up a dedicated property function in support of the £1bn programme of reform - assessing the condition of the estate to lobby successfully for additional investment, creating new design standards and driving value from the sale of assets to part fund the programme. Tim is a Chartered Surveyor and a member of the Government Property Profession and is based in the Thames Valley.

Stefan Sielaff - Bentley

Stefan Sielaff

Director of Design and Mulliner Coachbuilding

Bentley Motors

Stefan Sielaff joined Bentley Motors in July 2015 from his previous role as Design Director at the Volkswagen Design Center, Potsdam. Sielaff first joined the Volkswagen Group in 1990 as an interior designer for Audi in Ingolstadt. His career then took him to Barcelona where he became Head of Interior Design at the VW Group Design Center, Europe. Between 1997 and 2003, Stefan returned to Audi where he held the position of Head of Interior Design. After three years with DaimlerChrysler, where he was Head of the Interior Design Competence Center, Stefan returned to Ingolstadt in 2006 to become Design Director at Audi, a position he held up until 2012. It was here that Stefan led a team of over 350 design experts with responsibility for exterior, interior and colour and trim design for the full Audi range, concept and show cars. Alongside his current lead role at Bentley, Stefan is also Head of Group Interior Design Strategy, Volkswagen AG.

Entries for the SBID International Design Awards 2021 are open!  

View the Product Design judges or click here to view the full SBID Awards judging panel.

To find out more about entering, visit www.sbidawards.com

As consumer lifestyles and the significance of the bathroom sector evolves into stylish (and hygienic) wellness-driven sanctuaries in the home, discover how the innovative bathroom designer and manufacturer, Kohler collaborates with interior designers to enhance the product specification process for transforming bathroom environments with luxury and functionality in equal measure.

What are the origins Kohler?

Kohler is a now 4th generation family business which was started in 1873 by John Michael Kohler. Today it is a global business operating across various sectors and headed by David Kohler, President and CEO. Kohler Co. designs and manufactures kitchen and bath products under renowned global brands like KOHLER and KALLISTA; engines and power systems; luxury cabinetry and ANN SACKS tile; and is the owner/operator of two, five-star hospitality and golf resort destinations in Kohler, Wisconsin, and St. Andrews, Scotland.

How do you work with interior designers?

We work with designers through collaboration as a partner to help them achieve project requirements within the brief. We do so in the first instance by introducing them to our bathroom ranges designed for UK and global project specifications. This is supported and underpinned by our London Clerkenwell showroom, the Kohler Experience Centre, where we invite A&D to learn about our brand, experience our products and participate in talks and events that support the design community.

What value does your sector add to the interior design industry?

The bathroom today, as most designers will agree, has become an increasing focal point of specification with a far greater demand on design and function while delivering upon the dimensions of wellbeing we all strive to achieve in today’s modern world. It is now considered by many that the bathroom is the most integral part of the home to specify. More bathrooms are being added to projects and no longer the clinical white box but a need to ensure the space provides an environment that is tactile, stylish, modern, and offers a seamless transition from one room to the next. Above all, it’s creating a space of wellness as well as function. As such, the bathroom sector has adapted to offer products that reflect the different materials and colours often reserved for products seen in living spaces while bringing luxury, functionality and technology to new levels of possibility.

How do your services/offering enhance an interior designer’s projects? 

As a manufacturing business, and in particular with respect to the bathroom specification sector, we manufacture products to simplify the specification process, so that wherever possible we can be a one-stop shop for bathroom specification for the designer. From basins, furniture, WCs, and taps, to shower enclosures, fittings and accessories we can help to make specifying a much more gracious experience.

What are the latest trends you’ve noticed in your client’s requests?

Metal colour finishes and the variety of choices available for tap and shower fittings have been hugely popular. We are seeing a resurgence in gold whilst the emergence of black and brass coloured finishes are now commonly requested across various levels of specifications, and not just at the very top end of specification. In light of the ongoing global situation with Covid, we are also seeing more demand for hygiene technology across specifications, whether it's intelligent toilets, touchless products or in the very material of the product itself.

Why did you become a sponsor for the SBID Awards? 

Kohler is a well-established brand within UK project specification, and we want to recognise the amazing work created by the UK design community which is driving global project design – many of whom we work with regularly on specification for various hospitality and residential projects. Kohler remains positioned as a global leader which continues to evolve and adapt to meet the needs and demands of both the specifier and consumer not just today, but also well into the future.

Sponsors of the KBB Design category for the SBID Awards 2021!

Entries are open until Wednesday 30 June.

To find out more about entering, visit www.sbidawards.com

To find out how to join SBID professional membership, click here 

Project of the Week

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a residential design by 2020 SBID Awards Finalist Chains Interiors. The Taiwan-based design practice worked on this high-end project which was inspired by a song written by the owner.

SBID Awards Category: Residential Apartment Over £1M Sponsored by Vectorworks

Practise: Chains Interiors

Project: Write A Song For You

Location: Taipei, Taiwan 

What was the client's brief? 

Our client is a professional Musician. Since music is such a big part of his life,  he wanted music to flow in all corners of the home, while remaining functional.

What inspired the design of the project?

The concept of this design is inspired by a song that a house owner wrote for his beloved wife. While the tunes and tempos of the song transform into lines on the walls, the spontaneous melodies also turn into colours in the space and the twists and turns of the notes into topographic curves on the ceiling. Together these elements become a manifestation of the tenderness conveyed by the song.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Finding a balance between aesthetics, design concepts, actual usage requirements and budget. We also wanted to make the intricate ceiling lines perfect, so we made several versions to make sure the final design achieved this.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The highlight of this project was successfully fitting the final design with every part of the song that the house owner wrote.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

The SBID Awards have always celebrated international certification and we wanted to showcase our work to a wider audience by participating in this competition.

Questions answered by Lien-Wu Chen and Yi-Lun Wu, Design Directors, Chains Interiors.

We hope you feel inspired by this week's design!

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a Gatsby-inspired hotel bar, click here to see more.

Hitzig Militello Architects share the inspiration and process behind their high-end Buenos Aires cocktail bar and restaurant project; Osten.

Osten, the high-end cocktail bar and restaurant, is located in Puerto Madero's distinguished neighbourhood in Buenos Aires. The generating idea and initial design concept stems from the era of the economic crash in 1929. Inspired by the novel The Crack-Up by Scott Fitzgerald, and the decadence of glamour from The Great Gatsby.

At first glance, a large corridor is built with scaffolding and the name Osten hangs on perforated metal located in the main entrance that also functions as a waiting room. This sets the scene and atmosphere in an alluring effect to inspire desire to discover the space step by step.

The corridor has 6 different accesses to the general space - this was fundamentally designed so each of the areas can be made independent to divide the areas as private spaces when required.

Access to the bar is at the end of the corridor, crowned by metal perforated structures to frame the identity and design of the bar. The corridors separate the entire space into two large areas of use against the backdrop of this large, statement bar.

The presence of scaffolding acts to support the design theme, representing the  era that could no longer support itself. The essential characteristic of scaffolding devices throughout the scheme is ultimately the temporality of their use, and it is this word "temporality" that defines the end of that era of over indulgent elegance. These scaffolds underpin large sheet metal arches painted in gold, but without the glitz or bombast, their appearance is instead rather aged.

The language of the arches is carried throughout and used house all the most representative areas with the bar at the epicentre; the access through a large corridor, the bar itself and its setting, as well as the staircases and perimeter seating area. Knots hold each encounter of the aged scaffolding with old bronze paint.

Modernity is essentially represented by the inner skin, built with cementitious plates and marble organised in pieces in different areas. These marble slabs are arranged in between the scaffolding structures, seeking a relationship between the elegant and the temporary. All Carrara and dark green marble slabs are arranged linearly and held in an ethereal way.

Modernity also makes an appearance through the acrylic tubes that are part of the lighting system where the two worlds are combined; the modern and its acrylic packaging with art deco drawings. In the same way, large lamps that simulate spiders, hang with acrylic tubes and chains representing the beads.

The graphic identity developed from the naming typography was applied in different spaces, in the form of a stencil on walls and through cut-outs in plates to achieve devices that function as dividers. As a result of typographic development, graphic pieces of feminine profiles have been developed and applied in the form of artistic paintings held by the scaffolding system.

The scaffolding system extends to the outdoor spaces to support the seating area, with a large mural designed by the branding team through the development of the typeface family. The tonality of the old bronze, dark green, light and blue was the result of a sober and elegant composition.

As a professional accrediting body for the Interior Design industry, the Society of British and International Interior Design (SBID) have formed a partnership with FRAME - the recruitment specialists in Interior Design, Architecture and Visualisation to support professionals working in interior design with career opportunities, career advice and guidance.

The partnership was formed to provide an important link between SBID members and a trusted recruitment business, supporting interior designers with employment and recruitment opportunities.

Awards 2020 CGI & Visualisation Finalist Project by Inside Studio - Parish View Development

Dr Vanessa Brady OBE, founder & CEO of SBID says: “I’m delighted that we can now provide employment opportunities for SBID members through this partnership, whether to find their new team member or discover the latest interior design job vacancies. Finding new talent is time consuming and expensive, so it is important to recruit with care. It takes time to source an honourable partner and we are confident that FRAME Recruitment are the perfect match for the high standards we uphold, and our ever-evolving industry demands.”

“We are honoured to form a partnership with an internationally recognised professional accrediting body for the Interior Design industry at this important growth stage in FRAME’s journey. We are pleased to be able to provide an important link between the esteemed members of SBID and some of the UK’s top Interior Design practices. Offering key career and recruitment advice to committed professionals is what the FRAME specialist Interior Design team does best.” Explains Martin Bennell, Managing Director of FRAME Recruitment.

Join Vanessa and Martin at FRAME's Interior Design & Architecture Spring Update Webinar on Thursday 29th April 2021 at 12pm BST.

Please contact Jasmine Stirling Jasmine.Stirling@frame-recruitment.com to secure your place.

Project of the Week

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a retail design by 2020 SBID Awards Finalist 4SPACE Design. The Dubai-based design practice was tasked with bringing to life the 140 square metre fashion retail store Tutus Kurniati.

SBID Awards Category: Retail Design Sponsored by Garrett Leather

Practise: 4SPACE Design

Project: Tutus Kurniati

Location: Dubai, UAE

What was the client's brief? 

The client wanted to develop her e-commerce platform with its first flagship store, for a more intimate shopping experience. It was important that the design reflected the brand as a luxury resort wear. The client envisioned the space to be modern and very feminine.

What inspired the design of the project?

Since the logo speaks highly of the character of the owner, 4SPACE focused on the featured colours; pink and beach-sand. The interior design was inspired by the waves on the shoreline, rocks, and seashells.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Completing the project on time for the grand opening of the Mall. We had a hard time with our terrazzo floor as it was installed manually, placing the terrazzo aggregates one by one to ensure that the outcome will be the same as the design.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The Instagram booth inspired by the beach showers with a neon sign and perfect lighting for an insta-worthy status - a notable design concept that is totally chic and canny.

Steps seating lounge that would appeal to social media-savvy females who enjoy retail culture.

In a cash-free COVID future, Tutus Kurniati was designed with no cash desk where technology works at its best.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

We’ve been participating in the SBID Awards since 2016 and we’ve heard nothing but praise. The process for submitting the entries has always been easy and all the coordinators are very helpful. Having a good review and been very consistent in promoting the interior design profession makes us a keen follower and member of SBID. Our founders and Interior Architects of 4SPACE started becoming Accredited professionals of SBID. We’ve also won the “Overall Winner” for SBID Awards 2018.

Questions answered by Firas Alsahin, Design Director, and Amjad Hourieh, Managing Director, 4SPACE Design.

We hope you feel inspired by this week's design!

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring an office renovation in a pre-war building, click here to see more.

In the announcement of the Budget 2021, the Chancellor set out a £65 billion three-point plan to provide support for jobs and businesses as we emerge from the pandemic and forge a path to recovery. 

In light of the encouraging news about the UK's social distancing restrictions due to end this Summer, and with businesses now readily preparing for post-lockdown operations, Mervyn Clarke FCCA; director of the SBID Accredited specialist advisors, Baker Clarke offers advice on how to manage business finances to help get interior design businesses back on track. 

Specialising in commercial advice and having advised many companies over the years about re-structuring and recovering from bad times after recessions and banking failures, discover Mervyn's key tips to aid business recovery for the interior design sector.

It's time to reassess! 

  • Look hard at your current customers and consider your position regarding any who might become credit risks. Tact is the key here - maybe obtaining a deposit or staggered early payments to minimize credit risks? Make sure you seek consultation from credit reference agencies like Experian.
  • Consider credit insurance. There are some specialist firms and it does cost money, but can take away lots of “heartache”. Just be mindful of policy wordings. Firms like Premium Credit can finance your premium payments by instalments.
  • “The best runners are lean”. Evaluate your overheads and be tough in cutting back costs - spread cash flow with instalments where possible. I have never yet seen a company where cost savings cannot be achieved, you just need to be ruthless!
  • Think about Directors` salaries and benefits. In tough times, this becomes a key area. Cash flows can be alleviated by year end dividends and save tax!
  • If you lost money (as many have) during the Lockdown period, get advice about tax loss carry back and carry forward.
  • Get advice on your accounting year end. Moving this around can legitimately save tax by efficient use of reliefs and losses.
  • Keep your “books & records” up to date, especially sales debtors!
  • Beware of banking pressures - they will come! Some banks are already dropping out of factoring etc.,  and/or putting pressure on overdrafts in spite of promises. Act now to secure longer-term finance if you can.

If things are really tough...

  • Talk to financial specialists like Mervyn Clarke about corporate re-structuring and check your legal position.
  • Get advice - don’t just leave it…Act NOW!
  • Monitor your position daily (or at least weekly).
  • Look at holding company structures for long-term security.
  • Look at re-finance of property. Here you need specialist lenders and help with presentation as, regrettably, the major clearing banks are often unable to assist in such cases.
  • Again - be tough! Cut down those costs and cut out “dead wood” wherever possible.

    Marketing matters!

    • Evaluate how are you reaching your customers and clients. What other ways can you engage this target audience?
    • Can you improve your website and online media presence in the increasingly digital landscape?
    • Are you being proactive and chasing business hard enough?
    • Look out for new opportunities and areas you could expand or diversify your business to remain agile.

    Episode Eleven

    Women In Entrepreneurship: Considerations For Impactful Change with Giovanna Melfi

    In this Digital Discussion, SBID CEO & Founder, Dr Vanessa Brady OBE is joined by Giovanna Melfi, Founder of Metamorphosis Biz, in a discussion about women in entrepreneurship.

    With over 20 years of experience managing top luxury brands worldwide, such as Marc Jacobs, Ermenegildo Zegna, Burberry, and Yves Saint Laurent, Giovanna offers a unique perspective on entrepreneurship.

    In 2016, Giovanna founded her consultancy firm, Metamorphosis Biz, and has since guided many start-ups and SMEs to success. She is also a strategic advisor for the Women's Forum for the Economy & Society in Asia; she sits on the Asian University for Women Support Foundation's Mentoring Steering Committee in Hong Kong.

    In this discussion, Giovanna shares her experiences working for global luxury brands, how the corporate landscape has evolved in relation to women and what changes she hopes to see moving forward.

    Giovanna also describes her association with The 30% Club, a global campaign led by Chairs and CEOs taking action to increase gender diversity at board and senior management levels. She shares her insights on how impactful change can be made, and which considerations are vital in order for progress to be achieved. 

    Tune in to the whole conversation to discover more.

    Celebrating Interior Design Excellence

    Set to celebrate another year of global design excellence across the interior design industry, the Society of British and International Interior Design (SBID) has officially opened its 12th edition of the SBID International Design Awards for 2021.

    Since it launched, the SBID Awards has received over 3000 incredible entries from 1000+ companies in 85 countries and continues to grow! Having firmly established itself as one of the most prestigious interior design Awards in the global design calendar, the Awards represent the outstanding achievements, dexterity, mastery and quality services that go on to inspire the creativity of this diverse and ever-evolving creative industry.

    What's new for 2021?

    Alongside 17 specialist Interior Design categories spanning commercial and residential sectors, the SBID Awards 2021 continues in its quest to champion and challenge industry-wide design standards, expanding entry categories to encompass added specialisms in Product Design and Fit-Out Design.

    With the introduction of new design categories, also comes an exciting panel of expert judges to lend their unparalleled knowledge and expertise to this year’s extraordinary international jury; featuring Property Services Lead for the Department for Education; Creative Director at Amazon; Interior Design Principal at Walt Disney Imagineering Asia; Editorial Director at WGSN; Global Store Design Manager at Tiffany & Co.; Design Director at Starbucks Coffee Company EMEA; and Director of Major Programmes at the British Council. Inviting entrants from around the world, the SBID Awards presents an exceptional opportunity to showcase professional work to a host of renowned industry leaders and the wider design community on its inclusive and international stage.

    In its ambition to reunite the industry, the SBID International Design Awards 2021 will open its doors once again for a global celebration of design talent. Offering unique and inventive event experiences, the annual awards programme suitably culminates in a captivating ceremony at London’s latest luxury lifestyle destination, Nobu Hotel Portman Square on Friday 22nd October 2021.

    The Awards’ entries for 2021 will close at 5pm (BST) on Wednesday 30th June, with ‘Early Bird’ entry rates ending on 31st March. Download the full entry guidelines for all information about entering this year’s SBID International Design Awards. Members of SBID can also take advantage of exclusive entry benefits, from discounted entry fees to complimentary submissions. Click here to find out more.

    Click here to discover the last year's SBID Awards winners!

    To enter, visit sbidawards.com to find out more.

    With newly adapted lifestyles and shifting consumer attitudes towards how our interior environments should feel and function, SBID hosts an insightful webinar and panel discussion with global design experts on the opportunities and challenges facing the interior design and architecture industry in 2021. From the design and business implications of Covid-19 restrictions, to leveraging global opportunities overseas.

    Discover unique global insights on the future of the interior design profession with SBID founder, Vanessa Brady; global principle of HBA Residential, Chris Godfrey; senior associate at Zaha Hadid Architects, Bidisha Sinha; co-founder of Albion Nord, Ben Johnson;  and founder of Design Haus Liberty, Dara Huang.

    Key discussion points:
    • Top challenges and opportunities facing the UK / global interior design industry in 2021.
    • Growing interior design businesses in the aftermath of COVID-19.
    • Building long-term trust and relationships with clients in the Chinese and Asian markets.
    Speakers include:
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    Chris Godfrey  |  Global Principle of HBA Residential

    Chris has over 23 years experience creating highly considered and finely crafted interiors for the residences of the most discerning clients. Chris cultivated his holistic design approach; combining Architecture and Interior Design to create beautifully conceived and exquisitely delivered residences for clients who appreciate the value of design excellence. In 2018 he received the coveted Master of Design Award from SBID and is also an award-winning Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Chartered Architect.

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    Bidisha Sinha | Senior Associate at Zaha Hadid Architects

    Bidisha finished her first degree in New Delhi before moving to London for her Masters at the Architectural Association. She has had an architectural career spanning over 18 years, delivering projects in India, UK and Hong Kong. In her role within Zaha Hadid Architects, over the last 15 years she has personally delivered projects which have made a positive difference to the revitalization agenda of the programs that were associated with them.

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    Ben Johnson | Co-founder of Albion Nord

    Equipped with a First-Class Honours degree in Interior Design, Ben began his career at Candy & Candy, followed by Heatherwick Studios, and quickly built a strong foundation of experience in high-end residential design, public spaces and retail projects around the globe In 2010, Ben joined design practice 1508 London, leading a studio of 40 interior designers and appointed Creative Director and Partner in 2014. In 2017, Ben co-found Albion Nord, building an impressive of portfolio of both international and domestic residential projects.

    Dara-Huang-Profile-16-e1615912179939-312x312

    Dara Huang | Founder of Design Haus Liberty

    Dara Huang is the founder of Design Haus Liberty; an international architecture, interiors and design practice established in London in 2013, with global offices in both London and Hong Kong. She holds a Masters degree in Architecture from Harvard University and started her career at Herzog de Meuron, Basel and Foster + Partners, London. In the company’s short time, Dara has received numerous awards and honours including Property Weeks 40 under 40, BBC China's 100 Women, and Prestige Hong Kong’s 40 under 40.

    From Zoomtable panel discussions and online interviews, to Accredited CPD webinars, SBIDPro provides access to exclusive industry content. Email pr@sbid.org to get involved and share your professional views on the interior design profession!

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