DESIGN WORKSHOPS
Interior Design Workshops
Noticing a few gaps in interior design training, in both undergraduate and career-change schools, I have been thinking about things I find useful in practice that I didn’t learn or refine at college. These workshops are designed to join up the dots.
Looking back to cast forward for inspiration and to develop personal approach.
Illustrated talks & micro-projects to understand how and why history, society and our own backgrounds are useful in contemporary design practice.
• who’s who past & present
• economic and social context
• recurring styles
• current themes
Getting a project started and defining brief, identity & direction for design development.
Without a clear starting point and strong concept a project can lack focus and miss opportunity: start by thinking widely, freely and creatively to explore the possibilities.
• first thoughts & images
• wider reference & abstraction
• editing and application
• project examples
If we can’t tell the story there is no point in doing the work. Making the case for an idea, a pitch or a project with clear thinking, organisation, editing & page layout:
• story what’s the idea?
• edit refine and perfect
• assemble combine material
• composition effective layout
• grid consistency, clarity
• hierarchy balance, priority
• sequence tell the story
Short projects to explore concept and application of sustainable methodology.
Research into material, furniture, construction, and brand, to build a shared knowledge bank and embed a sustainable mindset into everyday design.
• overview
• research & feedback
• project examples
• findings & best practice
What, from where, installing & maintaining, and how to get the right thing for the job.
A visual tour of material-use through project examples covering everything from traditional to innovative, much-loved, unexpected & sustainable.
• properties & selection
• application
• specification
• resources & further learning
How to assemble custom families of furniture, textiles and art for home, hotel and commercial projects.
• survey what have you got
• plan what could you have
• specify check details
• schedule itemise
• cost check budget
• procure agree purchase
• install oversee
• follow-up feedback
Part of the process from concept and sketch to finished interior; without detail there is no control and the idea is unlikely to be realised.
A skill learned over time, start now, practice makes perfect, think detail:
• specification
• fixing
• junctions
• implications
• communication
Professional practice: systems for organising relationships & documenting a project.
And frameworks to contain the legal & statutory agreements and many variables that a project involves – people, place, time and money.
• overview
• work stages
• roles
• project examples