Initially trained as furniture maker/designer I then took a degree in 3D Design – Furniture and Related Products.
My first job was with Foster Associates working on Stansted Airport and the Tecno Nomos system and bespoke project for Norman Foster’s own homes.
Then various jobs followed with a number of design consultancies working on travel retail and products such as Amtico flooring to POS and retail design including work for Orange.
My initial employment with Allen International as well as the retail banking sector involved projects like a Finnish DIY warehouse store and duty free franchises.
Other activities have included an MA in Design Studies including research into temporary bridge structures for aid situations and assistant Director for the British Contemporary Design Group in the promotion of contemporary British designers at the New York International Contemporary Furniture Fair for three years.
I was also Design Leader for Products for BAA on the Terminal 5 project and another stint as Design Director at Allen International working on retail banking projects from Ukraine to Qatar as well as LloydsTSB branches in the UK.
I am currently in the position of Retail Design Manager at Rawls & Co. This involves a wide range of clients with a large variety of retail offers from airports to large scale inner city developments to outlet centres; from large brand names and expensive fit outs to F&B brands and independent retailers.
I would certainly describe myself as an all rounder from design initiation to crisis management and as Design Director have supervised teams of designers as well as being very client facing.
However I would still describe myself as a bespoke furniture/product designer as I have always applied my training as a furniture maker/designer for its attention to detail to my wide variety of work have have done.