Dan is the founder of ‘Mystery’ -an award-winning specialist brand design agency in London and Los Angeles.  Mystery specialises in creating customer-centric brands in the hospitality and food and beverage sectors. He has also co-ventured, co-founded, and co-partnered a portfolio of consumer lifestyle brands in which he has equity holdings and has a direct influence on through his brand development consulting. I spoke to Dan in his Santa Monica home via Zoom. In this episode, we discover Why brands are like people and how developing brands with personalities helps create emotive connections with customers. How creating joint ventures can build stronger business relationships. The importance of writing down a design methodology. Why working backwards provides a structure to developing a design and making decisions. And the policy that on every project, you must have fun. Links Mystery Design  https://www.mystery-design.com/ Dan on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/einzig/ Venice V Hotel https://venicevhotel.com/ How to be a kick-ass Interior Designer.  Come and join us on the Interior Design BA(Hons) course at the University of Plymouth. https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-interior-design The Multi Story Thinking Podcast at no 28 in the Best 60 Interior Design Podcasts produced by FeedSpot.  https://blog.feedspot.com/interior_design_podcasts/ Thanks to Dave Clarke from @iamthehow (http://www.iamthehow.com) for production support and invaluable advice in the setting up of this Podcast. Kay Hanson (https://www.instagram.com/kay_v_hanson/) for her planning support and co-hosting for these and our educational podcasts for the University of Plymouth Mark Frith  (https://www.instagram.com/fritzthekat/) for composing the music and all your support and advice along the way. I’d really like to hear feedback on the podcast.  Leave a comment or get in touch via the website or Instagram. Website https://www.instagram.com/forster_jonathan/ Instagram http://www.multistorythinking.com/contact Thanks for listening.  Bye for now.

Graeme Brooker is an interior designer, writer, lecturer, and current Head of Interior Design at the Royal College of Art in London. He leads a team of academics delivering the MA program and his research focuses on interior design and the reuse of existing buildings and space. Graeme has published a number of books, many co-authored by long-time collaborator Sally Stone, that chart approaches and helps to define the craft of interior design.  In this episode we discover How Graeme began his writing career. His work to galvanise the interior design education industry by developing the Interior Educators group. The importance of understanding existing space and adaptive techniques and why strategies rather than concepts are important when designing interior spaces. The four strands that will make up the new one year format of the MA course at the RCA And why you should think carefully about when and why you say the word refurbishment. Links Graeme at the RCA https://www.rca.ac.uk/more/staff/graeme-brooker/ Interior Educators https://interioreducators.co.uk/ Graeme’s books at Waterstones (other retailers are available) https://www.waterstones.com/author/graeme-brooker/675574 How to be a kick-ass Interior Designer.  Come and join us on the Interior Design BA(Hons) course at the University of Plymouth. https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-interior-design Thanks to Dave Clarke from @iamthehow (http://www.iamthehow.com) for production support and invaluable advice in the setting up of this Podcast. Kay Hanson (https://www.instagram.com/kay_v_hanson/) for her planning support and co-hosting for these and our educational podcasts for the University of Plymouth Mark Frith (https://www.instagram.com/fritzthekat/) for composing the music and all your support and advice along the way. I’d really like to hear feedback on the podcast.  Leave a comment or get in touch via the website or Instagram. Website https://www.instagram.com/forster_jonathan/ Instagram http://www.multistorythinking.com/contact Thanks for listening.  Bye for now.   

Daniel Heath  Daniel Heath is a British award-winning independent wallpaper, textile, and surface designer renowned for his illustrative and engaging designs.  Based in the heart of East London, he has long upheld principles of craftsmanship and sustainable design through up-cycling and re-appropriation of authentic heritage materials. Daniel makes bespoke, hand-printed wallpapers and crafted interior surfaces for individuals and corporate clients that combine drawings and production skills with traditional crafts and modern technologies. In this episode, we discover The importance of narrative and storytelling. The opportunities and challenges of working with salvaged materials. The perfect circle of inspiration, materials, translation, and outcome.  And why you shouldn’t ask Dan to draw unicorns and rainbows. Dan’s website http://www.danielheath.co.uk/   Instagram https://www.instagram.com/danheathstudio/ How to be a kick-ass Interior Designer.  Come and join us on the Interior Design BA(Hons) course at the University of Plymouth. https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-interior-design Thanks to Dave Clarke from @iamthehow (http://www.iamthehow.com) for production support and invaluable advice in the setting up of this Podcast. Kay Hanson (https://www.instagram.com/kay_v_hanson/) for her planning support and co-hosting for these and our educational podcasts for the University of Plymouth Mark Frith (https://www.instagram.com/fritzthekat/) for composing the music and all your support and advice along the way. I’d really like to hear feedback on the podcast.  Leave a comment or get in touch via the website or Instagram. Website https://www.instagram.com/forster_jonathan/ Instagram http://www.multistorythinking.com/contact Thanks for listening.  Bye for now.

Naomi Cleaver is an interior designer, television presenter, and writer active in a broad range of sectors and specialising in communal living.  Her work includes groundbreaking designs for student accommodation, co-Living, and co-working schemes across the UK.  She combines a theatrical approach to shaping spaces alongside a deep understanding of the emotional and psychological impact of her work. In this episode, we discover the importance of integrating student communities into the wider community. Why you need to think like the client and how Naomi’s role within projects has shifted. The challenges of designing for young people and how to create a sense of ownership and belonging Why universities and accommodation providers need to adapt to the changing landscape of learning And we discover what may be the next black Links https://naomicleaver.com/   All Together Now: The co-living and co-working revolution https://www.ribabooks.com/All-Together-Now-The-co-living-and-co-working-revolution_9781859468982   The Class Foundation https://www.theclassfoundation.com/   How to be a kick-ass Interior Designer.  Come and join us on the Interior Design BA(Hons) course at the University of Plymouth. https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-interior-design Thanks to Dave Clarke from @iamthehow (http://www.iamthehow.com) for production support and invaluable advice in the setting up of this Podcast. Kay Hanson (https://www.instagram.com/kay_v_hanson/) for her planning support and co-hosting for these and our educational podcasts for the University of Plymouth Mark Frith (https://www.instagram.com/fritzthekat/) for composing the music and all your support and advice along the way. I’d really like to hear feedback on the podcast.  Leave a comment or get in touch via the website or Instagram. Website https://www.instagram.com/forster_jonathan/ Instagram http://www.multistorythinking.com/contact Thanks for listening.  Bye for now.

James is the Sales and Design Director at Parkside Architectural Tiles, which is part of the market-leading Parkside Strata Group.  He’s based in their Clerkenwell Studio and works with the central London architectural and interior design community to produce sustainable and technical specifications for all construction sectors. The company has been pioneering a holistic approach to sustainability, is set to become carbon neutral in 2022, and is partnering with the World Land Trust to protect precious natural habits. In this episode we discover. The balancing act of aesthetics, technical requirements, and budget. The importance of building relationships during the design and specification stage of projects. Why we need to overcome the myths surrounding perceptions of sustainability and cost. And we contemplate the damage to flooring that can be inflicted by a 3 year old.      Links James on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-journet-aa23b623/   Parkside Architectural  Tiles https://www.parkside.co.uk/   World Land trust https://www.worldlandtrust.org/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA3-yQBhD3ARIsAHuHT66CxRy3JkET38cvnTRlVgM3cxqeCtxXh7N-g1cbg2doqLGmtg4T_2caAp39EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds   How to be a kick-ass Interior Designer.  Come and join us on the Interior Design BA(Hons) course at the University of Plymouth. https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-interior-design Thanks to Dave Clarke from @iamthehow (http://www.iamthehow.com) for production support and invaluable advice in the setting up of this Podcast. Kay Hanson (https://www.instagram.com/kay_v_hanson/) for her planning support and co-hosting for these and our educational podcasts for the University of Plymouth Mark Frith (https://www.instagram.com/fritzthekat/) for composing the music and all your support and advice along the way. I’d really like to hear feedback on the podcast.  Leave a comment or get in touch via the website or Instagram. Website https://www.instagram.com/forster_jonathan/ Instagram http://www.multistorythinking.com/contact Thanks for listening.  Bye for now.

Vera is the founder and owner of Madu and Palm, an online retailer supplying unique handmade furniture and home decor products by Balinese and Javanese professionals. She lives in Bali and has developed a strong working relationship with the local craftspeople to develop a range of furniture and products that are sourced responsibly and fair traded. In this episode, we discover how Vera got on her bike to discover Bali’s craft workshops The process of working with local craftspeople and the range of natural materials available. The challenges of delivering to the UK market And why, if you want to capture the tropical vibe, take your office to the beach Links Vera on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/vera-bogodi-6193a1b1/?originalSubdomain=uk Madu and Palm website https://www.maduandpalm.com/   How to be a kick-ass Interior Designer.  Come and join us on the Interior Design BA(Hons) course at the University of Plymouth. https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-interior-design   Thanks to Dave Clarke from @iamthehow (http://www.iamthehow.com) for production support and invaluable advice in the setting up of this Podcast. Kay Hanson (https://www.instagram.com/kay_v_hanson/) for her planning support and co-hosting for these and our educational podcasts for the University of Plymouth Mark Frith (https://www.instagram.com/fritzthekat/) for composing the music and all your support and advice along the way. I’d really like to hear feedback on the podcast.  Leave a comment or get in touch via the website or Instagram. Website https://www.instagram.com/forster_jonathan/ Instagram http://www.multistorythinking.com/contact Thanks for listening.  Bye for now.    

Jack Trench is the founder and director of Jack Trench Limited who create award-winning handmade bespoke kitchens. They have a showroom in central London and offer a complete project managed service, from initial concept and design through to manufacture and installation Since 2003 the company has maintained its original ethos of delivering high-end joinery, bespoke kitchens, and finely-crafted furniture developing into a growing team of cabinetmakers, site fitters, designers, and studio staff. In this episode we discover How a few jobs putting up shelves led to setting up a joinery business working across Europe. How concentrating on kitchen design helped focus their design philosophy, processes, and business goals.   Why you need to understand people and how they tick and the importance of making collaborative decisions with contractors and clients And why, when you get to site, everything goes out the window.   Links https://www.jacktrench.co.uk/ How to be a kick-ass Interior Designer.  Come and join us on the Interior Design BA(Hons) course at the University of Plymouth. https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-interior-design Thanks to Dave Clarke from @iamthehow (http://www.iamthehow.com) for production support and invaluable advice in the setting up of this Podcast. Kay Hanson (https://www.instagram.com/kay_v_hanson/) for her planning support and co-hosting for these and our educational podcasts for the University of Plymouth Mark Frith (https://www.instagram.com/fritzthekat/) for composing the music and all your support and advice along the way. I’d really like to hear feedback on the podcast.  Leave a comment or get in touch via the website or Instagram. Website https://www.instagram.com/forster_jonathan/ Instagram http://www.multistorythinking.com/contact Thanks for listening.  Bye for now.  

Nathan Lonsdale is a founding partner of the lab_, a collective of businesses and free-thinkers; architects, designers, developers, engineers, social scientists, educators, and technologists;  Which includes spacelab_, an architectural design studio I spoke to Nathan In Real Life in the Depot, a co-worker space near Old Street in London, where he introduced me to sense_, an intelligence-driven platform that is revolutionising how people use space and how we design. In this episode, we discover how academic research informs the design process The importance of integrating workplace strategy with workplace design. How real-time monitoring can help spaces evolve in response to human behavior. And why, if you are looking for a quiet day in the office, don’t go in on a Tuesday. Links Nathan Lonsdale  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-lonsdale-b16b665/?originalSubdomain=uk sense_ https://www.sensespace.com/ the depot https://www.thedepot.co.uk/pages/about-the-depot_ How to be a kick-ass Interior Designer.  Come and join us on the Interior Design BA(Hons) course at the University of Plymouth. https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-interior-design Thanks to Dave Clarke from @iamthehow (http://www.iamthehow.com) for production support and invaluable advice in the setting up of this Podcast. Kay Hanson (https://www.instagram.com/kay_v_hanson/) for her planning support and co-hosting for these and our educational podcasts for the University of Plymouth Mark Frith (https://www.instagram.com/fritzthekat/) for composing the music and all your support and advice along the way. I’d really like to hear feedback on the podcast.  Leave a comment or get in touch via the website or Instagram. Website https://www.instagram.com/forster_jonathan/ Instagram http://www.multistorythinking.com/contact Thanks for listening.  Bye for now.  

Laura Perryman is the Founder and Director of Colour of Saying, a colour, materials, and finishes design studio based in London, which curates forward-thinking colour and material design insights and experiences for brands and organisations. Her work spans trend forecasting, material research and innovation, product design and visual brand identity alongside lecturing and writing. Her new book,  The Colour Bible,  is an essential and inspirational guide to colour in art and design and condenses years of Laura’s experience of working with colour. In this episode we discover  How Laura transitioned from a degree in textiles to product design and designing user experiences. The importance of narrative when working with colour. How colour and materials choices can directly affect our brains and influence our behaviour. And I finally get to know what CMF Design stands for.   Links Laura’s websites http://colourofsaying.com/ https://lauraperryman.co/contact The Colour Bible https://lauraperryman.co/the-colour-bible-1  BUY THIS BOOK! How to be a kick-ass Interior Designer.  Come and join us on the Interior Design BA(Hons) course at the University of Plymouth. https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-interior-design Thanks to Dave Clarke from @iamthehow (http://www.iamthehow.com) for production support and invaluable advice in the setting up of this Podcast. Kay Hanson (https://www.instagram.com/kay_v_hanson/) for her planning support and co-hosting for these and our educational podcasts for the University of Plymouth Mark Frith (https://www.instagram.com/fritzthekat/) for composing the music and all your support and advice along the way. I’d really like to hear feedback on the podcast.  Leave a comment or get in touch via the website or Instagram. Website https://www.instagram.com/forster_jonathan/ Instagram http://www.multistorythinking.com/contact Thanks for listening.  Bye for now.  

Kay is a director of WorkPlace for HOK, a global design, architecture, engineering, and planning firm, with a network of 24 offices on three continents. She leads teams creating innovative  workspaces and has pioneered a Neurodiverse-friendly approach to shaping spaces that support the full range of neurotypical and neurodivergent employees. In this episode we discover the three key things shaping our thinking in the way we design spaces. How the application of science can help drive better decision making. Why a test, pilot, and measuring approach could revolutionise our approach to office refurbishment. The importance of options, choices, and control in creating diverse spaces that fit your employees better.  And we discover the dangers of becoming a potted plant.   Links HOK website https://www.hok.com/people/leadership/view/kay-sargent/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kay-sargent-53b2431/ Designing a Neurodiverse Workplace https://www.hok.com/ideas/publications/hok-designing-a-neurodiverse-workplace/ Kay Sargent Talks About Designing Neurodiverse-Friendly Workplaces on CRE Podcast https://www.hok.com/news/2019-09/kay-sargent-talks-about-designing-neurodiverse-friendly-workplaces-on-cre-podcast/ How to be a kick-ass Interior Designer.  Come and join us on the Interior Design BA(Hons) course at the University of Plymouth. Where we teach you to put people at the centre of the design process and create joyful and sustainable spaces to support wellbeing, health, and happiness. https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-interior-design Thanks to Dave Clarke from @iamthehow (http://www.iamthehow.com) for production support and invaluable advice in the setting up of this Podcast. Kay Hanson (https://www.instagram.com/kay_v_hanson/) for her planning support and co-hosting for these and our educational podcasts for the University of Plymouth Mark Frith (https://www.instagram.com/fritzthekat/) for composing the music and all your support and advice along the way. I’d really like to hear feedback on the podcast.  Leave a comment or get in touch via the website or Instagram. Website https://www.instagram.com/forster_jonathan/ Instagram http://www.multistorythinking.com/contact Thanks for listening.  Bye for now.