In the design and architecture industry, it can become all too easy to only focus on the work. Granted large projects take many people and a lot of time to bring to fruition, there are plenty of people behind those projects that have insightful stories to tell.

In 2018, there were lots of opportunities to speak to the people behind the work. And these were the ones that kept you inspired.

Laura Saunders, head of interiors, DKO Sydney

Laura Saunders. Photo by Maclay Heriot.

DKO’s HQ.

Having taken on a promotion early in the year at DKO, we put some questions to Laura about her design philosophy. And her minimalist outlook and aesthetics had you all intrigued. “Minimalist detailing looks simple but is often the most complicated, because everything has to be hidden and designed down to the last millimetre. The design can’t look boring, either. It still needs to have a really strong idea behind it,” says Laura.

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Mike Giesser, communications designer extraordinaire

Flack Studio branding.

Mike Giesser is a talented branding and communications designer who opened up with us about his approach to design, including some key takeaways for architects on the importance of branding. As Mike shares, “The most crucial stage to get right is the first, it’s always the first. There’s a lot of dialogue, workshopping, untangling and organising. It’s about defining a clients purpose, vision, personality and where they sit among their competitive landscape.”

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Workplace design insights from Woods Bagot’s Amanda Stanaway

NAB Docklands by Woods Bagot. Photo by Shannon McGrath.

With an incredible amount of experience in workplace design, Amanda Stanaway, Woods Bagot principal and workplace expert, delivered an enormous amount of advice when we chatted. From the modern changing workplace to the impact of company culture, there was more than enough to keep you inspired. “Company culture is fundamental in facilitating an agile workplace. Paired with the right technology, a successful agile model supports a more collaborative way of doing business,” says Amanda. 

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Design darling Patricia Urquiola

Our Singapore team got the chance to meet with the Spanish furniture designer at the Space furniture showroom back in March. Patricia was visiting, as all the latest Cassina products were launch locally and boy did she share some true words of wisdom, including: “I think in life, resilience is connected a little bit with finding your own soul, your own rhythm, as you walk your path.”

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Miriam Fanning, founder Mim Design

Woodcut office fit-out. Photo by Sean Fennessy.

You’d be hard pressed finding a designer in Melbourne that hasn’t heard about Mim Design. With more than 20 years in the biz, she has been behind many hospitality projects alongside luxurious residential work. When asked about her vision, Mim says: “The vision for Mim Design grew organically through the constant need to challenge ourselves from a design and business perspective. It has always been important to us to have design differentiation from project to project and client to client.”

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Read more of our interviews in our The People section. And for all the best design inspiration, sign up for our newsletter.