Design Director / Founder
Design 21 Ltd
July 2017 - Present
Furniture, upholstery and lighting design for global brands such as Restoration Hardware, The Conran Shop, John Lewis, Neptune, Arhaus, Pottery Barn, McGee & Co, Heal’s, Lulu & Georgia, Marks & Spencer and Anthropologie. Design services include trend analysis, design ideation, 3D modelling, renderings, technical drawings and product development.
Head of Design
September 2021 - November 2022
Previously the Head of Design for Made.com, an online furniture and homeware brand collaborating with independent designers and makers to create affordable aspirational pieces. Reporting to the Chief Product Officer I managed the in-house creative and design teams across lighting, furniture and upholstery, also managing our ‘design ecosystem’ of external designers and collaboration brands.
Design Director
October 2019 - August 2021
Responsible for the design teams for Soho House and Soho Home, developing new product collections for the retail business alongside new Soho House locations. Starting with initial direction and concept through to design and product development, covering all stages of the products development to final samples and production. Managing a team of designers to deliver the new assortment, establishing workloads and individual directives for each designer, managing the calendar to ensure deadlines and targets are met.
Design Manager
August 2017 - October 2019
Located in Philadelphia, USA, I was responsible for all Furniture, Upholstery and Lighting design - managing a team of designers to create unique, aspirational products. Each season we would deliver new direction and trends, identifying new product categories. Starting with hand sketches we create the designs and product direction for the season, moving into 3D modelling to produce renderings and finally full technical drawings for sampling.
Head of Home
January 2016 - August 2017
In charge of the Home department at French Connection, leading a team of product developers and buyers working on categories including furniture, lighting, textiles and kitchenware. Working across several different disciplines – from marketing and graphics to visual merchandising and retail. My role combined all aspects of a product's development from initial sketches to visual merchandising in stores and online, including designing the catalogue and styling the seasonal photography shoots.
Lead Furniture Designer
January 2014 – January 2016
In charge of all furniture and upholstery design at Marks and Spencer from Spring 2015 onward, a department worth over £100m. My role covered all areas of the home including Living, Dining, Home Office, Bedroom, Bathroom, Kids and Outdoor. I was responsible for all new developments, continuation of the existing range, and identification of new product opportunities and categories. I managed an assistant designer and collaborated with suppliers, designers and major brands such as Ercol and Conran.
Furniture Designer
October 2011 – December 2013
Based in Leicester I was responsible for the downstairs furniture assortment. My first full range was a contemporary high gloss collection that generated £2.2m in its first full year. Extensive travel to factories in China and Malaysia to brainstorm new products and ideas.
Furniture Designer
September 2008 – October 2011
In charge of new furniture and kitchen projects, developing ideas and concepts, 3D modelling, renderings and fully detailed manufacturing drawings for all areas of the home, designing individual products to entire room sets.
Junior Designer
First Man Standing Ltd
September 2006 – May 2008
Responsible for conceptual design and sketch work, 3D Modelling and renderings, research and development and designing and making prototypes.
Education:
BA (Hons) Product Design
September 2003 – July 2006
A Chartered Society of Designers (CSD) accredited course, working on live industry briefs set by real clients such as Paul Smith and Nestle, my work was exhibited at the final year Degree Show in London. My course focused on creative design skills in order to develop new products for manufacture within a wide range of industries. During the first two years I studied alongside 'BSc (Hons) Product Design' and 'BA (Hons) Furniture and Product Design' courses, enabling me to develop a multi-disciplinary perspective.