Sarah Gibson & Nicholas Karlovasitis leave uni, cram a fledgling furniture brand into a Newtown flat, and decide they are going to export Australian design to the world. That is the starting point for DesignByThem. In this episode we unpack how fifteen years later, they're actually pulling it off.We talk about building a design brand from a tiny local market, backing Australian designers, and choosing factories around the world without losing the integrity of the work. The conversation gets into IP, copies, pricing, cashflow, and why treating business as a design problem changed everything for them.If you care about turning design from a side project into a viable brand, this one is worth your time.0:00 Intro1:22 Why design still hooks them after all these years3:00 Chasing ideas that make beautiful things accessible4:08 Childhood Lego, pulling things apart and thinking like designers5:11 Sarah’s path from obsessive floor plans to industrial design6:10 Education, UTS and putting Australian industrial design on the map7:34 Spotting the gap and founding DesignByThem as a collective9:39 Building a platform for Australian designers not just a personal studio11:02 Royalties, collaboration and why the best invoices go to other designers13:08 Designers as business people and treating business like a design problem15:09 Systems and spreadsheets16:29 How they find designers and why so many wait to be discovered19:29 Social media, saturation and why direct outreach still wins21:35 Young designers, polish, missing knowledge and the AI trap22:56 Why outsourcing the concept is a mistake and IP is everything24:16 Using AI for the boring bits so more time goes into design24:23 Sustainability, materials and designing for the full life cycle27:15 Greenwashing, regulation and how far Australia needs to go33:20 Working with architects and interiors and learning from clients34:50 Feedback loops, data and using colour and custom work smartly39:21 Australian craft as limitation and why they went global with manufacturing41:42 Balancing local pride, accessibly priced products and global factories43:52 Turning furniture design from a second job into a real career45:03 Educating the public and putting the designer behind the product50:03 How products, brands and spaces work together in the real world53:12 Their Smart Design Studio workspace and why the setting matters55:33 What they have learned, what they would change and why they still love coming to work
A few times in a generation, a piece of technology comes along that changes everything. The internet, smart phones, or if you're an architect, CAD and BIM. Now, we have AI to add to that list. But can our profession embrace this, move forward, or even absorb another push for efficiency without hollowing out our expertise or having to question our real value now or in the future?We wanted to find out the answers to these questions and more. So we spoke to Rada Daleva, project lead at Studio Tim Fu, the leading AI-first architecture firm working with real clients on real projects and making real money.This studio is at the vanguard of what our future could look like, and that debut, commissioned at Lake Bled in Slovenia, is billed as the first fully AI driven architecture project.00:00 Intro01:25 Is AI coming for my job?02:37 What are the tangible use cases for AI right now?06:34 Rada’s path to Studio Tim Fu11:01 Using AI across the business11:54 Lake Bled: World's first fully AI driven architecture project15:06 Human touch, local context and training models19:14 Why later stages are harder for AI21:45 Does AI steal the fun part of design?24:17 How AI could shift architectural value26:55 What to do if you just started a design practice31:13 Should students be learning AI at University?34:57 Using AI as a marketing strategy38:49 Do clients actually want AI?39:45 Navigating the AI divide43:03 Will AI fundamentally change design forever?47:07 What do you say to the haters?48:15 How do we define our value in this new era of design?50:03 How will the industry evolve in the next five years?
Shawn Adams is an architect and outreach lead at HTA Design. He co founded POoR Collective (Power Out Of Restriction), a platform that works with young people to co design projects and build real skills. His work sits at the intersection of practice, education and community, bringing young voices into live briefs and treating them as the client.He is a published writer with bylines in Wallpaper, Frame and Icon. He trained at Portsmouth and the Royal College of Art, and came through the New Architecture Writers programme. Shawn’s focus is clear. Make design public. Cut the jargon. Open the door for the next generation.0:00 - Intro1:15 - Why architecture?2:07 - Experience at architecture school4:20 - Founding the POoR Collective7:15 - What do the POor Collective do?8:38 - Finding the balance between designer and facilitator11:40 - Build the Way Internship12:40 - Getting people to believe in your ideas14:25 - Working at HTA Design19:32 - Becoming a published writer in design22:16 - The relationship between architecture and writing24:37 - The architect as the polymath28:22 - Communicating design via social media30:38 - Drop the jargon33:19 - Increasing representation in architecture36:13 - Has your career turned out how you imagined?40:18 - Advice for the next generation43:46 - What change do you hope to see in the industry?
Peter Murray once herded longhorn cattle down St Johns Street in London to make a point: Architecture should speak to everyone. In this conversation he unpacks a life spent shaping that dialogue from AA student to editor of Building Design and the RIBA Journal to co founding Blueprint, Wordsearch, the London Festival of Architecture and New London Architecture.We get into why so much architectural writing misses the public, how to switch the language, and when he realised he was becoming institutionalised and needed a reset. He talks candidly about raising the game at BD, opening the debate beyond the profession, and building platforms that connect designers, policymakers and the public.
Download the reportHere is the State of Sustainability in Architecture and Design 2025. A clear view of how sustainability is shaping hiring, skills and careers right now, based on a global survey of 350 professionals across the UK, US and Australia, plus straight talk from six pioneers who are pushing practice forward.Chris Simmons speaks with editor Hattie Hartman to unpack the findings. You will hear what candidates want, which skills are in demand, how teams are built, why evidence beats slogans, and where firms fall short between big promises and delivery.Featuring insights from Andrew Waugh, Kossy Nnachetta, Tamar Warburg, Heather Holddridge, Caroline Pidcock and David Ritter.Watch, take notes, then grab the free report and both handbooks for employers and candidates. Use them to hire smarter, structure teams with intent and build the skills that actually get you hired.
Architect and urban designer Mariana Cabugueira has bridged the worlds of physical infrastructure with immersive digital realms in the metaverse. In this episode, she traces her path from studying in Lisbon to honing advanced skills in London, and from her years at Zaha Hadid Architects to spearheading ambitious virtual projects.We explore what architects can contribute to the metaverse, how AI and parametric tools are changing workflows, and the challenges of building healthy design cultures. Mariana also talks openly about stepping away from a dream role to start something new.
What does it take to run one of the world’s leading architecture practices? Grimshaw’s Group Managing Partner Mark Middleton shares lessons from three decades shaping global mega-projects, leading studios across continents, and keeping architects inspired on the world’s biggest stages.0:00 - Intro1:17 - Why architecture?2:51 - How practical experience shapes better design5:46 - Architecture school and a switch in work ethic8:43 - Joining Grimshaw, working with Sir Nicholas Grimshaw and staying in one job for 30 years11:44 - Becoming Group Managing Partner at Grimshaw13:53 - Transitioning into leadership and staying close to projects17:44 - How the global studio runs, board and regions22:59 - Ambition, being asked to lead and the move to Australia26:56 - Australia on the ground, local clients and a broader project mix33:01 - Do big awards change anything?37:10 - Film at Grimshaw, telling complex stories well45:01 - Speak plainly and drop the archi-speak54:24 - The gripe with architect stereotypes
From cubbies in the bush to projects in Melbourne, London, and New York, Martin’s career has spanned continents, practices, and passions. Now an Associate at FXCollaborative, he reflects on what drives him as an architect and his advocacy for diversity through Build Out Alliance.00:00 Intro02:51 Designing for the end user’s needs and enjoyment05:38 DIY projects family building and formal training08:09 London office planting the seed for international work11:49 Getting licensed from the UK to New York16:19 Balancing the technical and creative sides of architecture18:49 Taking projects from concept through to completion21:32 Working in London compared with New York contracts24:10 Investing time in relearning codes and licensing26:43 Build Out Alliance advocacy and LGBTQ+ support29:33 Splitting time between comfort and work quality32:21 Building awareness and inclusivity in the creative industry36:18 Gaining opportunities and confidence through Build Out Alliance39:14 Navigating straight environments and the energy of code switching42:40 Designing with inclusivity and community in mind45:11 Making the move to New York and the mainland48:02 Supporting queer communities through architecture and advocacy
The numbers aren’t great. Women in architecture are still paid less, promoted less, and leaving the profession at higher rates than men. It’s not unique to architecture, but there’s plenty of work to do. According to a Bespoke Careers report, the gender pay gap in Australia sits at 20.6% — nearly triple that of the UK and US. Angela Dapper has seen those realities up close, and has made it her mission to be the change she wants to see in the industry. Over a career in Melbourne and London with Grimshaw, Architectus and Denton Corker Marshall, she’s led landmark projects like the Stonehenge Visitor Centre, Aesop Store and Oxford Botanic Gardens Glasshouses. She’s mentored emerging architects, challenged industry norms, and built a reputation for making her voice count in rooms where women are still underrepresented.Now she’s stepping away from big practice to start her own socially sustainable studio on her own terms. This conversation explores the reality of being a woman in architecture and what it takes to create a career that truly works for you.0:00 – Introduction1:09 – What keeps Angela in architecture4:15 – Gender bias and the uphill battle in the 90s5:47 – Leaving Australia for opportunities in London7:17 – Designing the Stonehenge Visitor Centre12:22 – Lessons from working in three major practices15:41 – Leading diversity initiatives at Grimshaw17:55 – Why Angela moved from DCM to Grimshaw20:50 – Choosing the right practice for you22:26 – Why many senior women are leaving architecture24:05 – Starting her own socially sustainable studio27:59 – Making small projects high impact30:49 – Listening and adapting to community clients31:50 – Why she started her business later in her career34:22 – Returning to Australia as an architect36:41 – The value of panels, mentoring and professional networks40:13 – Gender equity in architecture today45:06 – Angela's experiences with gender discrimination47:19 – Advice for young architects finding their voice50:17 – Has her career turned out as expected?
What does it take to become a successful architect? How do you build an award winning practice culture? How do we fix the housing crisis? And are architects still hungry enough to make a difference?In this episode, Simon Bayliss, Managing Partner at HTA Design, shares what he's learned from 25 years at one of the UK’s leading housing-focused practices. 0:00 - Intro0:56 - Why Simon became an architect3:26 - Where architects bring the most value6:41 - Going from Part II to Managing Partner at HTA Design11:58 - Building an award-winning workplace culture16:55 - Insights on hybrid and flexible working22:18 - Benefits of a multidisciplinary approach25:17 - Strategic growth in housing and co-living 29:51 - Rethinking space and the future of shared living 33:02 - Lessons for the next generation of architects 38:48 - Why trust and high standards go hand in hand 42:46 - What’s next for Simon and the future of housing
We spend roughly a third of our adult lives at work. A third. That's about 90,000 hours over the course of a career. And yet, many of us have never stopped to really think about how our physical environment is shaping our mental health, our productivity, and our overall wellbeing every single day.We're living through the biggest shift in how we work since the Industrial Revolution. Hybrid working, which felt revolutionary just a few years ago, is now the norm. But as Kirsten will explain, we're still getting it wrong in some fundamental ways. We're still thinking about workplace design as something that gets done to employees, rather than with them.0:00 - Intro1:29 - What is it about people's relationship with their environment?3:03 - Background in landscape architecture5:58 - The step into real estate7:03 - Transferable skills in design9:03 - Herman Miller and the importance of company values14:02 - The missing piece in designing for wellbeing at work 18:03 - The disconnect between designers and users21:12 - What happens when employees help design the workplace strategy23:52 - Are firms keeping health and wellbeing "in a box"?23:48 - How do we appeal to companies that aren't invested in wellbeing?27:10 - Do certifications like WELL and Fitwel actually matter?32:01 - What are the workplace wellness strategies that make a difference?33:19 - The balance/disconnect between health and sustainability36:53 - Latest research on hybrid working41:22 - The link between wellbeing and flexibility44:14 - Career trade-offs and raising a family45:55 - Key lessons from Kirsten's career journey: "Never stop learning!"48:22 - Has your career turned out how you imagined?50:05 - What's next?
Fed up with the traditional way of procuring architecture, Qutaibah Al-Atafi joined forces with builder Ryan Underwood to create something different. And with Underwood, their Melbourne-based design-led design and build firm, that’s exactly what they’re doing.Immigrating from Iraq and growing up in the outer suburbs of New Zealand, Qutaibah was left questioning why some places felt like home and others didn’t.In this conversation, amongst other things, we discuss whether architecture is still worth it. With tight fees getting tighter, and AI rewriting the rules, what’s keeping architects going?0:00 - Intro1:40 - Why architecture?3:48 - Is architecture worth it?5:20 - Qutaibah's childhood and route into architecture9:27 - The importance of drawing and thoughts on AI16:37 - The design and build business model and philosophy31:01 - ADVICE - Seek out site experience!33:33 - Reimagining education and the role of an architect39:04 - The universal practitioner (always be learning)41:49 - Passive house, sustainable design, and an evidence based approach48:14 - Educating the client on sustainable design50:16 - Lessons learned and advice for architects53:36 - Mentorship (listen to older architects!)57:15 - Leave a job on good terms58:53 - Has your career turned out how you imagined?
From studying at Yale to leading global megaprojects like Changi Airport and Hudson Yards, Forth shares what’s changed in the profession, why architecture is a service business, and how to lead without losing the joy in design.00:00 - Intro01:15 - Why Architecture?01:51 - Forth's upbringing and route into architecture04:43 - Key lessons from Yale University07:24 - Is architecture school effectively preparing graduates for practice? 10:25 - The story of Forth joining KPF (a great story)14:51 - The hardest years of Forth's life (transition into leadership)16:30 - The 2 keys for architectural success (best advice Forth ever received)18:23 - Forth's advice for leaders20:55 - How to navigate running a large, international practice22:50 - How a team-based culture shapes KPF25:10 - Running project teams like small businesses (super interesting)30:34 - What is it about large projects that you love?35:17 - The evolution of KPF and navigating macro changes40:03 - The value of staying connected beyond architecture43:05 - Why many leave the profession and why that’s okay45:15 - Open House New York and sharing design with the public48:22 - Advice for young architects: grow at your own pace53:06 - Has your career turned out how you imagined?
This episode features Nimi Attanayake of Nimtim Architects, who discusses how her personal experiences, including a cancer diagnosis, reshaped her career. Nimtim is an architecture practice in London that crafts playful, personal spaces for real people, rethinking how architecture can be more accessible and human.
We sit down with Keir-Regan Alexander, founder of Arka Works, to explore how AI is transforming architecture. With over 15 years of design experience in top London practices, Keir shares his journey from architect to AI consultant, revealing how AI is changing the way architects work. We cover everything from early career influences and design school experiences at Liverpool and Westminster to the pressures of running a practice and the challenges of embracing new tech.00:00 - Intro01:23 - Why architecture?03:21 - Early influences05:13 - Architecture school: Liverpool vs Westminster08:28 - Early career at AHMM and Fielden Fowles12:43 - Transition to Morris+Company15:58 - Navigating the split at Duggan Morris18:51 - What are your leadership values?20:52 - Leaving Morris+Company for AI consultancy23:51 - The AI awakening: early recognition of potential27:19 - AI in architecture practices: two buckets approach30:06 - Practical applications of AI in architecture33:44 - Challenges and opportunities with AI36:37 - Omnihat: a new AI startup for architects41:05 - Using AI to optimise architecture workflows43:54 - Future of architecture and AI45:28 - Advice for young architects in the AI era50:04 - The economics of architecture education today
Thomas Rowntree is an architectural designer and content creator. Alongside practice, he's built a large online following by sharing honest, practical insights into architectural education, early career experience and the realities of the profession.His content focus on visual communication, productivity, and creative workflows for students and young professionals. He is part of a growing group of designers using content to make architecture more accessible.Thomas spoke to Chris Simmons about navigating architecture school without a blueprint, the realities of early career practice, and how building a personal brand opened doors the profession didn’t.0:00–Introduction1:03–Why architecture?2:03–Visual communication as a creative outlet4:59–Lego to art: early sparks6:25–Starting architecture “blind”7:52–First architecture vlog goes viral8:10–Shift from fitness to architecture content12:47–Providing value to the viewer15:04–Planning systems and discipline16:23–Boosting efficiency, avoiding burnout18:54–Part 1 role fully remote in lockdown20:54–Delayed office start, home-working challenges23:04–Finding an 80/20 office/home split24:44–Value of in-studio serendipity26:06–Why he’s still chasing his architect title28:01–Building a personal brand in arch32:00–Social media as competitive edge35:52–Breaking gatekeeping with transparency39:35–Communication: core architect skill43:01–Using “hooks” and storytelling in talks45:56–Elevator-pitch clarity under pressure47:06–Advice: stay open-minded and keep learning49:44–Fav architects now: Hadid, Libeskind, Miralles
Keeping up with employment law changes can be a bit of a headache for HR, but staying up-to-date is essential to ensure your practice is compliant with current legislation. Learn about the key updates in employment law, including the new Employment Rights Bill, changes to sexual harassment prevention, flexible working adjustments, and tackling discrimination claims. Gain practical tips to help your firm stay compliant and create a safe, inclusive workplace.
When it comes to the notion of the hybrid office, firms and employees are more aligned than you think. That’s among the takeaways from our recent survey of New York’s architecture and design workplaces.Bespoke Careers recently surveyed 200 New York architects and designers to glean their thoughts on today’s hybrid workplace and what makes an attractive employment proposition. Listen as Alastair Wallace and Micah Davis-Rae discuss the findings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Recent changes to Australian workplace laws have significant implications for architecture firms. Merilyn Speiser of Catalina Consultants discusses:- The new 'right to disconnect' law and its practical implications- Updated redundancy rules and their impact on small businesses- Enhanced protections for employees experiencing domestic violence- Clarifications on independent contractors and sham contracting- Changes to casual employment regulations- Increased penalties for wage theft and underpayment- New 'psychosocial' hazard regulations affecting mental health at workWhether you're running an architecture practice or working in the industry, understanding these changes is crucial. We'll explain what you need to do to stay compliant and create a fair, safe workplace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.