Have you got an example of how have you shaped a brand’s visual or experiential identity across physical and digital touchpoints? 

We often work with brands, including well established hotel brands where we are tasked with shaping the visual identity taking cues from the brand guidelines but also infusing this with contextual elements such as the location, local culture, the architecture and the guest.  We have also worked on many projects where we have been responsible for shaping a new brand identity. Ruya restaurants is a good example of this.  This was a new brand by a Turkish restauranteur who wanted to offer a new perspective on Anatolian cuisine outside of Turkey as a more elevated dining experience.  Our research helped to shape the brand identity beyond the surface look and feel, with a view to capturing the unique experience of Turkish hospitality.  Our aim was to capture elements such as a sense of generosity and abundance, a laid-back attitude, dining as a social experience that should not be rushed.  These conceptual ideas were the foundations used to shape the physical spaces, material choices, even through to the digital branding. 

What inspires you when designing for spaces that people live in? 

The inspiration must always come from a thorough understanding of who the end user will be, and we spend a significant amount of time defining this.  Once this is established we are able to shape the space accordingly.  There are two quotes from Le Corbusier which I think form the basis of a great approach to designing space for people to live in.  The first ‘A house is a machine for living in’, speaks to practical function, a curation of spaces which are shaped around supporting the lifestyle of the inhabitants.  The second ‘The home should be the treasure chest of living’ , touches more on the emotional connection we have with our homes, the ambition to express individuality - places where some of life’s most significant moments happen. 

Have you ever been involved in storytelling through brand or spatial design? What message did the design convey? 

Storytelling is at the heart of each project that we work on. Many of these projects are entering a fiercely competitive market with discerning customers who are seeking a point of difference.  Through research into the context of the area, the architecture and the buyer (or guest) we can create something with a completely unique DNA.  We aim to capture the spirit of a place in a contemporary way, whilst avoiding anything overtly pastiche or themed. 

How do you approach working on multidisciplinary teams where architects, designers, and brand strategists collaborate? 

Collaboration is key to the success of a project. As designers and architects we understand that there are no solid lines between the internal / external nor the physical or the digital.  The ambition with collaboration is always that the end result becomes more than the sum of its parts.   

What’s your process when starting a new design or branding project? Do you begin with function, feeling, or form? 

In the very initial stages the focus is on both function and feeling equally, establishing the journey.  The operational requirements along with the emotions that we want people to feel when they inhabit the space is the clay that shapes the form.