In this episode, I’m joined by Liesl Wherry, Creative Lead at Interaction UK. Coming in with a big topic! The value of design.

Liesl is an impressive South African born interior architect with 12 years of experience in design. She spent the first 6 years of her career working in the interior department of one of the biggest architecture firms in Africa. Before moving to Bath in the UK in 2018 to work at Interaction.

The value of design is a subjective topic, and in our experience, undervalued when it comes to the build process. Together we explored the many elements that we think define value, emphasising the importance of client relationships, understanding project requirements and brief, and the evolving needs of people.

We discuss the intricacies and challenges of communicating design value, the subjective nature of design appreciation, and the impact of sustainability and user-centric design in the process.This was a thought provoking episode, and really enjoyed the elements we got stuck into to finish off Season 1 of Design and Build podcast.

I hope you enjoy the episode!

Episode Highlights

13:19 The Value of Design

25:09 Challenges in Design and Build

26:04 The Journey of Design Implementation

31:11 Convincing Clients of Design Value

40:06 The Evolving Value of Design

43:16 Misconceptions About Design Value

49:13 The Satisfaction of Design and Build

Find us online

You can find Liesl Wherry online through ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

You can find me, your host Becca Mizzi-Harris, on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I would love to connect with you.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5* rating and review, and share with a friend to enjoy!

This episode is kindly sponsored by⁠⁠⁠⁠Unilin Flooring⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thank you! Find their brands on LinkedIn⁠⁠IVC Commercial⁠⁠ and⁠⁠Moduleo⁠⁠, or⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

This podcast is lovingly recorded and produced by Becca Mizzi-Harris at Stiwdio Mizzi-Harris Ltd.

Becca is a commercial freelance interior designer, based in South Wales. Helping dozens of busy designers and design teams grow and smash deadlines with her flexible freelance services. You can find out more at⁠⁠⁠www.mizziharris.com⁠.

In this episode, I’m joined by Phil Hallett, Design Manager & Product Designer at Orangebox. Throughout the episode, Phil delves into the challenges of material choices, the evolution of workplace furniture to the delicate balance between trends and timelessness, and how ideas evolve from sketches to prototypes and eventually into fully realised products.

Sustainability takes centre stage here too, as Phil discusses how it influences material choices, supply chain, product life cycles, and the certification process, and with that, the critical role designers play in building trust with clients to ensure we’re all doing the right thing.

Packed with thought-provoking takeaways and practical advice, this episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about sustainability, workplace innovation, and the art of design. Plenty of inspiration and practical takeaways for designers, builders, and enthusiasts alike.

I hope you enjoy the episode!

Episode Highlights

06:30 The Design Process: From Ideas to Prototypes

09:09 Collaboration in Design: Finding the Best Ideas

11:51 Tools and Technology in Modern Design

14:24 Sustainability in Design: A Core Consideration

19:19 The Evolution of Workplace Furniture

22:06 Navigating Sustainability Certifications

22:51 The Future of Workplace Design

28:09 Gathering Client Feedback for Product Development

31:26 Balancing Trends and 'Timeless' products

35:29 Customisation: Finding the Right Balance

37:02 Sustainability and Material Choices in Design

40:38 The Designer's Role in Creating Functional Spaces

46:31 Evolving Design Philosophy Over Time

Find us online

You can find Phil Hallett online via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Orangebox ⁠⁠website⁠⁠.

You can find me, your host Becca Mizzi-Harris, on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I would love to connect with you. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5* rating and review, and share with a friend to enjoy!

This episode is kindly sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠Unilin Flooring⁠⁠⁠. Thank you! Find their brands on LinkedIn ⁠IVC Commercial⁠ and ⁠Moduleo⁠, or ⁠Instagram⁠.

This podcast is lovingly recorded and produced by Becca Mizzi-Harris at Stiwdio Mizzi-Harris Ltd.

Becca is a commercial freelance interior designer, based in South Wales. Helping dozens of busy designers and design teams grow and smash deadlines with her flexible freelance services. You can find out more at ⁠⁠www.mizziharris.com⁠

In this conversation, I am joined by Verity Gray, a retail designer and visual merchandiser with over 20 years experience.

She has worked with big retail brands including IKEA, Wilko, and JoJo Maman Bébé. And as the Head of Visual Merchandising for Flying Tiger (UK), where she guided and managed 44 stores and the successful opening of 14 pop-up stores.

Together we discuss the evolution of retail design, the importance of customer experience, and the role of data in shaping effective retail environments. Highlighting how successful retailers adapt to changing customer needs.

Verity also talks us through her process, and how she designs retail spaces that align with the daily needs of the business whilst creating environments that customers want to explore, connect with, and return to.

Verity was lovely to chat to, and it was a great deep dive into retail design. I hope you enjoy the episode!

Episode Highlights

01:28 Introduction to Verity's Background

06:41 The Varied Nature of Freelance Work in Retail Design

12:13 Data-Driven Insights for Retail Design

16:08 Creating Emotional Connections in Retail Spaces

21:28 Conclusion and Future of Retail Design

26:34 Collaborative Project Management

32:20 Flexibility in Retail Design

36:04 Creativity Within Limitations

40:15 Creating Memorable Retail Experiences

Find us online

You can find Verity Gray online via ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠, Instagram⁠, and her ⁠website⁠.

You can find me, your host Becca Mizzi-Harris, on ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠. I would love to connect with you.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5* rating and review, and share with a friend to enjoy!

This episode is kindly sponsored by ⁠⁠Unilin Flooring⁠⁠. Thank you! Find their brands on LinkedIn IVC Commercial and Moduleo, or Instagram.

This podcast is lovingly recorded and produced by Becca Mizzi-Harris at Stiwdio Mizzi-Harris Ltd.

Becca is a commercial freelance interior designer, based in South Wales. Helping dozens of busy designers and design teams grow and smash deadlines with her flexible freelance services. You can find out more at ⁠www.mizziharris.com⁠