OLISE Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Annie White sits down with James White and Elliot March, founders of the internationally renowned studio MAWD (March and White Design).

Together, they explore how design creates emotional impact, what it means to build hospitality spaces with soul, and how a global perspective influences their work across London, Dubai, New York, and Los Angeles.

James and Elliot talk openly about the creative process, the value of collaboration, and why the most successful interiors are the ones that make people feel something.

In this episode:
• The early days of MAWD and the evolution of their studio
• Designing for emotion in hospitality, residential, and mixed-use spaces
• Global perspectives: how geography shapes creativity
• Why narrative matters in design
• The future of hospitality and the next shifts in user experience

Headline Sponsor:
This episode is supported by AB Consulting, a boutique strategic and creative advisory studio working across design, architecture, and the built environment. AB Consulting is deeply committed to building community, hosting curated networking events that bring together designers, founders, and industry leaders. Their focus on meaningful connection is at the heart of their mission: to create opportunities, spark collaboration, and strengthen the creative ecosystem.

Discover more at https://abcltd.co.uk/

Perfect for: architects, interior designers, students, and anyone curious about the thinking behind world-class spaces.

Listen & Watch:
Full video available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lre9sNSV22o
Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms.

Guest Links:
MAWD Studio
https://www.mawd.co

Follow OLISE Magazine:
Website: https://olisemagazine.com
Instagram: @olisemagazine:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OLISEmagazine
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/olise-magazine/

In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Annie White speaks with Farshid Tafazzoli, Co-Founder of Material Bank, about the future of material sourcing, sustainability, and the technology reshaping the design industry.

From simplifying the sampling process to building smarter circular systems, Farshid shares how Material Bank is transforming the way architects and designers work and what’s next as the platform expands across Europe.

In this episode:
• How Farshid started his path to becoming a tech entrepreneur
• The story behind Material Bank and its expansion to Europe
• How technology is improving the designer workflow
• Sustainability and the future of material circulation
• What designers really need from suppliers
• The future of product libraries and specification culture

Headline Sponsor
This episode is proudly sponsored by Parador, a global interiors brand known for design-led flooring crafted with care in Europe. Parador combines material innovation, responsible production, and timeless aesthetics to help architects and designers create spaces that feel considered, beautiful, and built to last.

Discover more at parador-interiors.com

Perfect for: architects, designers, specifiers, suppliers, product companies, and anyone curious about how innovation is changing the industry.

Listen & Watch:
Full video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rkrMbwItx2w
Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms.

Guest Links:
Material Bank Europe
https://materialbank.eu

Follow OLISE Magazine:
Website: https://olisemagazine.com
Instagram: @olisemagazine:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OLISEmagazine
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/olise-magazine/

In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Annie White sits down for a candid conversation about her journey from luxury fashion at Dior and LVMH to founding OLISE Magazine.

From cold-calling her way into the industry to managing high-pressure fashion shows, relocating between Paris, New York, and London, and ultimately creating her own platform, Annie shares the realities behind ambition, resilience, and creative leadership.

She reflects on building OLISE without permission, trusting her instincts, assembling a high-performing team, and staying focused in the face of doubt. Along the way, she opens up about motherhood, marriage, competitiveness, and the personal drivers behind her success.

Together, the conversation explores what it really takes to build something meaningful in the creative industries.

In this episode:
• Breaking into LVMH and working at Dior and Thomas Pink
• Life in Paris, New York, and global fashion
• High-pressure moments behind major fashion shows
• Transitioning from fashion to interiors
• The story behind founding OLISE Magazine
• Building teams and company culture
• Women in leadership and confidence at the table
• Balancing career, ambition, and family
• Why you don’t need permission to start

Headline Sponsor:
This episode is supported by Material Bank, the leading global platform transforming how architects and designers discover, sample, and specify materials. Material Bank streamlines the sampling process, saving time, reducing waste, and improving sustainability across the design industry.
https://materialbank.eu
https://materialbank.com

Perfect for:
Creative entrepreneurs, interior designers, architects, founders, marketing leaders, students, and anyone interested in building a career with confidence, resilience, and independence.

Listen & Watch:
Full video available on YouTube
Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms

Guest Links:
OLISE Magazine
https://olisemagazine.com

Annie White El Hachem
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-white-el-hachem-89a1a728/

Follow OLISE Magazine:
Website: https://olisemagazine.com
Instagram: @olisemagazine
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/olise-magazine/

In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Bilen sits down with interior designer and founder Alex Dauley for an honest conversation about identity, ambition, and building a career with integrity.

Alex shares her journey from a small village in Wales to creating a thriving design studio in London, and how she entered the industry later in life with no network, no portfolio, and a decision to back herself anyway. She speaks candidly about motherhood, the reality of “having it all”, and why boundaries, honesty, and kindness matter in an industry that is often more polished than transparent.

The conversation also explores the creation of United in Design, the charity Alex founded in response to the lack of access for Black and Brown designers, and what real change looks like when the next generation is supported from education through to employment, and ultimately, ownership.

Alex also reflects on her WOW!house 2025 moment, designing the first ever media room, and how it became a turning point in her confidence, creativity, and future direction.

In this episode:
• Growing up in Wales and finding her way to London
• Entering interior design at 32 and starting a studio with no network
• Motherhood, ambition, and the reality of balance
• What it means to be a Black woman in the design industry
• Why United in Design was created, and what it’s changing
• The truth about access, networks, and “feast or famine” in design
• WOW!house 2025 and designing the Date Night media room
• What’s next, media, brand collaborations, and building a multi-faceted business

Headline Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Calibre Climate, specialists in bespoke climate control for high-end homes. Calibre Climate works closely with architects and interior designers to deliver quiet, beautifully integrated air conditioning solutions, creating environments that feel effortless, balanced, and considered.
https://www.calibreclimate.com/

Perfect for:
Interior designers, architects, students, studio founders, creative entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in honesty, access, and building a career with purpose.

Listen & Watch:
Full video available on YouTube
Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms

Guest Links:
Alex Dauley
https://www.alexdauley.com/

United in Design
https://www.unitedindesign.com/

Follow OLISE Magazine:
Website: https://olisemagazine.com
Instagram: @olisemagazine
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/olise-magazine/

In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Bilen Zeremariam sits down with interior designer and founder of House of Black, Toni Black, for a candid and powerful conversation about fighting racism in the design industry.

Toni shares what it was really like trying to break into interiors as a young Black woman, including the bias she experienced during recruitment and interviews, and the resilience it took to keep going when doors repeatedly closed. She reflects on how prejudice shaped her strength, why representation still matters, and what it means to stand firm in your identity while building a business in a competitive industry.

Alongside this, Toni talks about pivoting into lighting design, what it taught her about mood and atmosphere, and how her work evolved into hospitality projects shaped by emotion, memory, and the senses.

She also introduces House of Black, a brand and interiors agency “where stories are lived,” bringing together strategy and design to build fully immersive concepts, from narrative and naming to scent, service, and spatial experience.

In this episode
• Toni’s creative upbringing and path into interior and spatial design
• Fighting racism and navigating prejudice in recruitment
• Resilience, perseverance, and standing up for your value
• The power of pivoting, and what lighting design taught her
• Designing through emotion, memory, and the senses
• Leadership, loyalty, and building strong team culture
• House of Black and holistic hospitality design
• Delegation, burnout, and building a sustainable studio
• Identity, heritage, and designing through multiple perspectives

Headline Sponsor
This episode is supported by Calibre Climate, specialists in bespoke climate control for high-end homes. Their goal isn’t just temperature control, it’s creating environments that feel effortless, balanced, and considered. Caliber Climate works closely with architects and interior designers to deliver quiet, beautifully integrated air conditioning solutions.
https://www.calibreclimate.com/

Perfect for:
Interior designers, architects, students, studio founders, hospitality creatives, and anyone interested in leadership, resilience, identity, and building a more inclusive creative industry.

Listen & Watch
Full video available on YouTube
Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms

Guest Links:
Toni Black
https://www.instagram.com/toniblack.official/

House of Black
https://houseofblack.design/

Follow OLISE Magazine:
Website: https://olisemagazine.com
Instagram: @olisemagazine
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/olise-magazine/

In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Annie White sits down with Clint Nagata, Founder and Creative Partner of BLINK Design Group, for an in depth conversation about global hospitality design, cultural luxury, and building an international studio without ego.

From leading iconic projects for One&Only, Six Senses, and Banyan Tree Dubai, to growing BLINK into a 120 person practice across Bangkok, Singapore, Dubai, and London, Clint shares what it really takes to scale a creative business while protecting its culture.

Born in Hawaii and now based in Bangkok for over 20 years, Clint reflects on how travel shaped his worldview, why he believes luxury is no longer singular, and how cultural luxury designing through the lens of place has become central to Blink’s philosophy.

He speaks candidly about walking away from projects when visions do not align, why losses can be more valuable than wins, and how humility, transparency, and friendship underpin his leadership style.

Clint also shares the story behind A Wish to Remember, Blink’s internal travel award created in memory of a beloved team member, and explains why exposure to the world is essential if designers are to create meaningful hospitality experiences.

This is a conversation about resilience, perspective, mentorship, and what it means to design for the next generation of global luxury travellers.

In this episode
• Growing BLINK organically into a global hospitality studio
• Why cultural luxury is redefining high end design
• Designing through interpretation, not imitation
• Leadership without ego and building an egoless firm
• Moving from creative to business leader
• Why losses can be more valuable than wins
• Transparency, open studios, and global team culture
• Mentorship and shaping the next generation of designers
• The story behind A Wish to Remember
• Why Morocco is next on Clint’s design horizon

Headline Sponsor

This episode is supported by Calibre Climate, specialists in bespoke climate control for high end homes. Their goal is not just temperature control, it is creating environments that feel effortless, balanced, and considered. Calibre Climate works closely with architects and interior designers to deliver quiet, beautifully integrated air conditioning solutions.
https://www.calibreclimate.com/

Perfect for

Interior designers, architects, hospitality professionals, studio founders, creative directors, and anyone interested in global design leadership, cultural storytelling, and building a values led business.

Listen and Watch

Full video available on YouTube
Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms

Guest Link:
BLINK Design Group
https://www.blinkdg.com/

Follow OLISE Magazine:
Website: https://olisemagazine.com
Instagram: @olisemagazine
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/olise-magazine/

In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Annie White sits down with Brian Woulfe, founder of Designed by Woulfe, for a candid conversation about building an international interior design studio without a traditional path.

Brian’s journey into design was anything but conventional. Originally trained as a musician, he found himself unexpectedly working on luxury properties in Thailand during the global recession, an experience that would shape his practical, on-site approach to design and business.

Since then, Brian has completed projects across five continents and built Designed by Woulfe into a globally recognised studio known for richly layered residential interiors and deeply personal client relationships.

In this conversation, Brian reflects on how saying yes to opportunities helped launch his career, why he believes trends are often misunderstood, and how great interiors are created through interpretation rather than imitation.

He shares honest insights into running a design studio, from the realities of entrepreneurship and hiring the right team, to managing complex client relationships and navigating the pressures of creative leadership.

Brian also discusses the evolving role of technology and artificial intelligence in design, why luxury will always depend on human connection, and how personal passions such as polo have helped him rediscover balance and avoid creative burnout.

This episode explores the realities behind the images: the risks, resilience, and relationships required to build a global design practice.

• How Brian moved from music into interior design
• Moving to Thailand and designing luxury villas during the recession
• Learning design through construction sites rather than studios
• Why saying yes shaped Brian’s career
• Building Designed by Woulfe into a global residential studio
• Why trends often distract from authentic design
• The impact of AI on creativity and design workflows
• The importance of relationships in luxury design
• Why networking and human connection still drive business
• Entrepreneurship, burnout, and finding balance through polo

This episode is supported by Calibre Climate, specialists in bespoke climate control for high-end homes. Their goal is not just temperature control, but creating environments that feel effortless, balanced, and considered. Calibre Climate works closely with architects and interior designers to deliver quiet, beautifully integrated air conditioning solutions.

https://www.calibreclimate.com/

Interior designers, architects, studio founders, creative directors, and anyone interested in the realities of building a global design practice, navigating entrepreneurship, and balancing creativity with business leadership.

Full video available on YouTube
Audio available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms

Brian Woulfe
https://www.instagram.com/brianwoulfe/ 

Designed by Woulfe
https://www.designedbywoulfe.com/ 

Website: https://olisemagazine.com
Instagram: @olisemagazine
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/olise-magazine/

In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Bilen sits down with Rose Murray, founder of These White Walls, for a thoughtful and deeply personal conversation about creativity, identity, and the evolving role of the designer.

Rose’s path into interior design was anything but traditional. With a background in anthropology and early experience in editorial, she began her career working alongside Nigella Lawson before moving into festival spaces, scenography, and hospitality. This organic journey shaped her belief that space is never neutral, it is a powerful tool for storytelling, identity, and human connection.

Since founding These White Walls, Rose has built an award-winning studio known for its highly personalised, narrative-led approach across both hospitality and residential projects. Her work moves fluidly between public and private spaces, often blurring the line between the two.

In this conversation, Rose reflects on the importance of relationships in design, the role of emotional intelligence in working with clients, and why interiors are about far more than aesthetics. She shares how her studio has evolved, from early micromanagement to creating a collaborative environment where creativity can flourish.

Rose also speaks candidly about motherhood and leadership, and how becoming a mother has expanded her capacity, sharpened her vision, and reshaped her understanding of legacy. She challenges the lack of visibility for women in business during pregnancy and advocates for a more open, human conversation around creativity, leadership, and life.

The episode also explores the future of design, from the impact of AI and technology to the increasing importance of human connection, cultural awareness, and meaningful dialogue in shaping spaces.

This is a conversation about intuition, courage, and the belief that design is not just about what we see, but how we live, feel, and connect within a space.

In this episode

• Rose’s unconventional path from anthropology to interior design
 • Working with Nigella Lawson and early editorial influences
 • The connection between food, space, and experience
 • Founding These White Walls and the meaning behind the name
 • Creating a collaborative studio culture and evolving leadership
 • Designing across hospitality and residential spaces
 • Why relationships and emotional intelligence define great design
 • The reality of creating highly private, unseen projects
 • The impact of AI and the importance of human creativity
 • Motherhood, leadership, and expanding creative capacity
 • Representation, visibility, and women in business
 • Designing for legacy and the future of the studio

Headline Sponsor

This episode is supported by Moroso, the luxury Italian design house renowned for turning furniture into works of art. For over 70 years, Moroso has collaborated with leading designers to create bold, expressive pieces that define contemporary interiors.

https://www.moroso.it

Perfect for

Interior designers, architects, creative founders, and anyone interested in the emotional and human side of design, building a studio with purpose, and balancing creativity with leadership, identity, and life.

Listen and Watch

Full video available on YouTube
Audio available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms

Guest Links

Rose Murray

https://www.instagram.com/rose_murray/

These White Walls

https://www.thesewhitewalls.com/

Follow OLISE Magazine

Website: https://olisemagazine.com
Instagram: @olisemagazine
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/olise-magazine/

In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Bilen sits down with artist and founder Caroline Chinakwe for a powerful and deeply personal conversation about identity, creativity, and building a brand that reflects culture and truth.

Caroline shares her unconventional journey from a 20-year career in fashion into the art world, a transition that was never planned, but driven by a desire to represent Black women with authenticity, strength, and beauty. She speaks candidly about imposter syndrome, starting again later in life, and why she refused to follow the narrative of the “struggling artist.”

The conversation explores the meaning behind Chinakwe, not just as a name, but as a legacy, and how Caroline has built a lifestyle brand rooted in Afrofuturism, storytelling, and emotional connection. From her early experiences growing up between Nigeria and the UK, to creating work that celebrates colour, identity, and culture, her perspective is both honest and empowering.

Caroline also opens up about motherhood, risk-taking, and resilience, sharing how being a young mother shaped her independence and drive, and how her work today is not only about creativity, but about visibility, representation, and creating space for others.

This episode is a celebration of courage, reinvention, and the power of owning your story.

In this episode:
• Moving from music to fashion, and ultimately into art
• Leaving the fashion industry and finding a new creative direction
• Overcoming imposter syndrome and claiming the title of “artist”
• The meaning behind Chinakwe and building a brand with legacy
• Representation, culture, and redefining how Black women are seen
• Creating a lifestyle brand rooted in Afrofuturism
• Motherhood, independence, and starting young
• Risk-taking, resilience, and building a business with intention
• The importance of visibility and creating opportunities for others
• Expanding the brand through retail, galleries, and global reach

Headline Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Calibre Climate, specialists in bespoke climate control for high-end homes. Calibre Climate works closely with architects and interior designers to deliver quiet, beautifully integrated air conditioning solutions, creating environments that feel effortless, balanced, and considered.
 https://www.calibreclimate.com/

Perfect for:
Artists, interior designers, creatives, entrepreneurs, students, and anyone interested in identity, culture, storytelling, and building a purpose-led brand.

Listen & Watch:
Full video available on YouTube
Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms

Guest Links:
Chinakwe
https://chinakwe.com/

Caroline Chinakwe
https://www.instagram.com/carolinechinakwe/

Follow OLISE Magazine:
Website: https://olisemagazine.com
Instagram: @olisemagazine
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/olise-magazine/