The Multi Story Thinking Podcast on Interior Design – Details, episodes & analysis

Thushar Jayamanne and Lakshinie Rathnapala run Talk Design Studios which is a Sri Lankan architectural and interior design consultancy based in Colombo,

Together they lead a dynamic team of associate architects, interior designers, furniture designers, technicians, and experienced consultants, working across the residential and commercial design sectors.

I interviewed them during a visit to Sri Lanka in 2022 when I was teaching at the NSBM Green University as part of the academic partnerships program with the University of Plymouth.

In this episode, we discover the importance of integrating interior design into a project from the project inception.

How the interior design industry is establishing itself within Sri Lanka and the importance of focusing on the core interior elements of a building.

How owning a furniture factory helps to deliver the details of their design proposals.

The impact of Covid-19 and the Sri Lankan economic crisis on the design process and how it inspired a more creative and sustainable approach.

And why, if you are asked to name your favorite Sri Lankan Interior designer, please don’t say Geoffrey Bawa.

Links

https://talkdesignstudios.com/

Thanks to

Dave Clarke from @iamthehow (http://www.iamthehow.com), for production support and invaluable advice on setting up this podcast.

Kay Hanson (https://www.instagram.com/kay_v_hanson/) for her planning support and co-hosting for these and our educational podcasts for the University of Plymouth

Mark Frith (https://www.markfrith.uk/) for composing the music and for your support and advice along the way.

I’d like to hear feedback on the podcast.  Leave a comment or get in touch via the website or Instagram.

Website
http://www.multistorythinking.com/contact

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/forster_jonathan/

Thanks for listening.  Bye for now.

Graeme Brooker is an interior designer, writer, lecturer, and current Head of Interior Design at the Royal College of Art in London. He leads a team of academics delivering the MA program and his research focuses on interior design and the reuse of existing buildings and space.

Graeme has published a number of books, many co-authored by long-time collaborator Sally Stone, that chart approaches and helps to define the craft of interior design. 

In this episode we discover

How Graeme began his writing career.

His work to galvanise the interior design education industry by developing the Interior Educators group.

The importance of understanding existing space and adaptive techniques and why strategies rather than concepts are important when designing interior spaces.

The four strands that will make up the new one year format of the MA course at the RCA

And why you should think carefully about when and why you say the word refurbishment.

Links

Graeme at the RCA

https://www.rca.ac.uk/more/staff/graeme-brooker/

Interior Educators

https://interioreducators.co.uk/

Graeme’s books at Waterstones (other retailers are available)

https://www.waterstones.com/author/graeme-brooker/675574

How to be a kick-ass Interior Designer. 

Come and join us on the Interior Design BA(Hons) course at the University of Plymouth.

https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-interior-design

Thanks to

Dave Clarke from @iamthehow (http://www.iamthehow.com) for production support and invaluable advice in the setting up of this Podcast.

Kay Hanson (https://www.instagram.com/kay_v_hanson/) for her planning support and co-hosting for these and our educational podcasts for the University of Plymouth

Mark Frith (https://www.instagram.com/fritzthekat/) for composing the music and all your support and advice along the way.

I’d really like to hear feedback on the podcast.  Leave a comment or get in touch via the website or Instagram.

Website

https://www.instagram.com/forster_jonathan/

Instagram

http://www.multistorythinking.com/contact

Thanks for listening.  Bye for now.

Daniel is a British award-winning independent wallpaper, textile, and surface designer renowned for his illustrative and engaging designs. 

Based in the heart of East London, he has long upheld principles of craftsmanship and sustainable design through up-cycling and re-appropriation of authentic heritage materials.

Daniel makes bespoke, hand-printed wallpapers and crafted interior surfaces for individuals and corporate clients that combine drawings and production skills with traditional crafts and modern technologies.

In this episode, we discover

The importance of narrative and storytelling.

The opportunities and challenges of working with salvaged materials.

The perfect circle of inspiration, materials, translation, and outcome. 

And why you shouldn’t ask Dan to draw unicorns and rainbows.

Dan’s website

http://www.danielheath.co.uk/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/danheathstudio/

How to be a kick-ass Interior Designer. 

Come and join us on the Interior Design BA(Hons) course at the University of Plymouth.

https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-interior-design

Thanks to

Dave Clarke from @iamthehow (http://www.iamthehow.com) for production support and invaluable advice in the setting up of this Podcast.

Kay Hanson (https://www.instagram.com/kay_v_hanson/) for her planning support and co-hosting for these and our educational podcasts for the University of Plymouth

Mark Frith (https://www.instagram.com/fritzthekat/) for composing the music and all your support and advice along the way.

I’d really like to hear feedback on the podcast.  Leave a comment or get in touch via the website or Instagram.

Website

https://www.instagram.com/forster_jonathan/

Instagram

http://www.multistorythinking.com/contact

Thanks for listening.  Bye for now.

Naomi Cleaver is an interior designer, television presenter, and writer active in a broad range of sectors and specialising in communal living. 

Her work includes groundbreaking designs for student accommodation, co-Living, and co-working schemes across the UK.  She combines a theatrical approach to shaping spaces alongside a deep understanding of the emotional and psychological impact of her work.

In this episode, we discover the importance of integrating student communities into the wider community.

Why you need to think like the client and how Naomi’s role within projects has shifted.

The challenges of designing for young people and how to create a sense of ownership and belonging

Why universities and accommodation providers need to adapt to the changing landscape of learning

And we discover what may be the next black

Links

https://naomicleaver.com/

All Together Now: The co-living and co-working revolution

https://www.ribabooks.com/All-Together-Now-The-co-living-and-co-working-revolution_9781859468982

The Class Foundation

https://www.theclassfoundation.com/

How to be a kick-ass Interior Designer. 

Come and join us on the Interior Design BA(Hons) course at the University of Plymouth.

https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-interior-design

Thanks to

Dave Clarke from @iamthehow (http://www.iamthehow.com) for production support and invaluable advice in the setting up of this Podcast.

Kay Hanson (https://www.instagram.com/kay_v_hanson/) for her planning support and co-hosting for these and our educational podcasts for the University of Plymouth

Mark Frith (https://www.instagram.com/fritzthekat/) for composing the music and all your support and advice along the way.

I’d really like to hear feedback on the podcast.  Leave a comment or get in touch via the website or Instagram.

Website

https://www.instagram.com/forster_jonathan/

Instagram

http://www.multistorythinking.com/contact

Thanks for listening.  Bye for now.

James is the Sales and Design Director at Parkside Architectural Tiles, which is part of the market-leading Parkside Strata Group.  He’s based in their Clerkenwell Studio and works with the central London architectural and interior design community to produce sustainable and technical specifications for all construction sectors.

The company has been pioneering a holistic approach to sustainability, is set to become carbon neutral in 2022, and is partnering with the World Land Trust to protect precious natural habits.

In this episode we discover.

The balancing act of aesthetics, technical requirements, and budget.

The importance of building relationships during the design and specification stage of projects.

Why we need to overcome the myths surrounding perceptions of sustainability and cost.

And we contemplate the damage to flooring that can be inflicted by a 3 year old.   

Links

James on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-journet-aa23b623/

Parkside Architectural  Tiles

https://www.parkside.co.uk/

World Land trust

https://www.worldlandtrust.org/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA3-yQBhD3ARIsAHuHT66CxRy3JkET38cvnTRlVgM3cxqeCtxXh7N-g1cbg2doqLGmtg4T_2caAp39EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

How to be a kick-ass Interior Designer. 

Come and join us on the Interior Design BA(Hons) course at the University of Plymouth.

https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-interior-design

Thanks to

Dave Clarke from @iamthehow (http://www.iamthehow.com) for production support and invaluable advice in the setting up of this Podcast.

Kay Hanson (https://www.instagram.com/kay_v_hanson/) for her planning support and co-hosting for these and our educational podcasts for the University of Plymouth

Mark Frith (https://www.instagram.com/fritzthekat/) for composing the music and all your support and advice along the way.

I’d really like to hear feedback on the podcast.  Leave a comment or get in touch via the website or Instagram.

Website

https://www.instagram.com/forster_jonathan/

Instagram

http://www.multistorythinking.com/contact

Thanks for listening.  Bye for now.

Vera is the founder and owner of Madu and Palm, an online retailer supplying unique handmade furniture and home decor products by Balinese and Javanese professionals.

She lives in Bali and has developed a strong working relationship with the local craftspeople to develop a range of furniture and products that are sourced responsibly and fair traded.

In this episode, we discover how Vera got on her bike to discover Bali’s craft workshops

The process of working with local craftspeople and the range of natural materials available.

The challenges of delivering to the UK market

And why, if you want to capture the tropical vibe, take your office to the beach

Links

Vera on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/vera-bogodi-6193a1b1/?originalSubdomain=uk

Madu and Palm website

https://www.maduandpalm.com/

How to be a kick-ass Interior Designer. 

Come and join us on the Interior Design BA(Hons) course at the University of Plymouth.

https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-interior-design

Thanks to

Dave Clarke from @iamthehow (http://www.iamthehow.com) for production support and invaluable advice in the setting up of this Podcast.

Kay Hanson (https://www.instagram.com/kay_v_hanson/) for her planning support and co-hosting for these and our educational podcasts for the University of Plymouth

Mark Frith (https://www.instagram.com/fritzthekat/) for composing the music and all your support and advice along the way.

I’d really like to hear feedback on the podcast.  Leave a comment or get in touch via the website or Instagram.

Website

https://www.instagram.com/forster_jonathan/

Instagram

http://www.multistorythinking.com/contact

Thanks for listening.  Bye for now.

Jack Trench is the founder and director of Jack Trench Limited who create award-winning handmade bespoke kitchens. They have a showroom in central London and offer a complete project managed service, from initial concept and design through to manufacture and installation

Since 2003 the company has maintained its original ethos of delivering high-end joinery, bespoke kitchens, and finely-crafted furniture developing into a growing team of cabinetmakers, site fitters, designers, and studio staff.

In this episode we discover

How a few jobs putting up shelves led to setting up a joinery business working across Europe.

How concentrating on kitchen design helped focus their design philosophy, processes, and business goals.  

Why you need to understand people and how they tick and the importance of making collaborative decisions with contractors and clients

And why, when you get to site, everything goes out the window.

Links

https://www.jacktrench.co.uk/

How to be a kick-ass Interior Designer. 

Come and join us on the Interior Design BA(Hons) course at the University of Plymouth.

https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-interior-design

Thanks to

Dave Clarke from @iamthehow (http://www.iamthehow.com) for production support and invaluable advice in the setting up of this Podcast.

Kay Hanson (https://www.instagram.com/kay_v_hanson/) for her planning support and co-hosting for these and our educational podcasts for the University of Plymouth

Mark Frith (https://www.instagram.com/fritzthekat/) for composing the music and all your support and advice along the way.

I’d really like to hear feedback on the podcast.  Leave a comment or get in touch via the website or Instagram.

Website

https://www.instagram.com/forster_jonathan/

Instagram

http://www.multistorythinking.com/contact

Thanks for listening.  Bye for now.

Nathan Lonsdale is a founding partner of the lab_, a collective of businesses and free-thinkers; architects, designers, developers, engineers, social scientists, educators, and technologists; 

Which includes spacelab_, an architectural design studio

I spoke to Nathan In Real Life in the Depot, a co-worker space near Old Street in London, where he introduced me to sense_, an intelligence-driven platform that is revolutionising how people use space and how we design.

In this episode, we discover how academic research informs the design process

The importance of integrating workplace strategy with workplace design.

How real-time monitoring can help spaces evolve in response to human behavior.

And why, if you are looking for a quiet day in the office, don’t go in on a Tuesday.

Links

Nathan Lonsdale 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-lonsdale-b16b665/?originalSubdomain=uk

sense_

https://www.sensespace.com/

the depot

https://www.thedepot.co.uk/pages/about-the-depot_

How to be a kick-ass Interior Designer. 

Come and join us on the Interior Design BA(Hons) course at the University of Plymouth.

https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-interior-design

Thanks to

Dave Clarke from @iamthehow (http://www.iamthehow.com) for production support and invaluable advice in the setting up of this Podcast.

Kay Hanson (https://www.instagram.com/kay_v_hanson/) for her planning support and co-hosting for these and our educational podcasts for the University of Plymouth

Mark Frith (https://www.instagram.com/fritzthekat/) for composing the music and all your support and advice along the way.

I’d really like to hear feedback on the podcast.  Leave a comment or get in touch via the website or Instagram.

Website

https://www.instagram.com/forster_jonathan/

Instagram

http://www.multistorythinking.com/contact

Thanks for listening.  Bye for now.

Laura Perryman is the Founder and Director of Colour of Saying, a colour, materials, and finishes design studio based in London, which curates forward-thinking colour and material design insights and experiences for brands and organisations.

Her work spans trend forecasting, material research and innovation, product design and visual brand identity alongside lecturing and writing.

Her new book,  The Colour Bible,  is an essential and inspirational guide to colour in art and design and condenses years of Laura’s experience of working with colour.

In this episode we discover 

How Laura transitioned from a degree in textiles to product design and designing user experiences.

The importance of narrative when working with colour.

How colour and materials choices can directly affect our brains and influence our behaviour.

And I finally get to know what CMF Design stands for.

Links

Laura’s websites
http://colourofsaying.com/

https://lauraperryman.co/contact

The Colour Bible

https://lauraperryman.co/the-colour-bible-1  BUY THIS BOOK!

How to be a kick-ass Interior Designer. 

Come and join us on the Interior Design BA(Hons) course at the University of Plymouth.

https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-interior-design

Thanks to

Dave Clarke from @iamthehow (http://www.iamthehow.com) for production support and invaluable advice in the setting up of this Podcast.

Kay Hanson (https://www.instagram.com/kay_v_hanson/) for her planning support and co-hosting for these and our educational podcasts for the University of Plymouth

Mark Frith (https://www.instagram.com/fritzthekat/) for composing the music and all your support and advice along the way.

I’d really like to hear feedback on the podcast.  Leave a comment or get in touch via the website or Instagram.

Website

https://www.instagram.com/forster_jonathan/

Instagram

http://www.multistorythinking.com/contact

Thanks for listening.  Bye for now.