StudioMM - Francesca Gaskin - +44 {0} 7729 984377 - studiomm.co.uk - info@studiomm.co.uk

StudioMM- Portfolio

Contents:

Studiomm profile

Personal C.V.--------------------------------------------------

On the drawing board:

- Shoreditch station- Dalston Bar 119

- London Winter Music Festival*- Wagajama

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Completed Freelance Projects:

- Commercial- Retail

- Hospitality

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- Interior Architecture BA hons-Short courses

StudioMM

Inspired by the Buddhist term ‘Monkey Mind’ which describes thoughts jumping from one thought to another filling the mind with past and future, good and bad but mainly dis-

tracting from the hear and now.

This distracted state of mind is similar to what clients fisrt come to me with, erratic, excited, worried. Their thoughts

jumping from one idea to another.

They describe their ‘Monkey Mind’ and then it is up to me to make sense of it and to quieten. 1st by recognising what it is and what they want to achieve. 2nd by taking all the good, exciting,

imaginative ideas and developing them. 3rd reassuring and demising the negative and worry. Finally orchestrating it all together to achieve designs that are aesthetic, functional and

above all what they had disiered but could not express.

Francesca GaskinStudiommwww.studiomm.co.ukinfo@studiomm.co.uk07729984377

ProfileAn Inspired, motivated, passionate inte-rior designer keen to work within a chal-lenging, enthusiastic work environment. With a strong ability to take a project from concept to completion as well as being discipline and committed to a ca-reer in design. There is an intrinsic part of my thinking that process visually thus always working, absorbing and crav-ing to design. I have a determination to constantly develop as a designer to be the best that I can. I am constantly feed-ing my design needs which gives me good knowledgeable of current trends, designers and interiors. I have a strong interest for hospitality design as well as wanting to explore other areas such as branding, lighting design, styling, and event/instillation design.

Technical skills: Mac OSX and PC literate, VectorWorks, CAD, SketchUp, Adobe creative suite, Microsoft office suite, drafting and sketching, presen-tation layouts, surveying.

Other related skills: Project management, Site management, re-search and sourcing. Upholstery and sewing, furniture and lighting design, understanding of metal work, carpentry and other building process, painting decorating, power tools, general building/labouring skills.

Qualifications:Short courses10/2010-12/2010London University of arts, ChelseaInterior design business management VectorWorks

2004/2007 Leeds Metropolitan University.Interior Architecture BA Hons.

2002/2004 Esher Collage:A levels- Art and Design AVCE, Media Stud-ies, AS Level- History of Art.

References:Director of Day+NightDavid Wyatt d.wyatt@beanstalkmedia.co.ukDirector of O’KeefeJanine Dewy janine@okeefedesigns.com

Freelance work on the drawing board

04/2011-presentShoreditch Underground

Client: Laurence DawRole: Design and support for the derelict Shoredicth Underground station, to be used on a temporary basis for private parties hosted so far by MixMag and 2020 vision showcasing the best in underground house and electronic music. The ticket offices doubles up as a pop up art gallery, the venue hopes to be granted planning permission to be turned into a M.P.V regenerating a neglected

part of brick lane.

02/2011-presentLondon Winter Music Festival* 2012(TBC)

Client: Laurence DawRole: Design for the festivals art direction, to include each of the arenas decora-

tion, entrances and the amenity areas.Stage: Festival Concept proposal submitted to council.

01/2011-presentWagajama: Al fresco dining experienceClient: Laurence Daw and Wagamama

Role: Concept ideas for a Wagamama outdoor dining experience branded as ‘Wagajama’ combining noodles and music to be piloted at Little London Fields

scheduled for summer 2011.Stage: Concept proposal submitted.

01/2011-presentDalston Bar 119

Client: Laurence DawRole: Design for interior of basement bar/nightclub in Dalston junction.

Stage: Plans submitted to planning. Licence submitted to council.

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Freelance work completed

07/2010-10/2010Client: Techlightenment, social media company

Location: Tea Building, ShoreditchBudget: 30k

Role: Design for commercial interior, project and site management.Brief and work carried out: To create a functional and impressive office for a developing social media company. The conceptual and spatial design of 3452m2

which consisted of meeting and board rooms, break out and social areas as well as the design of bespoke desks to seat 32 members of staff. Sourcing of furni-ture and contractors. Project management, Site management and assisting with

the construction of the space.

07/2009-09/2009Client: Janine Dewy, director of O’Keefe

Location: Esher, SurreyBudget: 50k

Role: Design for retail interior, assisting project management.Brief and work carried out: To create a dynamic and competitive space for a high–end flagship woman’s boutique to achieve a personal shopping experi-ence. Responsible for conceptual designs, spatial planning and furniture design. Sourcing of vintage furniture and materials. Assisting with the project and site

management.

12/2008-05/2009Client: David Wyatt, Day+Night

Location: Bristol City CentreBudget: 12k

Role: Design for bar/nightclub interior, project and site management.Brief and work carried out: To create an exciting space and develop an entire brand for a new nightclub within a tiny budget. Design of overall scheme and assisting with the branding of Day+Night. Lighting design. Sourcing of recla-mation/vintage materials and furniture as well as restoring. Project manage-

ment, site management and assisting with the construction of the space.

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Other freelance/employment

09/2008-03/2010- on various occasions.Client: Alice Chan and Deborah Jones - property developers

Role: Layout designs for floor plans and built in furniture for newly developed properties.

10/2009-presentJamie Oliver, KingstonVisual merchandising:

Role: Christmas coordinator for the decoration of the restaurant and its win-dows, as well as general up keep of the changing displays throughout the year

at Jamie’s Kingston.

10/2009-presentJamie Oliver, Kingston

Role: Whilst working on freelance projects I have been lucky enough to have a flexible second income. Working in a busy and demanding restaurant, where there is a constant flow of customers who have high expectations has taught me to work under constant pressure. As well as working quickly I have to work within a team which relies upon each other. The company demands the high-

est professional attitudes and standards of service. Working in the hospitality industry has shown me the importance of function-ality in interior design so that enviroments work for all who use it as well as

guaranteeing its sustainability.

09/2007-09/2008Office administration and showroom assistant:

Sanderson Interiors, Home furnishing company and shopping website UK and international. Harrogate, Leeds.

Role: Showroom assistant, advising and implementing design ideas, selling products. Website editing, research for new products and site photographer. Office Administration, placing orders, stock control, dealing with customer emails and general help with the running of the business. Sewing Room as-

sistant making pelmets, cushions and curtain detailing.

On the drawing board..........

Shoreditch Station

Just off brick lane stands the derelict Shoredtich Station which was closed to lead way for the new Shordtich High Street Sta-tion that would link local areas with the new over ground line.

Shoredicth station was brought buy a collective of people one of which is What Architecture they hope to one day be granted planning permission to convert the whole site into a cultural hub bring back to life a neglected part of brick lane which has

recently become a crime hot spot.

Not leaving the site to be unused one of the partners who’s specialities lie in events decided to make the most of the shel-tered outside space, hosting parties through out the summer as well as converting the ticket office into a pop up art gallery, creating a buzz about the site and hopefully drumming up sup-

port for the redevelopment.

My role has been to assist with implementing ideas for the host-ed parties, converting the outside space with as little money as possible creating a temporary club. The nights being held at the station are exclusive underground parties, clubbers want to feel as if they have just stubbled across a unique, cool space that is secret to the mainstream. These all day and night parties had to keep this unkept, raw building site quality but also be

filled with surprise and drama. fig. 1 graffiti on back wall for the Day and Night party

fig. 2 generated image of decking allowing out door space to be useable.

fig. 3 decking being layed.

This was achieved by using mainly wooden pallets to create building blocks for seating, DJ podium, bar and walled off areas,

more graffiti was added to promote the hosted parties.

As day turns into night clubbers are taken to a new level, at-mosphere is created using light changing the dynamics of the space and making it feel like an established club hiding the ele-ments which would give reference to the site so they could be anywhere not on a building site underneath a derelict railway

station in the middle of london.

Three key lighting instillations would achieve this, firstly lights being placed within the pallets highlighting the DJ podium, some seating and walled off areas, the light seeps through the gaps in the pallet creating more dimensions and interesting

shadows.

Behind the bar rope light is threaded through the corrugated metal fence that separates the clubbers from the railway tracks, taking inspiration from the underground they will have the same qualities of the electrical wire that are seen running along side walls and tunnels. Alternating through a spectrum of colour to

created drama and highlight the importance of the bar area.

Over them main dance floor neon triangle strip lights of dif-ferent colours and sizes are attached to batons and then to the ceiling of the old railway arch. They alternate on and off through different sequences of certain colours and sizes be-ing on and off at different times in rhythm to the music being played. The triangle shapes and colours complement the fun

electronic house music.

Dalston Bar 119

Project stage: Concept, material, site and layout development and analysis.

Brief: Set beneath a carpet shop in up and coming Dalston Junc-tion amongst a hand full of clubs and bars is the location for a new basement bar venture. The space needs to attack Dalston’s

trendiest crowds and to enrapture the East London vibe.

To appear as a blank canvas for promotors it should not reflect the music of hosted nights but become an established venue that will attract and cater for most genres. When not heavily promoted it must stand alone and be an inviting intermit space. Taking reference to it original purpose of a cellar it should ap-pear as if it was or should have been ageing beautifully over

time which has now been stubbled upon and made use of.

The main issues concerning the conversion are the basement restrictions, first access. Alternative ways of entering and exit-ing need to be considered. Very low ceilings throughout one part lower then head hight. The layout is broken up by support-ing pillars creating divisions and rooms. Air conditioning and

sound proofing.

Material pallet needs to reflect the rawness of east london with quirky attributes, reflect cellar/basement qualities, be fairly

neutral, and add to creating an intermit inviting atmosphere.

………”with an impressive line up bar 119 is not to be missed however walking down Kingsland road its is hard to miss this latest hot spot of East London, this just adds to its mystery and exclusiveness. In the middle of a carpet shop facade stands a blacked out door with a neon 119 above. On entering the warmly lit staircase you are taken down to the basement, the eye can not help but be drawn in to the impressive central bar which looks as if it has grown out of the floor and walls, a wash with light it appears broken in places, light seeps through the brick pattern, this light alternates every now and then changing the dynamics of the bar creating new patterns from the brick shapes. The back of the bar is brick knock through and added to, creating interesting shaped gaps and shelves for spirits.

The wall and celling which runs along the length of the space into the dance floor is cladded with laser cut metal with a geometric pattern to match the bar this is also seamlessly back lit, the walls come alive with warmth from the coloured light aswell as creating movement as it alternates on and off.

Although the space is tight on the other side of the bar it has be utilised. It appears as a large cage with stripped back counters with a thin ledge between the tender and customer these are position under openings in the cage. With a central sliding gate this allows access to the bar and also prevents people from queuing in the middle of the bar which has a narrow walk way due to a fire escape opposite, the ends of the bar are opened up for service. More iron bar are used to wall off the amenities such as cloak and stock room. Opened in parts to make the space appear larger and closed in areas with glass bricks deterring people from seeing behind.

Another clever space saving element is within the toilets, on entering behind a solid door you are surprised to see through into the other sex’s toilet, a metal bar wall divides the two with a steel basin in the middle shared by both, a novel social attribute, certain gaps between the bars are filled with concrete and reclaimed safety glass concealing the mens urinals. Seating can be”……………

Material and building processes being developed.

Light transparent bricks. Bricks with holes. Back lit. Alternative brick lay-ing. Floor and and ceiling seamlessly

joined.

Iron/metal bars. Reclaimed metal bars. Filled between gaps creating closed and open bars. Fillings like concrete, glass and wood. Metal Gates for doors, alternative areas being caged off, bar,

DJ, cloak room, toilet walls.

Reclamation materials for raw appear-ance, mixture of materials to create an aged layered rough qualities. Glass bricks, corrugated metal, clay and tile bricks. Lasers cut metal. Lighting

neon and L.E.D strips.

work continues..................

Bar front and back, alternative ways of lighting the bar from behind to create different patterns from the brick.

London Winter Music Festival* (2012 tbc)

Stage: Proposal pitched to site owners. Current development of the art direction for overall appearance of the festival and

arenas.

Following the success of Little London Fields (a free summer festival on London fields, East London), spurred the organiser to develop a new concept for London’s first winter music fes-tival. To be a much larger profitable festival. Securing a site to host the festival was key. After exploring some venues Batter-sea Power Station was the chosen site. Perfect ground and shel-

tered condition for a winter festival.

Brief: Was to put together a package for pitching to Battersea Power Station's owners and potential investors for the festival.

Then to start to develop ideas for the art direction for the over-all look of the festival, to include the entrances, amenity areas, arena entrances, art direction within the tents/rooms and areas within the site and station. As well as produce a 3D site model.

Initial concept and ideas for the confirmed arenas so far:

Entrance, general walkways and amenity areas:Minimal graphics, steering clear of novelty themed festivals let-ting the line ups speak for its self, a grown up festival that puts the music first and focuses on creating a slick, coherent festival tired together in a contemporary modern way banishing festi-

val cliches.

Disco Blood bath, gay and lesbian orientated tent: Blow up dolls of different shapes, sizes and genders. Bound and tied up within colourful neon tape up high in the tent rafters. Lighting mixed within altering the look of the space with washes of dif-

ferent colours.

Retro Disco, old school funk acts mixed with house music: Glit-ter balls, checkered dance floor, retro classic cars, roller blad-ing, DJ podium made up of industrial retro laundrette washing machines filled with coloured water, shimmery glitter curtains, sliver balloons, hanging basket chairs for vip area, bright colour-

ful lights.

Radio 6 Live Lounge: English pub, lots of lounge seating and traditional furnishings mixed with quirky attributes, telephone boxes, stuffed animals, paintings, vintage lamps etc. The tents entrance will have traditional pub signage and outdoor pub

seating.

MulletOver: House, techno, dance arena: Industrial reclaimed materials, pallets used as building blocks to create modular shapes at the entrance disguising the tent, filled with light and smoke machines, light will travel through the gaps in the pallets and beyond into the crowds by the smoke, same effect in side

for bar and DJ podium. Creating a dramatical effect.

Wagajama

Al fresco dining experienceClient: Laurence Daw and Wagamama

Brief: Concept ideas for a Wagamama outdoor dining experi-ence branded as ‘Wagajama’ combining noodles and music to be piloted at Little London Fields scheduled for summer 2011.

Stage: Concept proposal submitted.

Completed Freelance Projects.......

03/2010 – 04/2010

Project: Commercial design and project management.Company: Techlightenment, Social media.

Client: Ankur Shah, Director of TechlightenmentLocation: The Tea Building, Shoreditch High Street.

Project Size: 3452m2Building Contractors: Redring, Keith Allagiham

Time period for work carried out: Six weeks.Budget: £30,000

Budget Break down: The following was achieved within the budget.

- Building labour, internal walls, plastering etc.- Electrical work and labour, including internet set up, data ca-

bling, phones, fire alarm system, projectors etc.- Bespoke desks seating 32 staff members, including labour,

metal work and materials.- Furniture.

- Doors, fixtures and fittings.- Branding, 3D acrylic letters.

- Paint and decorating and FF&E.- Removal of old office furniture

Brief: To create a functional and impressive office in a renowned building for an expanding social media company.

The companies expertise were within the technical side of the media and computing industry, virtually very creative however their existing office showed in reality their creatively for the of-

fice space was lacking. An awarding winning company with an impressive client base they needed to reflect this in their surroundings. My role was to express the company’s personality and hep with a starting point for their branding, within a space which would wow and make the right first impression. With only being in their second full year of business the risks of threats where still high for them and it meant the budget was low with no room for expanding or

going over the time period

I was given a blank canvas of 3452m2; situated on the third floor of an old warehouse which had been stripped back, to an open plan, pillared, high ceiling space with some original brick walls

and windows remaining. The schedule of accommodation was to create four private meeting/board rooms, one small private office, to house 32 members of staff at a desk with room for expansion, create a social area for lunch and reception meeting area. The clients were extremely busy and provided I stuck with the brief, they were very open to design ideas and were happy for me to take

charge with the design and project management.

OFFICE THE TEA BUILDING

Concept:

With a small budget, high-end furnishings and high tech meet-ing rooms where out of the question. The budget had to be strategically used to achieve everything on the schedule of ac-

commodation. Although the space was fantastically open it had to be broken up, it was also an awkward shape split between two rooms, one was light the other very dark. The industrial qualities, the exposed brick, uneven characteristic floors within the building stirred up

a connection with the surrounding street of Shoreditch.

With the uniform wooden fronted shops mixed with an individu-al quality breaking through this was my basis for a concept.

I wanted to achieve aquirky, yet unpretentious comfortable at-mosphere. I broke up the space into individual fronted meeting

rooms. The scheme also lent itself to match qualities and details found through out the stairways and passenger lifts of the building. This enable visitor to see a connection between the two, stretching the design from the office to the front door without spending

money. I would have liked to have pushed the concept and the scheme further, by the facades and inside of the meeting rooms to be more detailed and individual. But was unable to with a restricted

budget. Using paint and a strong colour pallet was the biggest and most cost effective way of creating a uniqueness for the meeting rooms, designating areas in the open space as well as tying ar-eas together and giving the office an overall branded image that they could then work with and develop further for the compa-

nies graphical package. Vintage furniture and reclaimed materials also helped played a key role in the scheme and budget. It gave the space character,,

all locally sourced from brick lane.

Challenges and outcomes

Trying to retain the open plan feel and not spoiling the space whilst getting the right floor plan and fitting everything on the schedule of accommodation, was tricky, time consuming and

extremely important. Fitting the 32+ members of staff in an area with pillars and un-equal symmetry on a tight budget meant that my only option

for maximum potential was to design a bespoke desks. I worked on various combinations of layouts for the desks using CAD, models and tapping out layouts on the floor in the space.

As a social media company I wanted staff to interact freely. Use to working in teams on projects I wanted the environment to encourage this behaviour to benefit the company making the

working day flow better. I decided on a large expansive desk top that would cut trough the pillars and at the same time create a divide to designate certain teams i.e. accounts, the expansive desk would then be divided by different coloured laminate tops to show the bound-

aries of an individuals working space. With out using physical barriers staff could move up and down along the desk as the pleased. Sockets and the internet were spread a long a data channel that sat on top running down the

middle of the desk and divided the table in two. The design of the desk meant it took up a large area of the of-fice to keep the open environment I wanted the desk to appear as if it was floating in mid air, just slicing through parts of the

building, The desk was supported at the ends and middle by metal legs

these were chunky and matched the buildings industrial qualities.

The project was extremely challenging, due to the time period, tight budget, schedule of accommodation and the level of ex-

pectations from the client. This added to the pressure of designing a scheme to respect and complement the building as well as be impressive amongst

some very large budget offices. Being solely responsible for project management and the scheme tested me immensely and I learnt a range of invaluable

skills

The clients have described the space as unique and impressive adding personality and ultimately branding them as well as be-ing a fully functional space which has helped to bring employ-ees together and act more socially amongst themselves devel-oping and brainstorming freely thus making Techlightenment a

more successful company.

Skills achieved and developed

- Fee and project documentation.- An understanding of electrical, phone, internet /data cable set

up for a large office.- Furniture design.

- Understanding of metal work.Floor planning.

- More building knowledge, in particular stud walling with win-dows and doors for an internal purpose. - Project, time and account coordination.- Fire safety requirements for an office.

- Converting a unit in a large multi purpose building.- Furniture sourcing- vintage and new, using and restoring re-

claimed, second hand materials and furniture.

SHOPOKEEFE

05/2009 - 06/2009

Project: Retail Design and Project managementCompany: O’Keefe, Women’s Boutique.

Client: Janine and Stewart Dewey, Owners of O'keefeLocation: Esher High Street, Surrey

Project Size: 1,996 Sq ftBuilding Contractors: W.C.D.I. Building Services.

Time period for Work carried out: 5 weeksBudget: £50,000

Budget Break Down: The following was achieved within the budget.

- Building work and carpentry.- Electrical work, computer and comms

- New shop façade- Security and Alarm system

- Flooring- Merchandising system

- Air conditioning - Plumbing

- Furniture and bespoke items- Prelims and FF&E

Brief: To create a dynamic and competitive space for a high-end flagship fashion store run by a family who strive to achieve a personal shopping experience, all within a tight

schedule and budget restrictions.

The clients already had two units in the surrey area, one of which they closed to buy the unit on Esher high street a busier location, in the hope this store would become the flag-ship and determine the look for future refurbishment of the other location and fund the

opening of other branches to ultimately have a chain of shops in the surrey area.

Although the clients had a clear vision for the development of the stores and had previ-ous experience of property development and interior design I was hired to be an objec-tive view, to help lighten the load of the project management and to bring another set

of ideas for the design and branding of the shop.

With Janine we worked on brain storming ideas for the details of the shop, the overall at-mosphere and style, with Stewart I work on the technical aspect of our ideas how things where going to be engineered and how the shopper would interactive with the space.

As the clients where married it help them to have someone impartial that could see both sides a point of view and help them both achieve their vision.

The overall time period from brief to completion was a short two and a half months I was expected to perform quickly to daily deadlines and constant questioning of the practi-

calities of my designs.

The unit was an empty shell, a long space with an opening at the front. I had to devise the best floor plan for the shop and stockroom. As well as the overall look of the place

from wall finishes, merchandising systems to the new façade of the shop. The products on sale was a selection of high end designer women’s clothing brands and accessories, the design had to give O’Keefe its own branding and distinctive style to reflect its target audience and to showcase the clothes off to the best of their ability as

well as complimenting the different brands that are available.Rather then handing over the scheme to an outside building company I suggested proj-ect managing it ourselves which substantially cut costs and retained creative freedom throughout. Hiring labour, managing on site and assisting with building meant we main-

tained control, anticipating and solving problems as they arose.

Concept:

The existing space was gutted and had no original qualities left. However O’Keefe as a company did have depth, a family run business they strived to achieve a comfortable

friendly shopping experience that stood for traditional values. They wanted the space to represent a homely environment as if you were at a friends trying on shoes and dressing up, somewhere that would not just appeal to women but

potentially men and children shopping with them. They also wanted O’Keefe to stand out from the other boutiques in the surrounding sur-rey area. O’Keefe’s stocks is contemporary and are brands that you would find in London

stores.

I decided that a mixture of old and new would complement each other but had to be used in the right places, old furniture that they already owned was used aswell as re-claimed and second hand furniture and materials, instantly giving the space character

and history. This was complimented by having a new “designer”’ merchandising system from an Italian company (Alu); this gave the contemporary clothing lines the right platform to be displayed on and portrayed the right image. Clothes such as jeans and accessories

where displayed on bespoke reclaimed and vintage merchandising displays.

Giving the shell and façade a limited pallet of colours and materials acted as the shops minimalist canvas, so with future refurbishment and expansion in mind no matter what the next unit was like it would be given the same foundation mixed with the same mer-chandising system and bespoke furniture giving a personal and coherent design through

out the chain.

The reburbishment was carried out at the start of the recession, so the clients needed to know that the money they were spending was going to benefit the future of the

business.

An ostentatious design would have put people off during that time. As well as it being a risk financially I designed the space so that nothing was fixed, this meant if the future did not plan how they had imagined everything would be re-saleable or able to move to anther unit. It was designed to be affordable either by paying for it self or being sustain-

able.

Challenges and outcomes

The most challenging part of the project was to have a design that was both flexible with respect to merchandising changes and showed off the products to their best advantage, I negotiated with and ordered from an Italian company who provided materials sold as individual components that then could be fitted as I wished. Using CAD I made various

combinations for the clients to visualise as well as ensuring it would fit the space.

Since completion the shop has almost tripled its turn-over and its success has guaran-teed further expansion of the business.

Skills achieved and developed:

- Project management.- Fee and project documentation.

- Merchandising systems.- Sourcing furniture.- Furniture design.

- Reclaim future and restoration.

CLUBDAY+NIGHT

12/2008 - 05/2009

Project: Bar, Night Club Design and Project ManagementCompany: Day+Night, Nightclub and lounge bar.

Clients: David Wyatt and Robert WeeLocation: Bristol, City Centre

Project Size: 2,599 Sq ft.Building Contractors: Mixture of themselves and friends.

Time period for Work to be carried out: 1st stage 2 weeks, 2nd stage 8 weeksBudget: £30,000

Budget Break Down: The following was achieved within the budget.

- Legal fees and licensing.- Sound system and equipment.

- Lines fitted, cooling system, and all equipment for drinks on tap.- Air conditioning up grade.

- Fire alarm system and security.- Club decorating, lighting and furnishing.- Bar decoration, lighting and furnishing.

- FF&E, prelims and all bar and back of bar equipment.- Signage.

Brief: To create an exciting new space and develop an entire brand for a nightclub within a tiny budget.

As the budget was so tight the design had to be broken in to two stages. The ground floor space was going to comprise of a bar that could be hired out for private parties and later become a relaxed chilled out bar for social drinking and provide a space for

such promoted nights like open mike nights, comedy etc.

The top bar would start off being open over a 4week period for private Christmas par-ties, the money generated over this period would then help towards funding the refur-

bishment of the night club down stairs. The target audience was students and young professionals, the bar would be open ev-

ery night of the week providing a relaxed friendly atmosphere. The basement which housed the club would be open on weekends and would provide a space for dancing. The two spaces would either be used together or separately depend-

ing on the numbers of people expected and the genre of music being promoted.

The clients had no ideas for the design of the space and as they were embarking on new territory in setting up a business and the running of a bar/nightclub they needed help

with designing and project managing of the refurbishment.

I was lucky enough to be involved with nearly every detail throughout the project giving a valued opinion of the brief, graphics, name and general running of the business.

Initial stages were sourcing a suitable premise, learning about and applying for bar li-cences and planning permission.

I was given free reign over the design scheme, as long as the clients could visualise and since they were new to the process I spent time showing them how to think visually in order to imagine my designs within the space, ar-

ticulating and physically demonstrating ideas on site. The tight schedule and budget meant I learnt a lot about working under pressure, gaining the clients’ trust, being confident with my ideas as well as

delegating and managing a team of helpers.

Concept: With such a tight budget and schedule design concepts had to develop and be determined on what I could find to fit the budget.

I decided the top space needed to feel like it had character and felt friendly and relaxed so instead of using new material and furniture I tried to use as much reclaimed and second hand furniture as possible, it help with the budget as well as giving the space character and the start to the branding of the bar, a simple colour pallet and materials meant it was a scheme that could be add to in the future, spending further money on it and adding

there own personality. Down stairs I utilised the process of looking at materials and objects that could be found for free and making them into something that could be used

as furniture, I went for and industrial look, it would suit most genres of music that the boys had planned to host, it also needed to be a tough back drop as they

didn’t have a lot of money so it had to with stand a battering. I decided that lighting would be the strongest tool I could use to make a big enough impression and disguise the minimal detail due to the low budget.

Challenges and out comes:

The Down stairs club was a challenging L-shaped basement with low ceil-ings and many supporting columns and walls.

In order to open up the space lighting became the key feature, which em-phasised and united key areas.

Lighting was a new medium for me but one that I had always been fasci-nated with.

I used L.E.D. strips and panelled tracking over them on the columns and walls, turning them into individual objects which became alive with move-

ment created by the colour changing lights. The warmth from the light contrasted with stainless steel clad walls and ceil-

ings which also reflected the light around the space.

With never using lighting before I had to trust my instincts and vision of what I knew could be created with light. It was more trial with luckily no error, with lots of planning I managed to create something impressive on a

small budget making a big impact on the space.

A year on the club is doing very well and has established itself as one of the top night spots in a city populated with clubs and bars.

Skills achieved and developed

- Concept through to completion.- Project documentation.

- Lighting design.- Sourcing of furniture and materials.

- Presenting ideas to client.- Building skills and knowledge of the refurbishment process.

- Bar requirements.- Restoring and reuse of materials.

- Site management and project management.

The Ground floor bar area. Refurbished for hired parties over the Christmas period. Designed with a neutral base that could be devel-

oped further once it had started generating money.

LEEDS METROPOLITAN INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE BA HONS 2004-2007

First year was heavily art based we were encouraged to show imagination, develop in-tuition and express individuality in all our projects. It was about becoming aware of the potential for new ideas, leaning how to question designs and putting many key skills in place while being encouraged to be open and experimental in our work. This was done in a series of studio based design projects, taught in small group tutorials and further in-formed through skill based talks, art, architecture and design history lectures and numer-

ous workshops. The projects grew in length and complexity as the year progressed.

The core of the first year was taken to the 2nd year, with projects targeting specific aspects in interior architecture and design as well as developing skills in manipulating a buildings fabric, understanding structures and construction, further development de-tailing skills and innovative use of materials. This year culminated in a comprehensive

conversion project.

In the final year was principally focused on our personal determined major project, with the tutor’s role as one of support and acting consultant. It also included a design project responding to an external client. The major project was underpinned by an extensive design report which fully developed the contextual, cultural and subject understanding necessary to create imaginative, individual, and pragmatic interior design schemes of

integrity which genuinely responded to a complex agenda.

Examples of some first and second year design briefs.

From Turrell to Tadoa‘The small enclosure’ an introduction into the potential of materials and details. Visits to a series of sites in Leeds with a chosen product to sell in the most appropriate location,

which then drives the design of the enclosure. From Chipperfiled to Conran

‘The retail design project’ interior space is explored through a real site with real issues which introduces how to approach research alongside design development.

From Haddock to Heatherwick‘The river project’ located along a stretch of the river Aire, which moves from a gritty to the regenerated. Looking at how manipulating space can occur within interior or exter-

nal sites, land, air or water.

Stairway to havenA sculptural approach to stairs and circulation inspired by an unusual client in my case a

chef, with the outcome of designing a fantasy staircase in a hypothetical space.

Speaking spaceExploring the narrative qualities of a space through exhibition design. Live brief to de-

sign a new public art-space for Leeds city art gallery.

Read it againRegeneration or an area sees us design the complete conversion of an existing building for a new and contemporary purpose. Explores the issues of dealing with historic fabric,

re-use, re-readings, new and historic design language and sustainability.

The final year university project was of a major building conversion, the building and project was determined in response to our intended career direction, with wanting to be in the field of hos-pitality design my project had to have this as its bases but to compete with the curriculum of the course the project also had to be more then just a good looking space. The brief would need

depth and individualism; it had to be a pragmatic interior design scheme of integrity which genuinely responded to a complex agenda. Choosing a seven storey 1930’s commercial building in the heart of Soho the idea was to create a private members club this would satisfy my hospitably design needs. With an extensive brief for the working of the club which would act as an international social hub for the film industry, an interactive media centre, providing the latest technology facilities for viewing, this would tick the

boxes of a complex agenda. An in-depth report was written along side the project, with research and annalists of the building, site, film industry, digital technologies, private members clubs and there history, materials etc.

The schedule of accommodation that was designed ranged from bar lounge areas to individual pods for viewing films in private and large auditoriums. The concept behind the design scheme came from striping the building back to its core make up of a grid structure of the walls floors and pillars. Whilst also studying literature and finding a

quote about space and time in film‘Film without space is inconceivable. Film stimulates us to imagine space. Even without introducing the human dimension or built structure, even when space and time are fragmented, abstracted

and all scale is absent, film always articulates space. (Damurau, k 2000).Taking this theory and the language of the building I played around with the idea that the building took the same sequencing of a story board or of framed stills. I manipulated the building in places so that when inside the building you could also see these elevations, these areas where then highlight to make them stand out, when people interacted in these spaces they then became

part of the ‘film still’ injecting movement and character, these spaces were live stills and where created using silhouettes, lighting, materials and digital technology.The scale of the design project along with the research and written report was more then just a final test the constant pressure of deadlines and final grade amalgamated with stretching our skills learnt over the three years to the max and predominately work on our own was one of the most challenging and testing thing that I have had to do, coming through the hard times just confirmed

the passion in me to know that I want and meant to be designing as a career.

Short Courses

Introduction to Business Management for interior Design11/2010 two day intensive course, Chelsea campus

Lecturer: Matteo Bianchi, director of DurumSubject: Interior Designer practising as Consultant and Supplier.

Aim: To introduce the student to the process of supplying and manage an interior Design project.

Topics covered

- Leadership and marketing- Project Structuring

- Fee proposals and timing- Briefs and covering your back

- Contracts- FF&E

- Specifying- Meeting reports

- Admin- Invoicing and Cash flow

- Insurance and Banks- Tax and VAT.

Over the two packed days I was provided with the essential skills to manage my own business as professional interior designer. Learning how to market yourself, charge your creative time approximately and manage and action an interior design project. Guide through all the details, including taking a brief, structuring a project and dealing with insurance and legal issues. Done through a number of practical exercises and class room

discussion.

Vector Works

Beginners course, a basic introduction to the VectorWorks programme. Giving a solid grounding in all the core principles of VectorWorks, software. Tutorials on setting up a project to scale and develop drawing strategies, working on 2d and 3d draw-ings, while exploring lighting, rendering, symbols and 3d drawing manipulation. Taught in a small group, going through exercises together as well as individual one on one time with the tutor. Left with a comprehensive knowledge of VectorWorks, produced a num-

ber of digital images, including plans, elevations, sections and perspective views.