Sarah Gibson & Nicholas Karlovasitis leave uni, cram a fledgling furniture brand into a Newtown flat, and decide they are going to export Australian design to the world. That is the starting point for DesignByThem. In this episode we unpack how fifteen years later, they're actually pulling it off.
We talk about building a design brand from a tiny local market, backing Australian designers, and choosing factories around the world without losing the integrity of the work.
The conversation gets into IP, copies, pricing, cashflow, and why treating business as a design problem changed everything for them.If you care about turning design from a side project into a viable brand, this one is worth your time.
0:00 Intro
1:22 Why design still hooks them after all these years
3:00 Chasing ideas that make beautiful things accessible
4:08 Childhood Lego, pulling things apart and thinking like designers
5:11 Sarah’s path from obsessive floor plans to industrial design
6:10 Education, UTS and putting Australian industrial design on the map
7:34 Spotting the gap and founding DesignByThem as a collective
9:39 Building a platform for Australian designers not just a personal studio
11:02 Royalties, collaboration and why the best invoices go to other designers
13:08 Designers as business people and treating business like a design problem
15:09 Systems and spreadsheets
16:29 How they find designers and why so many wait to be discovered
19:29 Social media, saturation and why direct outreach still wins
21:35 Young designers, polish, missing knowledge and the AI trap
22:56 Why outsourcing the concept is a mistake and IP is everything
24:16 Using AI for the boring bits so more time goes into design
24:23 Sustainability, materials and designing for the full life cycle
27:15 Greenwashing, regulation and how far Australia needs to go
33:20 Working with architects and interiors and learning from clients
34:50 Feedback loops, data and using colour and custom work smartly
39:21 Australian craft as limitation and why they went global with manufacturing
41:42 Balancing local pride, accessibly priced products and global factories
43:52 Turning furniture design from a second job into a real career
45:03 Educating the public and putting the designer behind the product
50:03 How products, brands and spaces work together in the real world
53:12 Their Smart Design Studio workspace and why the setting matters
55:33 What they have learned, what they would change and why they still love coming to work
A few times in a generation, a piece of technology comes along that changes everything. The internet, smart phones, or if you're an architect, CAD and BIM. Now, we have AI to add to that list. But can our profession embrace this, move forward, or even absorb another push for efficiency without hollowing out our expertise or having to question our real value now or in the future?We wanted to find out the answers to these questions and more. So we spoke to Rada Daleva, project lead at Studio Tim Fu, the leading AI-first architecture firm working with real clients on real projects and making real money.This studio is at the vanguard of what our future could look like, and that debut, commissioned at Lake Bled in Slovenia, is billed as the first fully AI driven architecture project.00:00 Intro01:25 Is AI coming for my job?02:37 What are the tangible use cases for AI right now?06:34 Rada’s path to Studio Tim Fu11:01 Using AI across the business11:54 Lake Bled: World's first fully AI driven architecture project15:06 Human touch, local context and training models19:14 Why later stages are harder for AI21:45 Does AI steal the fun part of design?24:17 How AI could shift architectural value26:55 What to do if you just started a design practice31:13 Should students be learning AI at University?34:57 Using AI as a marketing strategy38:49 Do clients actually want AI?39:45 Navigating the AI divide43:03 Will AI fundamentally change design forever?47:07 What do you say to the haters?48:15 How do we define our value in this new era of design?50:03 How will the industry evolve in the next five years?
Shawn Adams is an architect and outreach lead at HTA Design. He co founded POoR Collective (Power Out Of Restriction), a platform that works with young people to co design projects and build real skills. His work sits at the intersection of practice, education and community, bringing young voices into live briefs and treating them as the client.
He is a published writer with bylines in Wallpaper, Frame and Icon. He trained at Portsmouth and the Royal College of Art, and came through the New Architecture Writers programme. Shawn’s focus is clear. Make design public. Cut the jargon. Open the door for the next generation.
0:00 - Intro
1:15 - Why architecture?
2:07 - Experience at architecture school
4:20 - Founding the POoR Collective
7:15 - What do the POor Collective do?
8:38 - Finding the balance between designer and facilitator
11:40 - Build the Way Internship
12:40 - Getting people to believe in your ideas
14:25 - Working at HTA Design
19:32 - Becoming a published writer in design
22:16 - The relationship between architecture and writing
24:37 - The architect as the polymath
28:22 - Communicating design via social media
30:38 - Drop the jargon
33:19 - Increasing representation in architecture
36:13 - Has your career turned out how you imagined?
40:18 - Advice for the next generation
43:46 - What change do you hope to see in the industry?
Peter Murray once herded longhorn cattle down St Johns Street in London to make a point: Architecture should speak to everyone. In this conversation he unpacks a life spent shaping that dialogue from AA student to editor of Building Design and the RIBA Journal to co founding Blueprint, Wordsearch, the London Festival of Architecture and New London Architecture.We get into why so much architectural writing misses the public, how to switch the language, and when he realised he was becoming institutionalised and needed a reset. He talks candidly about raising the game at BD, opening the debate beyond the profession, and building platforms that connect designers, policymakers and the public.
Here is the State of Sustainability in Architecture and Design 2025. A clear view of how sustainability is shaping hiring, skills and careers right now, based on a global survey of 350 professionals across the UK, US and Australia, plus straight talk from six pioneers who are pushing practice forward.
Chris Simmons speaks with editor Hattie Hartman to unpack the findings. You will hear what candidates want, which skills are in demand, how teams are built, why evidence beats slogans, and where firms fall short between big promises and delivery.Featuring insights from Andrew Waugh, Kossy Nnachetta, Tamar Warburg, Heather Holddridge, Caroline Pidcock and David Ritter.
Watch, take notes, then grab the free report and both handbooks for employers and candidates. Use them to hire smarter, structure teams with intent and build the skills that actually get you hired.
Architect and urban designer Mariana Cabugueira has bridged the worlds of physical infrastructure with immersive digital realms in the metaverse. In this episode, she traces her path from studying in Lisbon to honing advanced skills in London, and from her years at Zaha Hadid Architects to spearheading ambitious virtual projects.We explore what architects can contribute to the metaverse, how AI and parametric tools are changing workflows, and the challenges of building healthy design cultures. Mariana also talks openly about stepping away from a dream role to start something new.Watch to learn:– What Zaha Hadid Architects was really like inside– How to masterplan a virtual city under impossible deadlines– How AI is fuelling design– The mindset that keeps you relevant in the next wave of architecture00:00 Intro01:16 Why architecture?02:36 Growing up in Portugal and early studies04:09 Leaving Portugal for London06:14 Learning curve at the AA07:32 Landing a role at Zaha Hadid Architects09:39 Inside Zaha: collaboration and competition11:19 Tangible vs digital practice13:29 Transition to metaverse architecture16:21 Masterplanning a virtual city18:15 Starting her own practice19:43 Balancing physical and digital projects21:07 Designing for human experience in virtual worlds22:37 Saudi Arabia airport project26:24 AI and the metaverse29:13 Tools, software and advice for students31:10 Building community and working hard32:40 Gender and representation in architecture34:09 What’s next for Mariana’s practice35:21 Adaptability as the real skill36:34 Closing reflections
What does it take to run one of the world’s leading architecture practices? Grimshaw’s Group Managing Partner Mark Middleton shares lessons from three decades shaping global mega-projects, leading studios across continents, and keeping architects inspired on the world’s biggest stages.
0:00 - Intro
1:17 - Why architecture?
2:51 - How practical experience shapes better design
5:46 - Architecture school and a switch in work ethic
8:43 - Joining Grimshaw, working with Sir Nicholas Grimshaw and staying in one job for 30 years
11:44 - Becoming Group Managing Partner at Grimshaw
13:53 - Transitioning into leadership and staying close to projects
17:44 - How the global studio runs, board and regions
22:59 - Ambition, being asked to lead and the move to Australia
26:56 - Australia on the ground, local clients and a broader project mix
33:01 - Do big awards change anything?
37:10 - Film at Grimshaw, telling complex stories well
45:01 - Speak plainly and drop the archi-speak
54:24 - The gripe with architect stereotypes
From cubbies in the bush to projects in Melbourne, London, and New York, Martin’s career has spanned continents, practices, and passions. Now an Associate at FXCollaborative, he reflects on what drives him as an architect and his advocacy for diversity through Build Out Alliance.
00:00 Intro
02:51 Designing for the end user’s needs and enjoyment
05:38 DIY projects family building and formal training
08:09 London office planting the seed for international work
11:49 Getting licensed from the UK to New York
16:19 Balancing the technical and creative sides of architecture
18:49 Taking projects from concept through to completion
21:32 Working in London compared with New York contracts
24:10 Investing time in relearning codes and licensing
26:43 Build Out Alliance advocacy and LGBTQ+ support
29:33 Splitting time between comfort and work quality
32:21 Building awareness and inclusivity in the creative industry
36:18 Gaining opportunities and confidence through Build Out Alliance
39:14 Navigating straight environments and the energy of code switching
42:40 Designing with inclusivity and community in mind4
5:11 Making the move to New York and the mainland
48:02 Supporting queer communities through architecture and advocacy
The numbers aren’t great. Women in architecture are still paid less, promoted less, and leaving the profession at higher rates than men. It’s not unique to architecture, but there’s plenty of work to do. According to a Bespoke Careers report, the gender pay gap in Australia sits at 20.6% — nearly triple that of the UK and US. Angela Dapper has seen those realities up close, and has made it her mission to be the change she wants to see in the industry. Over a career in Melbourne and London with Grimshaw, Architectus and Denton Corker Marshall, she’s led landmark projects like the Stonehenge Visitor Centre, Aesop Store and Oxford Botanic Gardens Glasshouses. She’s mentored emerging architects, challenged industry norms, and built a reputation for making her voice count in rooms where women are still underrepresented.Now she’s stepping away from big practice to start her own socially sustainable studio on her own terms. This conversation explores the reality of being a woman in architecture and what it takes to create a career that truly works for you.0:00 – Introduction1:09 – What keeps Angela in architecture4:15 – Gender bias and the uphill battle in the 90s5:47 – Leaving Australia for opportunities in London7:17 – Designing the Stonehenge Visitor Centre12:22 – Lessons from working in three major practices15:41 – Leading diversity initiatives at Grimshaw17:55 – Why Angela moved from DCM to Grimshaw20:50 – Choosing the right practice for you22:26 – Why many senior women are leaving architecture24:05 – Starting her own socially sustainable studio27:59 – Making small projects high impact30:49 – Listening and adapting to community clients31:50 – Why she started her business later in her career34:22 – Returning to Australia as an architect36:41 – The value of panels, mentoring and professional networks40:13 – Gender equity in architecture today45:06 – Angela's experiences with gender discrimination47:19 – Advice for young architects finding their voice50:17 – Has her career turned out as expected?
What does it take to become a successful architect? How do you build an award winning practice culture? How do we fix the housing crisis? And are architects still hungry enough to make a difference?In this episode, Simon Bayliss, Managing Partner at HTA Design, shares what he's learned from 25 years at one of the UK’s leading housing-focused practices.
0:00 - Intro
0:56 - Why Simon became an architect
3:26 - Where architects bring the most value
6:41 - Going from Part II to Managing Partner at HTA Design
11:58 - Building an award-winning workplace culture
16:55 - Insights on hybrid and flexible working
22:18 - Benefits of a multidisciplinary approach
25:17 - Strategic growth in housing and co-living
29:51 - Rethinking space and the future of shared living
33:02 - Lessons for the next generation of architects
38:48 - Why trust and high standards go hand in hand
42:46 - What’s next for Simon and the future of housing
We spend roughly a third of our adult lives at work. A third. That's about 90,000 hours over the course of a career. And yet, many of us have never stopped to really think about how our physical environment is shaping our mental health, our productivity, and our overall wellbeing every single day.
We're living through the biggest shift in how we work since the Industrial Revolution. Hybrid working, which felt revolutionary just a few years ago, is now the norm.
But as Kirsten will explain, we're still getting it wrong in some fundamental ways. We're still thinking about workplace design as something that gets done to employees, rather than with them.0:00 - Intro1:29 - What is it about people's relationship with their environment?3:03 - Background in landscape architecture5:58 - The step into real estate7:03 - Transferable skills in design9:03 - Herman Miller and the importance of company values14:02 - The missing piece in designing for wellbeing at work 18:03 - The disconnect between designers and users21:12 - What happens when employees help design the workplace strategy23:52 - Are firms keeping health and wellbeing "in a box"?23:48 - How do we appeal to companies that aren't invested in wellbeing?27:10 - Do certifications like WELL and Fitwel actually matter?32:01 - What are the workplace wellness strategies that make a difference?33:19 - The balance/disconnect between health and sustainability36:53 - Latest research on hybrid working41:22 - The link between wellbeing and flexibility44:14 - Career trade-offs and raising a family45:55 - Key lessons from Kirsten's career journey: "Never stop learning!"48:22 - Has your career turned out how you imagined?50:05 - What's next?
Fed up with the traditional way of procuring architecture, Qutaibah Al-Atafi joined forces with builder Ryan Underwood to create something different. And with Underwood, their Melbourne-based design-led design and build firm, that’s exactly what they’re doing.
Immigrating from Iraq and growing up in the outer suburbs of New Zealand, Qutaibah was left questioning why some places felt like home and others didn’t.
In this conversation, amongst other things, we discuss whether architecture is still worth it. With tight fees getting tighter, and AI rewriting the rules, what’s keeping architects going?
From studying at Yale to leading global megaprojects like Changi Airport and Hudson Yards, Forth shares what’s changed in the profession, why architecture is a service business, and how to lead without losing the joy in design.
This episode features Nimi Attanayake of Nimtim Architects, who discusses how her personal experiences, including a cancer diagnosis, reshaped her career.
Nimtim is an architecture practice in London that crafts playful, personal spaces for real people, rethinking how architecture can be more accessible and human.
We sit down with Keir-Regan Alexander, founder of Arka Works, to explore how AI is transforming architecture.
With over 15 years of design experience in top London practices, Keir shares his journey from architect to AI consultant, revealing how AI is changing the way architects work.
We cover everything from early career influences and design school experiences at Liverpool and Westminster to the pressures of running a practice and the challenges of embracing new tech.
Thomas Rowntree is an architectural designer and content creator. Alongside practice, he's built a large online following by sharing honest, practical insights into architectural education, early career experience and the realities of the profession.
His content focus on visual communication, productivity, and creative workflows for students and young professionals. He is part of a growing group of designers using content to make architecture more accessible.
Thomas spoke to Chris Simmons about navigating architecture school without a blueprint, the realities of early career practice, and how building a personal brand opened doors the profession didn’t.