In this episode, I'm joined by Kursty Groves. The founder and CEO of Shape Work Life, a consultancy that helps workplace leaders reimagine the future of work and create spaces that nurture connected cultures.

With over 25 years of experience in innovation consulting, design, and capability development, Kursty has collaborated with global brands such as Google, LEGO, IKEA, and McLaren. She is the author of three books, including Workspace Made Easy, and has taught postgraduate courses on workplace strategy at IE University in Madrid since 2014.

In our conversation, we discussed Kursty's approach to workplace strategy, understanding client needs and it's crucial for effective workplace design. We also spoke about engaging clients in the process, the psychology of asking why to get to the true source of design problems to create lasting impactful changes and all things workplace and office design.

Kursty is a joy to chat to - hope you enjoy the listen!

Episode highlights

1:50 Introduction to Kursty's Journey in Workplace Strategy

07:21 The Impact of Technology on Workplace Strategy

11:37 Navigating the Design and Build Industry

20:16 Common Challenges in Client Engagement

28:66 Identifying Client Needs and Problem Solving

32:03 The Importance of Asking 'Why' in Design

38:01 Understanding the Broader Context of Design Challenges

45:10 Navigating Return to Office Mandates

50:30 Future-Proofing Design and Workspaces

Find us online

You can find Kursty online on her ⁠⁠website⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, and you can find her Workplace Strategy Sprints, Office Chronicles Podcast via the links. Her latest book - Workspace Made Easy website or LinkedIn.

If you’d like to connect with me, your host Becca Mizzi-Harris, on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠. I would love to connect with you.

This episode is kindly sponsored by ⁠⁠Ocee & Four Design. Thank you!

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5* rating/review and share with a friend who might enjoy! And of course, subscribe to keep up with the upcoming episodes.

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

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

In this episode, I’m joined by Ross Hartland. A solo architect and the founder of Initiate, a Bridgend-based practice, in South Wales. Collaborating with homeowners, charities, developers, and local authorities to bring new life, light, and joy to old buildings.

By sharing his journey online, Initiate has cultivated an impressive Instagram following of over 140k, creating a platform to connect with fellow designers, market services, and diversify revenue streams.

Despite being a one-person studio, Initiate ranked in the Top 10 of Beedier’s league of the most popular UK architecture practices on social media and won Archiboo's Best Use of Social Media Award in 2024.

In this conversation, we dive into Ross’s background, he shares his journey, detailing his transition from working in a corporate architecture firm to starting his own practice. We discuss his passion for heritage buildings and adaptive reuse, and the challenges he faces.

Together we discuss and emphasise the importance of marketing, community engagement, and maintaining a work-life balance while navigating client relationships. Reflecting on the realities of running a business and the significance of social media in building connections and generating leads.

This was a great chat - hope you enjoy!

Episode highlights

12:19 Interest in Historic Buildings and Adaptive Reuse

17:07 Starting a Solo Architecture Practice

20:29 Challenges of Winning Clients

26:00 Social Media and Networking

29:29 Conclusion and Takeaways

29:55 Creating Value Beyond Architecture

37:02 Balancing Time and Prioritizing Creative Tasks

43:45 Diversifying Revenue Streams

48:18 Understanding the Financial Aspects of Running a Business

Find us online

You can find Ross Hartland online via his ⁠website⁠⁠, YouTube, TikTok, and ⁠Instagram⁠. And his online store with super helpful assets for designers and architects here.

If you’d like to connect with me, your host Becca Mizzi-Harris, on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠. I would love to connect with you.

This episode is kindly sponsored by ⁠Orangebox⁠. Thank you!

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5* rating/review and share with a friend who might enjoy! And of course, subscribe to keep up with the upcoming episodes.

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

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

In this episode, I’m joined by Kate Usher. An experienced Menopause Coach and Workplace Consultant specialising in working with organisations that want to take a proactive approach in supporting their people with and through menopause.

Join us as we explore the implications of menopause in the workplace. Highlighting the lack of awareness and support for women experiencing menopause, the stigma, and the need for organisations to create supportive environments. Kate emphasises the importance of including men in the conversation and the business case for supporting menopausal employees. We also discuss practical design considerations for creating menopause-friendly work spaces and the necessity of open conversations about women's health issues - which benefit everyone!

Kate lives in London but works with businesses across the UK, Europe and North America. Working with businesses that recognise and value the benefits women bring alongside the need to recruit, invest in and retain brilliant employees.

This was a super insightful episode, I hope you enjoy!

Episode Highlights

01:30 Introduction to Menopause and Its Impact

06:38 Understanding Menopause: Myths and Realities

10:36 Workplace Stigma and Menopause

14:33 Creating Supportive Work Environments

17:07 The Business Case for Menopause Support

22:45 Designing Menopause-Friendly Workspaces

28:43 Leading Organisations in Menopause Support

43:40 Key Takeaways and Future Directions

Find us online

You can find Kate Usher online via her ⁠website⁠, ⁠LinkedIn⁠, YouTube, TikTok, X and ⁠Instagram⁠.

If you’d like to connect with me, your host Becca Mizzi-Harris, on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠. I would love to connect with you.

This episode is kindly sponsored by ⁠Orangebox⁠. Thank you!

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5* rating/review and share with a friend who might enjoy! And of course, subscribe to keep up with the upcoming episodes.

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

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

In this episode, I chat with Nile Pilcher in depth about sustainability, how we're making positive changes, and if we're doing the right thing as a collective in the Design & Build industry.

We chat about the need for transparency and accountability in product specification, significance of the end-of-life phase. Highlighting the need for manufacturers, specifiers, and contractors to work together to ensure sustainable practices.

Nile has been in the flooring industry for 10+ years, and works for the flooring manufacturer Marlings Ltd.

(The first 10 minutes of our conversation we spend running through the key terminology for this who want and need it - I know I needed it!)

Hope you enjoy the episode!

Episode Highlights

04:14 The Role of Life Cycle Assessments and EPD’s

06:40 Defining Key Terms: Embodied Carbon, Carbon Neutral, and Carbon Negative

09:29 The Need for Government Intervention in Sustainability Assessments

23:40 Understanding the Three Phases of a Product's Life cycle

31:57 Challenges and Opportunities in Implementing Sustainable Practices

41:11 Making Sustainable Options Accessible at Different Price Points

51:31 Understanding the Life Cycle of Products

54:32 Take-Back Schemes and Recycling

57:16 Prioritising Reuse in the Flooring Industry

Find us online

You can find Nile Pilcher online via ⁠LinkedIn⁠. And you can find him at Marlings Ltd.

You can find me, your host Becca Mizzi-Harris, on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠. I would love to connect with you.

This episode is kindly sponsored by ⁠Orangebox⁠.

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

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

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

In this episode, I'm joined by Lauren Roberts. With a career in hotel design (the ultimate hospitality experience) we explore the importance of customer journey, creating immersive experiences, aligning interior design and brand narrative with business goals and target audiences, all of which is paramount to Lauren’s design approach.

Lauren is an experienced hospitality and retail interior designer based in Berkshire and runs her business, LR Interiors.

Hope you enjoy the episode!

Episode Highlights

03:30 Transitioning from Construction to Design

06:33 Understanding Immersive Interior Design

09:25 Managing Client Expectations

13:21 Involving Staff in the Design Process

18:03 Weaving Brand Narrative into physical space

26:16 Attracting the Local Community for Long-Term Success

42:20 Hospitality struggles post pandemic

Find us online

You can find Lauren Roberts online via her website, LinkedIn and Instagram.

You can find me, your host Becca Mizzi-Harris, on LinkedIn and Instagram. I would love to connect with you.

This episode is kindly sponsored by Orangebox.

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

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

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

Design and Build, a podcast for all things commercial interior design and architecture. This is the trailer!

Whether you've been in the design and build industry a long time, a short time, a student or simply passionate about the built environment; this podcast is for you!

I'm your host, Becca Mizzi-Harris, a commercial freelance interior designer, based in South Wales UK.

In each episode with the help of my hand picked guests and their speciality knowledge, we'll have friendly and honest conversations, exploring topics such as; design processes, methods and practices, collaboration, sustainability, inclusivity... All design and build topics big and small.

So, join me as I talk to some amazing guests about topics that are shaping and effecting our day to day work and life with the Design and Build podcast.

First episode of Season 1 coming September 2024.

If you’d like to connect with me, your host Becca Mizzi-Harris, you can find me on LinkedIn and Instagram. I would love to hear from you!

Feel free to reach out and ask questions, suggest topics or guests. Would love to make this podcast as helpful and insightful as possible for all of us in the Design and Build industry! Fire away.

You can find out more about me and my freelance interior design services for designers and businesses at www.mizziharris.com.