THE JOURNAL
she founded Studio George four years ago. “What’s valuable to a small studio like mine is someone who has a good skillset. Currently, we’ve got a freelance junior designer who knows how to do 3D renders which is useful.” Traditional training, like at Inchbald School of Design which offers 10-week certificate courses through to diploma, graduate and postgraduate degrees, is a good place to start (many students are those seeking mid-life career moves). In summer 2025, the Inchbald’s Graduation Show was held at the Design Centre, further cementing the pair’s relationship. Emily Smoor, of Edinburgh-based interior design
studio Fantoush, agrees that gaining knowledge is essential. “I would recommend being able to understand the practicalities of the job. Perhaps spend time with a joiner or learn how to do technical drawings. I’ve come to the business from a renovation background so I know about plumbing, the construction of a wall and what works in a functional sense,” says Smoor, whose go-to Design Centre showrooms include Andrew Martin and Vaughan. A decade ago, she was juggling property development, an upholstery studio and the odd interiors project but it wasn’t until 2021 that she focused on the latter. “Breaking into the industry is about finding
“STAY CURIOUS, SOAK UP
AS MUCH AS YOU CAN AND DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF CONVERSATIONS”
someone willing to take a punt on you,” she says. “You’re only as good as the trust your client gives you.” Initiatives such as Next in Design, launched by Homes & Gardens magazine earlier this year, also help shine the spotlight on studios less than five years old. Established industry figures on the board include the Design Centre’s CEO Claire German, Kit Kemp and Charu Gandhi, who will guide and shape the programme. The Design Centre also hosts WOW!house, its annual showhouse where each room is the vision of a different designer, plus a programme of talks and tours all aimed at fostering a sense of belonging and a fresh perspective, inspiring people to think about the exciting possibilities of what working in the industry could entail. Of course, careers evolve naturally. At David Collins
Studio, for instance, the samples library – including marbles, wallpapers and leathers – is the domain of former FF&E specialist turned librarian Andrew Bliss (he spent a decade designing bespoke product patterns for the now-king of Saudi Arabia’s palace while at Areen Design, and was also a librarian at KCA International). Then there’s interior designer Suzy Hoodless, who did a stint in interiors magazines having met editors and stylists while assisting the team at Designers Guild. “It was all terribly ad-hoc. I ended up as interiors editor at Wallpaper magazine,” she recalls. “Then someone asked me to design their flat in Notting Hill. What really helped was that I had five Rolodexes of manufacturer and supplier contacts, so I had an incredible database.” Felicity Mould’s way into her family’s fabric and
wallcovering company Romo was a summer job at a distributor’s showroom in Sydney. “That sparked my interest,” remembers Mould, who studied interior design before running the showroom at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour. Now she looks after the people aspects of the brand, including human resources and marketing. “For marketing, we look for all-round creatives with an artistic eye who are good with words. Any opportunity, whether an entry-level job or work placement, is a foot in the door.” One organisation set up five years ago to help with
exactly that is United in Design, which champions diversity and inclusion (it was also the charity partner for WOW!house 2025). So far, four cohorts of six paid interns have completed its Career Pathway programme, with 92% of graduates securing jobs afterwards. “The design studios we work with quite literally create a seat at the table for aspiring designers from underrepresented communities,” says co-founder and interior designer Sophie Ashby. For 2025/2026, a new Media and Communication pathway has been added. “Interior design is backed by a strong ecosystem of sub-sectors, like publishing. It’s important that we’re making an impact across the full landscape
and supporting all the components that enable the world of interiors to thrive.” Her advice? “Stay curious, soak up as much as you can and don’t underestimate the power of conversations – you never know where one might lead.”
THE CAREERS HUB Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour’s online careers hub places more than 500 roles a year in the luxury design sector, consistently delivering exceptional results. Since its inception, it has grown to become the leading interiors career network, connecting global brands and interior designers with the best talent in the industry. Take the next step today by placing an ad – or, if you’re a job seeker, applying for your dream role.
dcch.co.uk/careers
-35 -
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72
