2023 Judges

A Creative Interior Architect, Desariot joined Winch Design in September 2020, bringing over 13 years of experience in the creative industries. He has a demonstrated history of working on some of London's top high-end residential and development projects. As an Associate at Winch, he leads a team of highly-skilled design professionals specialising in worldwide luxury residential and hospitality projects. Desariot is a highly experienced professional committed to delivering custom-tailored projects with meticulous attention to detail. He is adept at finding creative solutions to challenging design problems, providing clients with comprehensive design experiences. His commitment to excellence ensures that all projects are of the highest calibre.

Alicja started her career in the built environment back in 2003 working for construction companies in Europe, USA and Caribbean assisting on delivery of commercial and residential build projects. In 2010 graduated with honours from the University of Greenwich in London with a degree in Estate Management and since then, worked as a commercial property surveyor in private and public sector, covering professional work, land acquisitions and disposals, compulsory purchase, Landlord & Tenant, asset management and strategy. Joined the DfE’s Property Services team in 2015 to manage property aspects of the Free Schools delivery, mainly land acquisition and asset management to support this fast-paced programme. Departments’ Free Schools Programme delivered over 800 new schools across the country to date, providing diversity and improved quality of education for primary and secondary aged children.

Gill is a dynamic, passionate, and highly motivated Construction Cost and Procurement Professional who has specialised in the Hotel, Hospitality and Residential Sectors, predominantly in the UK and Europe, as well as internationally, including postings in Toronto and Singapore. Currently she is head of commercial cost management for London and the South East at Currie & Brown. Gill is committed to the continuous development of the industry and is actively involved in research and Thought Leadership with regular contributions to both in-house and external publications. Gill has had her articles published in journals including Construction Manager and Building Magazine. Gill’s reviews have included topics such as BIM, the Private Rental Sector (PRS / BTR), Residential and Serviced Apartments, Net Zero Carbon and Sustainability.

Dr Sam Bucolo is a global executive and innovation expert. Over thirty years of experience embedding design led innovation within start up’s, SME’s and large organisations to solve complex challenges which deliver economic, social and environmental impact. In his current role as the Chief Executive of the Australian Design Council, he is reviving the 60-year business to embed and align professional design capability into Nationally significant policy, programs and business strategies to amplify their impact and maximise return on investment, delivering long term growth and driving National prosperity. Sam is the author of the book “Are We There Yet, Insights on how to lead by design”. Sam is an elected Fellow of the Design Institute of Australia and is a Good Design Australia Ambassador.

MAWD (March and White Design) co-founder James White has led the design for the interiors of numerous iconic, globally-recognised projects for some of the world’s most discerning clients. James’ passion for design, art and history never fails to take him to the forefront of innovation. He believes in creating spaces that can enhance quality of life through design. Inspired by the experiences of his global travels, he applied his personal observations and understanding to the creation of MAWD’s design process (EXCD) which uses research, insights and architectural principles to create exceptional spaces that inspire emotional connection. Since establishing MAWD in 2010 James’ natural curiosity, married with his pursuit of perfection, has helped inform the firm’s global, knowledge-based approach, which continues to guide industry leaders on how to best apply intelligent design for the future.

Jane started her career by gaining an Honours Degree in law and then, whilst taking a year out to gain work experience prior to going to law school, she worked in a trade association and subsequently she refocused her career into this area. She was appointed Deputy Director for the Institute of Administrative Management and was briefly Company Secretary at Rolex and Silica Computers. She was then appointed as the first female Deputy Director in the Building Employers Confederation and covered six trade federations dealing with construction in her role as Deputy Director of the Federation of Building Specialist Contractors and subsequently the National Specialist Contractors Council. Jane was appointed Chief Executive of Stone Federation in 2000.

Carlo Castelli is an architect and masterplanner. He holds a Master Degree in Architecture with distinction in 1999. In 2011 he completed a Master in ‘City Design and Social Science’ at the London School of Economics and Social Science. His experience as an architect spans across sectors and includes important contributions to the design process of internationally renowned buildings such as the Tennis Centre and International Broadcasting Centre for Rio Olympics 2016 and the 437m-high West Tower in Guangzhou, China. His focus in recent years has been on urban and regional projects. As Head of Cities Solutions at Jacobs Built Environment, Carlo leads multi-disciplinary teams and stakeholder engagement processes. Carlo is currently involved in the Edinburgh City Centre Transformation Plan, a mixed use, residential development in Dublin and a new city in Morocco.

Dominik has managed design projects for some of the most iconic interiors in the world. A senior team member at Sans Souci, leading designer and producer of interior lighting and architectural installations, he has contributed to its growth across Europe and the globe. Some of the unique projects Dominik has managed include designing and creating a series of bespoke pendants for the recent refurbishment of The Claridge’s in London, The Peninsula London, The Connaught Hotel, a customized collection of glass and lighting installations for Mandarin Oriental Luzern and for the Royal family in Dubai. Dominik has extensive experience from hospitality industry as well as a degree in International Business from Middlesex University.

Julia Danilova-Meretska is an interior design industry expert, Co-Founder, CEO, and mastermind at DOMIO Group, Regional Director at SBID Ukraine, Co-Founder of Domio Publishing and Invited Editor-in-Chief at Elle Decoration Ukraine. With all her pursuits Julia is guided by a principle: “Extraordinary results require extraordinary effort” which helps her to accomplish the most ambitious projects and collaborate with the top players of the industry, both in Ukraine and overseas. Julia’s portfolio comprises an interior design business, a number of large-scale projects with interior design high-end brands, top developers & industry players, publishing house producing Elle & Elle Decoration magazines in Ukraine. Besides the business component, all Julia’s activities are outlined with the aim of providing access to the inspiration of the best worldwide interior design and business practices, as well as fostering the integration of Ukrainian industry professionals into the international market. Currently, apart from Kyiv, Julia develops business in Warsaw and London.

Debansu has nearly two decades of experience in the UK housing sector. He passionately advocates sustainability & modern methods of construction. He has rich experience in UK offsite sector and is actively involved with several modular homes development projects. He has worked with numerous offsite contractors – from SMEs to established ones. On client-side, he works closely with senior housing professionals and key stakeholders to overcome barriers in embracing offsite, achieve sustainability goals and deliver “inclusive” design for new homes. He is also the Chairman of “Housing Diversity Network”, a leading social enterprise, for last 5 years and an active member of Housing Panel of Construction Industry Council. He champions “equality and diversity” in both construction and housing sectors. In the past, he was a Product Manager with blue chip companies like Philips and received numerous awards including “Marketer of the Year” & “European Marketing Excellence Award 2012”.

Daniel has spent his entire working life in the furniture and interiors industry, initially combining his study of International Economics at London’s Middlesex University with the manufacture of hotel and commercial furniture. His family operated a manufacturing business that supplied hotels across the UK and Daniel expanded this business with a truly international outlook; by the time the business was sold in 2001, more than two hundred staff were employed making upholstery and casegoods within their Derbyshire factory. Daniel has worked on hotel projects in more than 40 countries around the world, regularly speaks on panels at investor and design conferences and is a member of the International Society of Hotel Consultants.

Nuno lives and breathes design for the past 25 years working in the design and architecture industries in 5 continents in very diverse capacities and in pretty much every sector such as corporate, healthcare, retail, government or education. In his role as Director Design Operations EMEA for the D&B company Tétris his aim was to unify and bring together over 200 architects and designers in almost 20 countries harmonizing relationships of different cultures, languages and processes and pushing the envelope of design excellence no matter the client or location. Over the course of his career he has been a creative designer, a strategist, a project director and a mentor with several articles in the media and a keynote speakers in diverse events. He is a firm believer in the universal power of design to move people into a better life.

With over 17 years’ experience in the luxury interiors industry Letitia Fitzgibbon heads-up Harrods Interior Design, a multi-disciplinary bespoke design service by Harrods. In her previous role as a key player within the Harrods Home buying team, Letitia worked closely with the Director of Home in redeveloping the home and furniture offering from Harrods, creating new concepts and sourcing brands from across the world to provide a carefully curated range of products that hero provenance, craftsmanship and heritage in helping to shape Harrods Home into the exciting design hub it is today. As well as having the support and resource of the 600 brands stocked within the store, Letitia and her team of design experts travel the world in search of beautiful designs, the latest trends and the highest quality fabrics and products. Letitia’s design ethos centres around two key factors: relevance to the client and their lifestyle, and harmony of the design with its surrounding environment.

Simon Forrester is an award-winning association leader with almost 30 years’ senior experience across a variety of trade bodies and professional institutes for sectors including jewellery, interior fit-out and most recently architectural ironmongery. His role at the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers encompasses strategic direction for the Guild globally, and driving forward the competence agenda to support the professional development of both Registered Architectural Ironmongers and specifiers.

Charlotte leads the Interior Design Studio, working to ensure design quality and seamless integration with architectural ideas. Charlotte is responsible for overseeing resourcing, information production and delivery of interior projects for our clients that span a variety of sectors, scales and design stages – from early concept through to completion. Charlotte also has experience of refurbishing and reimagining existing, historic buildings. Embracing the history and existing fabric of a building and exploring how that can offer rich inspiration for new, meaningful interventions that breathe life and purpose in to forgotten spaces and places. Charlotte joined Glenn Howells Architect’s Birmingham office in 2016 and was made an Associate in 2023.

Hans J. Galutera - Founder and CEO of HG DesignWorks LLC, a Manhattan Interior Design Studio specializing in maritime interior architectural design, is one of the Board of Directors of Education for the State of New York. Being in the design industry for over 25 years, Hans has been a co-founder and principal of New York-based BG Studio International, Inc. and is the past president of the Board of Directors for the International Interior Design Association IIDA New York Chapter. Hans is also an Advisory Board Member for the International Council for Caring Communities (ICCC-UN Habitat) and a professional member of the Design Institute of Australia (MDIA). Hans is recognized on the Executive Board for the Society of British International Design (SBID) based in London as the International Education Ambassador. Hans is a frequent contributor for international lifestyle and design industry magazines. His expertise has allowed him to be judge and juror for prestigious organizations and publications and he considers it a privilege and honor to be participating once again as one of SBID’s International Design Awards 2022 Judges. As one of the NYSED Board Members he will serve and be one of the overseer of the district's affairs (specifically interior design education and licensure). The NYSED Board has specific responsibilities to approve curriculum, employ a superintendent and submit a proposed budget to the district voters for their approval. He will continue to maintain the value of the interior design profession with ongoing outreach with various organizations such NY11+ which is dedicated to promoting public awareness of the interior design profession by providing a platform to showcase student work from prestigious New York State institutions.

Dr Vanja Garaj is Head of Brunel Design, where he also teaches on the Professional Design Studio module, a part of the MSc Integrated Product Design programme. He has co-ordinated a number of live project briefs, across design fields, with organisations including Cancer Research UK, NHS, Pan Macmillan, Help for Heroes, Friends of the Elderly, Corney & Barrow, Shell, Ibis and BT. Dr Garaj’s research is aimed at design, development and evaluation of innovative systems, products and services, with the focus on digital and digital-physical domains and the application of the latest technologies. His research activities have involved the areas of digital health, assistive technology, m-learning, e-government, social networking and the IoT and the immersive tech. The current research projects include Impacting Business by Design, funded by Research England, Story Futures, funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and Inclusive Immersion, funded by Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

Dr. Shamir Ghumra is currently Executive Director of Responsible Business at NHS Property Services; which is a government-owned company which exists to help the NHS get the most from its estate, and ensure that it is consistently fit for purpose so that healthcare professionals can deliver excellent patient care. Shamir is directly responsible for Energy, Environment and CSR programmes as well as having oversight for Health & Safety, Procurement and Culture & Inclusion. Shamir is a Fellow of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, a Chartered Environmentalist and a Visiting Professor at the School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering at Loughborough University. Shamir is also a Governor at WQE College and a Trustee of Ride For Freedom a Community Interest Group that supports the victims of Modern Slavery. Shamir also takes an active interest in national policy developments and strategic sustainability futures.

Stella Gittins is the Co-Founder of AGC, London’s fastest-growing portfolio of international award-winning Interior Design companies. Creating the benchmark in luxury living, the Accouter Group of Companies which is home to Accouter Design, A. LONDON and BoxNine7, delivers world-class interior architectural and furnishing services to the global property market and private clients. With 15 years of experience mentoring and directing diverse teams within the field, Stella has spent 7 years building AGC which has been voted one of the best places to work in property on multiple occasions. Taking a lead creative role for the Group, Stella is responsible for all aspects of brand and design and has published four bespoke publications that discuss every corner of luxury life. Featuring the inspiration behind Accouter Design’s schemes and collaborating with iconic brands such as Rolls Royce and William & Son, the fifth publication is due for launch in 2020.

With over a decade of design experience in the luxury sector and a lifelong appreciation for craft, Freya has honed her expertise through a career that covers the hospitality and residential industries. An FF&E specialist and a veteran all-rounder, Freya’s portfolio spans distinguished historic projects and ambitious, high-end hospitality. Freya’s keen eye, attention to detail and sensitivity to surroundings means that every project is masterfully specified and harmoniously composed. Her education in sculpture and textiles, and passion for art and l’objet has led to a deeper understanding of aesthetics, particularly in the luxury market. Freya’s notable projects include the demanding restoration of Athlone House, a luxury hotel and apartments in Jordan, a culinary aparthotel in Amsterdam, The Ivy Café roll out, The Coral Bar and Reception at The Bloomsbury Hotel, The Penthouse at Floral Court, a refurb of a converted old school house on Clapham Common. Amongst others, Freya’s prior employers include, MBDS, Studio Clement, Studio Mackereth, and Callender Howorth.

Trained as Architect, having to work in both Architecture and Interior Design for over than 20 years, Moel is a Hong Kong based Interior Design who currently holds the position as Interior Design Principal in Walt Disney Imagineering Asia, Ltd. Moel hold BS in Architecture degree from Tarumanagara University, Jakarta – Indonesia. Before joining Disney was working with notable Architecture and Interior Design Firms in Jakarta, China & Hong Kong, mostly working with high luxury residential, Hospitality and Entertainment like Five Stars Hotel and Casinos in Macau. Moel join Walt Disney Imagineering in 2015, from that moment his main specialty is working with amazing talented people from Disney to build thematic and storytelling base interior space, his previous projects included Disney’s Explorer Lodge Hotel, Ironman Experience, Antman and the Wasp “Nano Battle”, and recently open Castle of Magical Dreams all located in Hong Kong Disneyland. Moel has a passion in specialty design, like art glass, themed lighting, and thematic FF&E items. His recent accomplishment is designing Hong Kong Disneyland New Castle of Magical Dream Art Glass, collaborating with Indonesian Art Glass studio.

Before finding her home in hospitality design, Holly worked successfully as a senior marketing consultant in a variety of industries including Professional Services, Commerce, TV and Film. Since joining award-winning creative agency, DesignLSM, Holly has driven and built up the studio’s strategy service, bringing her considerable experience in brand, commercial and design strategy to the hospitality industry, creating unique consumer engagement strategies for DesignLSM’s clients, including Ritz Carlton Hotels, Curio by Hilton, Kempinski Hotels, D&D London, The Alchemist, Gaucho Restaurants, Searcys, Galvin Restaurants and many more.

Justin is the Head of Property and Office Services for the House of Lords, responsible for property and facilities management services to Members and the administration. He also acts as chair and senior responsible owner on large projects across the Parliamentary Estate, either bicameral or specifically House of Lords projects. These have included building refurbishments and the conservation of the historic Westminster Hall, internal hammerbeam roof and two of the internal courtyards within the Palace of Westminster. He also attends bicameral boards for a number of Parliamentary projects including Elizabeth Tower. His previous experience within, projects, property and facilities management has been working for a London Borough and a large County Council.

A materials expert, functional design enthusiast and a futurist, Jalaj has dedicated his career to unifying technology, design and social consciousness to create physical and digital product platforms. He currently leads Product Innovation and Consumer Creation at Nike. Prior to Nike, Jalaj was the Senior Vice President at Burberry owning a broad portfolio across Materials, Technical Design, Sustainable Manufacturing, Quality and Innovation. His teams led pioneering work on regenerative materials and implemented digital prototyping and low impact manufacturing across the global supply chain setting new benchmarks for the fashion industry. Having worked in Europe, North America and Asia in consulting, manufacturing and retail, he draws on his diverse global experience and passion for diversity to drive positive change across the industry. Prior to Burberry, Jalaj worked at Target as the Director of Product Development and Design. He is a systems thinker and a keen proponent of the use of technology to augment human potential and planetary wellbeing.

Rigby & Rigby CEO Iain Johnson has been a pivotal part the growth of the firm since its inception, dynamically executing the vision of a truly integrated design and delivery studio with full-service capabilities. A champion of the studio’s expansion, he has helped it to become a leading multiaward- winning name in ultra-prime delivery. Accredited in every division, the firm’s extensive expertise extends across development management, architecture, interior design, construction delivery and private client services, to create the most exceptional properties in the world. Johnson leads and oversees the group’s operational strategy and creative division – ensuring the brands individual identity, heritage and expertise is maintained and delivered as a complimentary offering, he is also creating collaborations with some of the world’s best architects and interior design studios providing clients a unique opportunity of choice within the full-service delivery model. At the heart of Rigby & Rigby’s approach is Johnson’s profound commitment to the client experience. Architecturally trained with 20 years of industry leadership and experience, Iain’s ability to understand every facet of the design process ensures he is perfectly positioned to support clients throughout their development journey. This includes Rigby & Rigby’s award-winning Special Projects division, where Iain leads a dedicated development and delivery team undertaking the most complex signature new build and heritage restoration projects, requiring an additional level of attention and care. Creatively Iain’s passion lays in driving innovation through research-based methodology, influencing the architectural and interior design studios to be more experimental and to maximise the client experience and enrich the user journey. The product being perfectly resolved residences, with a style defined as understated refined luxury, delivered with a service that is second to none.

Andrew is a partner at Prospect Hotel Advisors LLC, which is a hospitality asset management firm. Prospect Advisors is responsible for The Blackstone Groups hotel portfolio globally and oversee the exclusive consultant partners that support the portfolios as well as providing third party asset management services for other Real Estate firms. As part of this role, Andrew oversees, Axios Hospitality Real Estate. Axios is the London based provider of Asset Management Services to The Blackstone Group in Europe and the UK, where they own 60 hotels. Prior to this position Andrew was Senior Vice President of Asset Management for Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide. Prior to that Andrew has a long career in hospitality in operations having started his career at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City and as the General Manager at various renowned locations.

For more than three decades, Debra’s trailblazing efforts in the field of healthcare facility design research, education and advocacy have propelled The Center for Health Design into industry consciousness and the forefront of evidence-based healthcare design. Under Debra’s leadership, The Center’s flagship research initiative, the Pebble Project, gained international recognition and the EDAC Certification program became the standard for evidence-based design practitioners in the healthcare and design industry. Debra helped found the annual Healthcare Design and Environments for Aging conferences and the Healthcare Design magazine, all still significant catalysts in the industry today. Under Debra’s watch, Center membership has expanded to include a rich, multidisciplinary group of international architects, interior designers, healthcare executives, healthcare professionals, researchers, product manufacturers, educators, students, futurists and more. A prolific writer, she has penned a monthly column for Healthcare Design Magazine since its inception in 2001 and speaks both nationally and internationally on the impact of the built environment on outcomes.

Originally from London, Harriet joined Soho House in 2018 to lead a new design aesthetic for Soho Works locations across London, New York and Los Angeles. In 2020 her role expanded to Lead Designer for Soho House properties across the US, overseeing the design and completion of several projects in North America. Now living in New York City, Harriet has led the design of multiple Soho House properties including Soho House Austin, Soho’s first House in the southern states, Soho House Nashville, the largest in North America, and most recently, the first Ned location in the US. She has also regularly contributed to Soho Home publications, helping members style their homes with the much-loved Soho aesthetic. Prior to Soho House, Harriet studied design at the University of Brighton and Chelsea College of Arts in London. She started her career with select hospitality projects and high-end residential design including the design of one of the world’s largest super yachts, and celebrity homes across the US and UK. Her award-winning design for a London member’s club was featured in Vogue, and she has since been recognized in Elle Decor and Dezeen, among other international publications.

Goddard Littlefair Director and Co-founder Jo Littlefair leads projects across the company bringing inspiration from her travels into the studio sharing her passion for new and exciting dining and hospitality experiences. With a curious and observant nature, Jo recognises upcoming evolutions in consumer, industry and design trends. Whilst actively listening to her team and clients and giving particular focus on delivery, Jo ensures that the essence of a concept has been fully evoked and that all softer details meet her exacting standards. Regularly requested to write articles and to publicly speak on behalf of Goddard Littlefair, Jo is clear and committed to sharing the work and ethos of the company. Words of expertise on consumer behaviour and developments in the luxury market have been seen in publications such as House and Garden, SPACE, Interior Design Today, and the Interior Design Yearbook.

Tom is the President and Founder of the interdisciplinary design practice marquardt+ in Chicago. He also is an Executive Board Member and Past President of SBID (Society of British and International Interior Design) and a professional member of IIDA (International Interior Design Association) and an executive circle member of the AMA (American Marketing Association). During his career Tom has been the recipient of both the IIDA Leadership Award of Excellence and the Interior Designer of the Year HIP Awards (Honoring Industry People) from Interior Design Magazine for his branded environments expertise. His work has been recognized with a variety of design awards here in the US and abroad and featured in publications including Abitare, Architectural Digest, Contract, Interior Design Magazine, Interiors + Sources, Objekt International, and Society Journal. Tom has also taught a variety of undergraduate and graduate level college studio courses at Harrington College of Design. The courses included creating and teaching the first Branded Environments interdisciplinary design studio in the country, Design Business Practices, Portfolio for Interior Design and subsequently Corporate Interiors at Columbia College. Tom continues to write articles and provide thought leadership thru professional and academic panels, juries, speaking engagements and social media podcasts addressing a variety of design industry and business subjects.

Minnie Moll is the Chief Executive of Design Council. She was previously Chief Executive of Jarrold Retail in Norwich. Her other roles have include Joint Chief Executive of the East of England Co-op, Executive Director of Marketing at Notcutts Garden Centres, Global Marketing Director of leading innovation company ?What If!, and Managing Partner of advertising agency HHCL. Minnie was voted Vistage Business Leader of the Year in 2020 and listed as one of the 100 Most Inspirational Women in Suffolk and Norfolk in 2018. She was appointed by HRH Prince Charles in 2016 as his Ambassador for Responsible Business in the East of England as part of Business in the Community. Minnie has been a board member of two Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and a Town Deals Board. She is currently an Ambassador for the charity Fresh Start – new beginnings.

Elise joined MAF-Majid Al Futtaim Group in 2020 in the role of Interior Design Director, handling the Owner’s private projects worldwide. Previously, Elise headed the Design Studio at the “Engineering Office”, a multi-disciplinary company handling the various projects for the Dubai Royal Family. Born in Beirut-Lebanon, Elise has an immense familiarity of the region’s culture. She led a team of international Designers, building a coherent and skilled Design Studio powerhouse, delivering top notch, high profile Residential, Key commercial and Hospitality projects; entrusted by some of the leading hotel operators to design and execute large-scale projects. Elise is driven by her passion for Design with a sharp eye for details and proportions and an innate sensibility to colors and textures. She seeks her inspiration and creativity from all what she encounters throughout the day, anchored with her in-depth knowledge and understanding of every facet of the Design industry. Elise believes in the power of the human connection first, mediating balance between people and spaces, poetry, and logic; the recipe for a well-concocted collaboration and great achievements.

Dr. Ning is the President of Wanda Hotels & Resorts. During his tenure at Wanda, he has led the design, construction and operation management of over 100 upscale and luxury hotels. Under his leadership, these hotels have won many prestigious international design awards, including the SBID Awards, Gold Key Awards, IIDA-Best of Asia Pacific Design Awards, Hospitality Design Awards and many more.

Katharine Pooley is one of the most sought-after interior designers working internationally today. Recently named ‘British Interior Designer of the Decade’, ‘International Designer in Asia of the Year’, and ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’, her design ethos is both highly respected and uniquely far reaching. Her eponymous Knightsbridge Design Studio was established over 15 years ago and continues to create unmatched luxury interior designs for landmark commercial and residential projects in London and Worldwide for the most discerning clients. Overseeing her team of 47 interior designers and architects Katharine’s highly personal approach – she immerses herself in every detail of her client’s complex project – ensures a loyal international fan base for her impressive designs. Katharine’s aesthetic is very much client driven and she prides herself on being a complete design chameleon.

After graduating in Product Design and Visual Communications, Cassiano founded, run and sold a successful digital agency in the early 2000s. Since then he acted as graphic designer, art director and creative lead for more than 22 years, working in São Paulo, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Miami for major advertising agencies like Ogilvy, Publicis, DDB and RG/A. He’s done award-winning work fro brands such as Nike, Google, Dove, Netflix, Schweppes, MasterCard, Adidas, IBM, Levis, Motorola, AIG, PepsiCo, LG, and Intel. In 2015 he joined Apple as a Creative Lead for Latin America and Caribbean. In a parallel life he tempers with natural materials, technology and product design.

Michaela Salt has recently joined Areen Design as Creative Director. Michaela will provide Creative Leadership to the team, as well as focusing on building a new start up brand that will demonstrate Areen's creative output, fresh visibility and design led ambition. Graduating in Textile Design and Surface pattern, her process involves constructing visual languages that are brand driven. Combined with her wide understanding of Interior Design and styles, her unique approach has enabled her to work on an assortment of high-end luxury projects spanning across Product, Textile and Interior design industries. Michaela brings over 25 years of experience to her position, beginning her career in 90's London, accumulating various experience with BBC ,World of Interior magazine and in the early years, Textile design. Michaela the went on to work for Foster and Partners architects. A learning curve that still influences her today. Yearning to expand her creative education, Michaela continued her career internationally. Working in Milan, Dubai, Singapore, Amsterdam and most recently North America, continuing to collaborate on world class projects for renowned international companies such as HBA, Marcel Wanders, LTW Designworks and the Accor hotel group. She has worked on a plethora of projects including a variety of high profile new-build, inner city and resort hotels, as well as villas, yachts and restaurants for the following clients: Jumeirah, Mandarin Oriental Hotels, St Regis, Ritz Carlton, W Hotels, Westin, Shangri-La and Sofitel.

Carolina has more than a decade of experience on the design and implementation of high-end interior design and architecture projects in London and around the globe. Trained as an architect, she established her own architectural business in her native country Brazil before moving to London 15 years ago. Her passion for design excellence and extensive knowledge in the luxury global market, makes it possible for her to transform any client’s aspirations into a truly bespoke luxurious space. Her architectural background gives her a combination of creative design skills with a wide range of technical knowledge. She is the Creative Director at the award-winning luxury design studio Casa Forma’s and is responsible for delivering leading-edge residential schemes for international high net worth individuals and property developers.

Lucy is a Design Principal at 1508 London, an interior and architecture design studio that creates exceptional spaces worldwide. Specialising in exclusive residential, hospitality and branded developments, the designs she produces are not formulaic or style driven, but derived from measured principles. Originally trained as an architect at the university of Toronto, where she developed strong skills of spatial awareness, conceptual approach to design and passion for materiality, Lucy has honed her skills through her transatlantic experience working alongside some of the world’s leading figures in design, delivering luxurious private residences, hotels and developments for a discerning international clientele. With over 15 years of experience in the hospitality and luxury residential design industry, Lucy leads her teams at 1508 in realising prestigious homes, hotels and premium branded developments globally. At the heart of her work is a passion for harmony, purity of materials, understated luxury and bespoke details that lend a unique character and authenticity to every project.

Jacqueline Shaddock , currently the Head of Interior Design at Emaar, is an accomplished and creative professional with decades of experience in various consultancies in London, Sydney and Dubai, before joining the regions largest developer. With a passion for design, Jacqueline has an eye for detail, an ability to create beautiful and functional spaces, and a dedication to delivering exceptional results. Jacqueline is known for her ability to balance creativity with practicality, ensuring that each design is not only visually stunning but also functional and feasible As the Head of Interior Design at Emaar, Jacqueline is responsible for leading a talented team of design managers and works with a broad range of consultants on a large number of global projects spanning residential, hospitality and retail sectors. She brings a discerning eye and a wealth of knowledge to the table. She has a keen understanding of the elements that make up exceptional design, including color, texture, lighting, and proportion, and are skilled at evaluating how well these elements are incorporated into a space.

Paola Tassara Oromí, AIA, is an architect and designer based in London. Paola started her career working for numerous architecture practices in France and the Netherlands prior to moving to Los Angeles. There, she worked for Frank Gehry, collaborating on the design of several museums and cultural institutions worldwide. Having established a solid foundation in architecture, Paola then began to focus on interior design. With NYC-based ICRAVE Design and later, her own firm, Tassara A+D, her work expanded to restaurant, nightclub, boutique hotel and retail design. Since 2016, Paola has been a Design Director for Starbucks Coffee Company, currently leading the design for the brand’s stores in EMEA.