The Journey continued.

“My creative training started early, completing a double art major in my final years of high school. Much to the disapproval of the careers councillor — I was determined to not do a science (which I later regret!) and instead elected in art and studio art. I then went on to study a bachelor of arts in art history / architectural studies, with a minor in psychology, until it was clear to me I wanted to pursue interior design. The discipline back then (early 2000’s) was still fairly new, as a separation away from architecture and I quickly found my skills were more towards the conceptual and stylistic side — finding more pleasure in colour, art, spatial ethnography, space planning and curation.

I also found the early years of my tertiary studies difficult in navigating my dreams whilst finding my place within the world. Design helped me to belong to something. To feel connected to and contribute my creative ideas, perceptions and visions to an outcome that was needed.

Design helped me to belong to something. To feel connected to and contribute my creative ideas, perceptions and visions to an outcome that was needed.

Once finishing my studies and finding my first design assistant role, I began to discover my visionary way of seeing things and natural desire towards entrepreneurship — something that has never left me and yet at times been the achilles heel in becoming restless in needing to contribute something more within my work and the world.

I had many ideas, which stayed just as that, until I found myself living in a remote part of Australia, where interiors work was neither to be desired nor found. This forced me to start creating work for myself and so I began as a freelancer, starting my post graduate studies in business marketing to help — slowly building a portfolio of work within interior design (residential, retail and branded environments) and fashion styling. I eventually set up my own business in Brisbane, Australia and continued the work in Qatar, Doha (after relocating there for a short stint in 2016). All of these experiences and locations have heavily influenced my work — a global curation and strong sense of placemaking. Moving to a foreign country or remote part of the world can be exciting, isolating, and all encompassing. Brining personal objects into one’s space, and creating home from all places lived can provide a greater sense of wellbeing.

I have always had a love affair with Europe for as long as I can remember, something I pay tribute to my mother’s classical background and growing up in Melbourne inner city. It was my dream to one day live in this part of the world. From unconventional twists and turns my dream came true and I found myself moving to London — in needing more creativity, innovative thinking and opportunity within my work and life. It is here I found myself naturally progressing towards the business end of design, taking a leap of faith and applying those entrepreneurial skills in helping design studios build their brand and marketing strategies, project manage and direct creative. This gave me the experience needed within strategy, applying design thinking across an international context, working with larger teams and the chance to grow within creative leadership — whilst exploring my own ideas. I then began to see the importance of the cross disciplinary nature needed within businesses and organisations and how leading with design is essential. The word Design is arbitrary in the best of descriptors, yet is the foundation for so munch in this world. From healthcare, our homes and workplaces, fashion, mobility, developing communities, citizen services and systems (to name a few). By leading with design and working with new technologies we have the potential for significant change in an ever increasingly complex world. I wish to do just this alongside leading with empathy, brining more creativity and joy with my continued design practice and equality in designing new systems into our environments, work, businesses and of course with each other.

Now settling in the south of Munich, Germany, you can find me consulting remotely, travelling for select projects and finding inspiration each day in colours, patterns, shapes and experiences — all of which I bring into my work across styling, curating, consulting, and mentoring.” Nina.