Leading change in interior design with vanessa brady obe.
In Episode 01 Rachel is joined by one of the most prominent ambassadors for the interior design industry and founder of The Society Of British & International Design, Vanessa Brady OBE.
An Introduction from Rachel:
Vanessa was awarded an OBE in the Queen's birthday honour list in 2013 for her services to the interior design industry and in our debut podcast she takes us on her journey into the industry and candidly shares her plans to continue to make waves and improve the industry for interior designers in the UK and internationally. Vanessa has cultivated a highly successful career and as you will realise from our conversation, she is a big thinker and isn’t afraid to challenge the conventional way of thinking or to go her own way- a true trailblazer, I am very grateful to have Vanessa as my first guest.
In the episode:
Vanessa Brady, an interior designer and founder of the Society of British and International Interior Design (SBID), shares her journey and insights into the industry. She discusses her transition from fashion to interior design and the challenges she faced breaking into the industry. Vanessa also explains how she established SBID to promote education and professionalism in the field. She emphasises the importance of supporting designers from less privileged backgrounds and changing the perception of interior design as an expense rather than a value-added service. In this conversation, Vanessa Brady discusses the evolution of the interior design industry and the importance of safety and functionality in design. She emphasises the need to make interior design more accessible. Vanessa also shares her vision for the future of the Society of British and International Design (SBID) and the steps they are taking to become a chartered society. She highlights the importance of regulating the interior design profession to protect both designers and customers. Vanessa concludes by discussing her future plans and extensions of SBID.
Key Takeaways:
Interior design is no longer just about aesthetics; safety and functionality are now key considerations.
Efforts should be made to make interior design more accessible.
Regulating the interior design profession can help protect both designers and consumers.
The Society of British and International Design (SBID) is working towards becoming a chartered society.
There is a need to change the law to provide better protection for designers.
Aspiring interior designers should gain a comprehensive understanding of the profession before investing in a degree.
Interior designers require a range of skills, including project management, people skills, and financial knowledge.
The future of SBID involves expanding its reach and working closely with the government to promote interior design.
Listen to Vanessa’s episode here.