Clerkenwheels-Kay Hanson from HLM
Multi Story Thinking
Kay is the Plymouth Studio Director of HLM Architects. She heads up a multi-disciplinary team working across the architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and sustainability sectors. HLM are keen advocates of social value and delivering thoughtful, transformative places that support communities, our planet, and each other. HLM are supporting the Clerkenwheels ride with a Grand Depart networking event to send us off on day one of our ride. In this episode, we discover Kay's career trajectory from HLM to teaching and back The importance of diversity and neurodiversity in...
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Clerkenwheels-Miles Baker-Clarke
Multi Story Thinking
Miles is a Director of Strategy and Growth with Fusion Media Services and founder of the Cycling Culture Club With over 10 years of experience in commercial and strategic marketing within the cycling industry, Miles is a skilled and passionate brand marketer, dedicated to bringing cycling to a broader audience and ensuring the sport's diversity and inclusivity for the future. Cycling Culture Club brings together people from underrepresented groups within cycling to share stories and was conceived as a space where all folks can feel welcome, and where the community can breed accessibility,...
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Clerkenwheels-David Collins Studio
Multi Story Thinking
David Collins Studio - Raaida Hossain, Yeji Son, and Fanta Dembele have all taken part in United in Design’s internship program at David Collins Studio. Raaida is their current intern with both Yeji and Fanta joining David Collins Studio as employees following their internship. David Collins Studio is an internationally renowned luxury interior design and architecture practice, based in London and working across the world. The Studio works with luxury and heritage brands and delivers industry-leading interior architecture and design within the hospitality sector....
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Clerkenwheels-Ali Milam from Porta Romana
Multi Story Thinking
Ali Milam from Porta Romana Ali Milam is the Managing Director at Porta Romana, a Hampshire based company with an international reputation for making beautiful handcrafted decorative lighting and furniture for the interior design industry. Founded in 1988 by Andrew and Sarah Hills, Porta Romana has continuously grown and evolved and produces lighting and furniture with a commitment to craftsmanship and collaboration with talented artisans from around the globe. Porta Romana have supported the United in Design’s internship program from it’s inception in 2020 I interviewed Ali in February...
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Clerkenwheels-Sophie Ashby and Alex Dauley
Multi Story Thinking
Sophie Ashby and Alex Dauley are co-founders of United in Design United in Design (UiD) was founded in 2020 in response to the lack of inclusion in the interior design industry. Recognising the significant barriers that people of colour face in accessing opportunities within the field, they established UiD as a British diversity, equity, and inclusion charity to create pathways for underrepresented talent. I spoke to Alex and Sophie in February 2026 ahead of our 5-day cycle ride to raise funds for United in Design’s outreach program. In this episode, we discover how United in Design grew...
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Clerkenwheels-Special series introduction
Multi Story Thinking
Clerkenwheels is a fundraising cycling journey and a moving conversation about design, inclusion and who gets to shape the spaces around us. Over a series of special episodes, I'll be talking with designers, studios, and creative leaders who believe the built environment should work for everyone. Clerkenwheels is more than a bike ride. It's a fundraising initiative supporting United In Design's outreach programme. Every ten pounds we raise will introduce someone new to the potential of the interior design sector as a career. Along with my friend Tom Bourne, we are cycling from the University...
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Guy Oliver
Multi Story Thinking
Guy Oliver is an interior designer and managing director of Oliver Laws, a design practice specialising in historic or listed buildings and interiors. Guy began his career after leaving the Navy working with Colefax and Fowler and alongside Micheal Inchbald. Guy joined David Laws as Co-Director of his firm and ultimately assumed ownership of the company in 2012 when the name changed to Oliver Laws Ltd. Guy has gained a reputation for a unique creative style backed by a solid understanding of architectural history and artisanal techniques. He was principal designer on the £70m...
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Maggie Swift
Multi Story Thinking
Maggie Swift is the founding partner of Unframed Digital, a bespoke marketing agency based in Denver and Los Angeles, specialising in the built environment and working with architecture and interior design practices, construction, and manufacturing industries. Unframed Digital acts as a partner to marketing teams, specialising in SEO strategies with a data driven approach. Maggie is passionate about optimised foundations, website strategy, customer-first methods, and helping marketers thrive. I spoke to Maggie via Zoom in July 2025. In this episode, we discover how Maggie...
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Justine Fox
Multi Story Thinking
Justine Fox is a colour design expert, writer, and speaker, specialising in creative public engagement and the positive opportunities for purposeful colour use in the built environment. She is Creative Director of Studio Justine Fox and has worked with brands and material manufacturers for the built environment across the globe over the last 20 years, helping them to grow their audience and future-proof their collections. Justine is passionate about the psychological and physical impact of colour. She was shortlisted for The Pineapples 2023 as part of the Holdron’s Green team. I spoke...
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Brian McManus from Supreme Upholstery
Multi Story Thinking
Brian McManus is the Director of Supreme Upholstery, an upholstery manufacturer founded in 2016 and based in Trafford Park in Manchester in the UK. Supreme Upholstery is on a mission to provide high-quality furniture at affordable prices. With an extensive range of sofas and armchairs, designed and manufactured on-site, they supply both the commercial and residential sectors. Brian has 50 years experience in sofa and chair design as Development Manager, and Production Director. He’s worked with renowned companies such as Lyndon Design, which made furniture for Harrods, Heals, and the...
info_outlineAsheni Alwis is an interior designer based in Columbo, Sri Lanka and founder and head of design of The Woodbury House. Described as an Experience Centre, The Woodberry House showcases design ideas and settings to help clients visualise how they can create their dream space. The spaces combines interior, furniture, and accessories which combine traditional Sri Lankan craft and production techniques alongside contemporary and innovative design approaches.
I met Asheni during a visit to Sri Lanka with my partner Monica in October 2024 as part of a Flying Faculty visit to teach interior design at the NSBM Green University.
In this episode we discover how this unique experience centre in Sri Lanka showcases bespoke furniture and cutting-edge design concepts. We learn about the blend of traditional techniques with modern aesthetics, and how this approach creates stunning interiors for their clients. We hear valuable advice for aspiring interior designers and the importance of gaining work experience when studying interior design. And why, when working with contractors, you need to know the detail and be able to speak the language.
Links
Asheni on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/asheni-alwis-9b1b41142/?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Egoogle%2Ecom%2F&originalSubdomain=lk
The Woodberry House on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Thewoodberryhouse/about
The Woodberry House on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thewoodberryhouse?fbclid=IwY2xjawHQzzZleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHQCf0B_QO9eN93C58jx4vse48HJSK_gdin8NVp-pYZrTnaww6A6qu-OsZA_aem_GYynvRmzxP-S7-oYadqENg
Concept Interiors
http://conceptinteriors.lk/
How to be a kick-ass Interior Designer.
Come and join us on the Interior Design BA(Hons) course at the University of Plymouth.
https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-interior-design
or in Sri Lanka at the NSBM Green University
https://www.nsbm.ac.lk/course/ba-hons-in-interior-design/
Thanks to
Dave Clarke from @iamthehow (http://www.iamthehow.com) for production support and invaluable advice in the setting up this Podcast.
Kay Hanson (https://www.instagram.com/kay_v_hanson/) for her planning support and co-hosting for these and our educational podcasts for the University of Plymouth
Mark Frith (https://www.markfrith.uk/) for composing the music and your support and advice along the way.
I’d really like to hear feedback on the podcast. Leave a comment or get in touch via the website or Instagram.
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/forster_jonathan/
Website
http://www.multistorythinking.com/contact
Thanks for listening. Bye for now.