The General Design & Inspiration Booklist

This is my 'coffee table' selection of books that I love to sit down and have a flick through with a hot cup of coffee under a cozy blanket on the sofa. When I have a new project or are looking for inspiration, I love to sit and flick through books, get ideas and it always helps me feel re-motivated. Some of the lists below are books from my university days and others more recent, some you might have read or heard of, and others are well worth looking up.

1. Kate Spade. (2013) Things We Love: Twenty Years of Inspiration, Intriguing Bits and Other Curiosities, Kate Spade New York

2. Amoruso, S. (2014) #GIRLBOSS, Portfolio Penguin

3. Becker, H. (2011) Decorate: 1000 professional design ideas for every room in the house, Jacqui Small LLP

4. Bowkett, S. (2013) Archi-Doodle: An Architects Activity Book, Laurence King

5. Frederick, M. (2007) 101 Things I Learnt in Architecture School, MIT Press

6. Schumacher E F. (1988) Small Is Beautiful, Abacus

7. Banham, O. (1980) Theory And Design In The First Machine Age, MIT Press

8. Wilson, R. (2010) Soulpancakes: Chew on Life's Big Questions, Hyperion Books

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What are some books you’d recommend?

Interior Architecture: Recommended Magazines and Journals

Interior Architecture: Recommended Magazines and Journals

When I worked as an academic, part of my role was to write courses, set project briefs, lead tutorial groups, and support final-year students with their dissertations and final major projects. To do this well, I had to stay up to date with current trends, technologies, building projects, and research. That meant spending a lot of time in libraries and online—reading, watching documentaries, skimming journals, and following competitions.

As a student, building this habit early will give you a huge advantage. Staying connected to the wider industry will not only inspire your projects but also deepen your understanding of design culture and practice.

Over the next few posts, I’ll share my go-to resources for students of interior architecture. Today, we’ll start with my top picks for magazines and journals, perfect for sparking ideas and staying current.

Magazines & Journals

Kick off your design research by immersing yourself in industry news and visual inspiration. International publications offer a fresh perspective, so pick one up when you travel. Some of my favourites are:

• Frame

• Wallpaper

• ELLE Décor (consider subscribing for regular updates)

Online Journals & Websites

Digital resources are just as valuable for staying informed:

• dezeen.com | cutting-edge design news and features

• inhabitat.com | sustainable design and innovation

• bdonline.com | architecture and construction news

Start exploring these now, and you’ll quickly see how they can shape your ideas and help you think like a professional designer.

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Which Design journals do you read?

Etsy and Craft Fairs: My Top 10 Tips For Success

Back from Iceland, and what an amazing summer, I'm ready to get back into the studio and start working towards...dare I say it, Christmas. This year I'm stepping up my game, challenging my confidence, and getting my work out there at local craft fairs. I'm taking part in not one but two local Etsy fairs and will be busy for the next few weeks prepping my prints and products ready for Etsy Autumn & Christmas markets. I'm super excited about them but am also very aware of how much work the previous 'Art in the Park' (image above) took, but meeting other stallholders and, hopefully, lots of you guys make it all worthwhile. So let the planning begin and the creating continue.

I'm already excited for this year’s run-up to Christmas and the fairs I'm working towards. I haven't done a lot of local craft fairs but those I have, have been very successful and a lot of fun so I thought I'd share my top tips for setting up and running a stall. If you're thinking about having a stall at a fair, then go for it, what's stopping you?! And, if you have signed up and it's your first time, enjoy it and let me know how it goes.

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10 top tips for a successful fair:

1. Presentation

   First impressions count. Think about your potential customers and their first reaction when they see you and your stall. How do you want to connect with them? How will you make your products stand out? Consider your branding and colour scheme so they know and remember who you are. 

2. Perfect Products

   Think of your range and its bestsellers, what has previously worked at markets, or in this location. Consider the theme of the fair and the type of visitors it might get. Aim to have your products, with prices and any further information, clearly displayed. You can have all your stock on the table or a small amount displayed and more kept aside, under the table, all packaged up and ready for customers. 

3. Organization + Finances

   Bring petty cash (lots of change) in a lockable box or container to act as your till, look into a card machine, enquire about wifi, use a money wallet so you can stash cash on you, bring a calculator so you don't have to use your phone all day, notebook and pens to keep track and record sales, and inquiries list for anyone who wishes you to contact them, an inventory of stock and make sure everything is in place for a busy spell on your stall. 

4. Business cards

   You must use these events to network. This might be for wholesale, commissions, new customers, or new followers on social media. Have business cards on display, leaflets explaining what you offer, and possibly a wholesale info pack giving more information which can be followed up by a call or email if you get their details.

5. Packaging

   Make sales and packaging easy for yourself so you can help customers quickly and send them happily on their way with a well-packaged product that will not be damaged, shows your branding (especially on the bag they will now be walking around with), and has your contact details on a sticker or business card inside to encourage them to visit your shop or website. 

6. Hype

   Create a buzz. If you are on social media then get tweeting about your fair. Join or set up a Pinterest group and get pinning the work you will be selling. Talk about it on Facebook and maybe set up an event to invite people to. Announce the event(s) in your newsletter or email your subscribers. Oh, and write a cheeky wee blog post to self-promote. 

7. Sort out transport

   Rope in a friend/family member to help, that way you can worry about getting your products safely to the fair and setting up the stall, and they can get you there and worry about parking.

8. Stocktake

   Know what you are taking with you to each fair, especially as you may be doing numerous fairs in a month and be rolling stock over from one fair to the next. It's a good idea to know what worked well, what's left over, and what you might want to run as a special offer/stock clearance. 

9. Keep warm

   A lot of fairs are in old community centres, church halls or industrial buildings so wrap up warm in layers, bring snacks you can nibble on throughout the day and between speaking to customers, and a flask (or two) of tea.

10. Think of your poor wee feet

    Wear comfy shoes, you will be standing a lot. Bring a mat (of the camping or yoga variety) or square of carpet to stand on - this will help keep you warm if standing on a concrete floor all day and will cushion you too. 

Prayers For Peace In Hiroshima, Japan

Today is a day that always makes me pause.

Seventy years ago, the Japanese city of Hiroshima was devastated by the first atomic bomb, an explosion 600 metres above the city that claimed at least 140,000 lives. It is often credited with bringing an end to World War II, but its human cost is unimaginable.

Hiroshima is close to my heart. In 2006, it was home for a year while I was completing my Master’s in Architecture as a scholarship student at KINKI University. I lived in Saijo, just a short train ride away. The Japanese culture and the warmth of the people I met captivated me so deeply that I wrote my dissertation on the concept of “home versus house” in Japan. My final project was a cultural centre near the memorial park in Hiroshima, designed to reflect everything I loved about my time there.

Japan gave me more than just academic inspiration; it gave me memories and friendships that have lasted a lifetime. Some of my friends will be in Hiroshima tonight, lighting prayer lanterns and remembering their city.

Every year, hundreds of lanterns are set afloat on the Motoyasu River in front of the city’s only surviving building from that day. I attended the memorial in 2007 with friends. We wandered quietly, listening to stories from past years. Children decorated candles, flowers were placed at the eternal flame, and people prayed together. The atmosphere was not heavy or bitter; it was peaceful, hopeful, and united in a shared message - a world without the threat of atomic weapons.

A symbol of peace in Japan is the origami crane, and the memorial park is filled with them in every colour. That year, a local artist invited people to help create a giant white paper crane in the park’s children’s area. Within an hour, strangers had worked side by side to bring it to life. It became another beautiful symbol - community, collaboration, and the belief that something meaningful can come from working together.

For me, Japan is a calm and spiritual place. Its beauty lives in its people, its landscapes in every season, and its contrasts - ultra-modern Tokyo blocks to the serene Golden Pavilion in Kyoto. I was fortunate to experience both the bright lights and energy of Tokyo, spotting Mount Fuji from the shinkansen, and the timeless charm of Kyoto’s tea houses and pavilions.

If you ever visit Japan, I wholeheartedly recommend a trip to Hiroshima. Walk through the Memorial Park and the Peace Memorial Museum. Let it sink in. Then, if you need quiet space to process, take the ferry to Miyajima. Wander among the deer, explore the temples, and watch the tide rise around the iconic “floating” Torii gate.

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Hiroshima will always remind me that peace is not passive; it is something we create together.

India: The British Council Architecture Mission

I am still fighting off the jet lag. It seems to hit harder with age, but I did not want to wait to share a little about my most recent trip to India. Just a week ago, I returned from three weeks of travelling in India with the British Council, representing my university to promote the study of Architecture.

We visited a series of architecture schools where we delivered talks on our research and areas of academic focus. We also met with faculty to explore potential collaborations, from virtual studios to student and staff exchanges, discussing how our institutions might work together more effectively in the future.

I began the trip in Delhi at Pearl Academy, a school I have visited before. We already have several exciting projects in motion with them, including an upcoming exhibition. I even managed to revisit a few of my favourite New Delhi landmarks, Humayun’s Tomb for a quick look at the restoration work and some sketching, Khan Market for food and shopping, and Connaught Place to simply walk and absorb the atmosphere.

The Architecture Mission - Mumbai and Pune

From Delhi, I flew to Mumbai to join the British Council Architecture Mission alongside three other academics from British universities. We represented Architecture, Engineering, and Interior disciplines, speaking at nine schools across Mumbai and Pune.

Mumbai is the busiest place I have ever experienced, and perhaps the largest, or at least it feels that way because of its density. Many of the schools we visited were right in the city centre, yet it could still take more than an hour to travel between campuses.

Each institution had its own personality. Some were traditional, marble-clad lecture halls that felt monumental and slightly like swimming pools. Others were strikingly contemporary, with lecture theatres built into the landscape and designed in response to sun, heat, and natural ventilation.

Because student work is usually kept by individuals, it was difficult to get a full picture of output across schools, but a few stood out for their openness to collaboration and research. One in particular lined its corridors with student work, cladding prototypes, cultural installations, interactive models, a tangible display of process and intellectual curiosity.

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Pune and a Meaningful Pause

Pune was new to me, though my schedule sadly allowed little time to explore. My view of the city was mostly hotel rooms, classrooms, car windows, and back again. Two of the schools we visited were female-only, with extraordinarily high numbers of women studying architecture, something I found genuinely inspiring.

I gave one lecture to a room full of engaged young designers who listened intently and asked thoughtful questions. I handed out one business card and was immediately surrounded by students eager to connect, ask more, and share their projects. That moment alone made the entire mission worthwhile.

When it came time to leave Pune, suitcase and all in an auto-rickshaw, I detoured to Sangam, one of the four World Centres for Girl Guiding. It was the perfect pause after an intense schedule. The volunteers there felt instantly familiar - some had been on placement for months, others had just arrived, but everyone was anchored by the same mission: to serve communities, to learn, and to grow.

Behind the main building is a large campground for Indian Guides and Brownies, used for jamborees and camps. One was due to begin soon, and I could picture the energy and excitement it would bring. It was the perfect end to a demanding and rewarding trip.

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My Message To Students and Graduates

Life as a design student can be intense. Deadlines, presentations, reports, retakes, and the dreaded “computer crash at 2 am” moment. Add in calls from family when you have no time to talk, living on a budget, and you might wonder: why do we put ourselves through it?

Because it’s an investment in your future, your skills, your personal growth, your confidence, and even in the friendships that may last a lifetime. Yes, it’s hard. But it’s also exciting, inspiring, and full of moments you’ll look back on with pride.

My Education Journey

I studied Architecture for the full seven years. I moved away from home, pushed myself out of my comfort zone, and met friends who are now part of my professional network. My degree years were a mix of socialising, studying, and late nights in the studio, and I graduated proud of my 2:1. After a year’s work experience in a large practice, I used my savings to travel through Asia and Australia before starting my master’s degree.

Learning in Two Worlds

My degree was at a technical university, but my postgraduate studies took me to a creative art school. I was awarded a scholarship to complete my master’s in Japan, an experience that changed me completely. Living and studying abroad pushes you to grow in ways you can’t imagine. In Japan, I learned more about myself, my abilities, and my adaptability than I ever would have if I’d stayed in the UK.

The Unexpected Turns

Returning home, I found a great job in an architecture office, thinking, “This will do for now.” A few years later, I qualified as an Architect, packed up my desk, and moved to India.

Here’s the thing: when I was a student, I thought I’d work as an architect for the next 20–30 years. I imagined teaching at a university would happen after retirement. I never expected to be doing it in my 30s, loving it as much as I do now.

To My Students

Many of my students are either on their first work placement or finishing their final year projects. Some have a clear path ahead, others don’t, and that’s okay. Your career won’t be a straight line. It will have twists, detours, and surprises. The key is to stay open, adaptable, and ready to make the most of every opportunity.

10 Tips for Students & Graduates in Design and Architecture

1. Enjoy your time at university | it will probably only happen once.

2. Soak in the details | the laughs, the lectures, the study trips, even the tough days.

3. Make your work your own | show your personality through it.

4. Fake it ‘til you make it | you’ll learn more in the process than you expect.

5. Stay open-minded | don’t let your CV dictate all your decisions.

6. Think outside the box | and live there too. Travel, explore, seek adventure.

7. Document your journey | photos, sketches, journals. You’ll treasure them later.

8. Stay inspired | read, listen, talk, and share ideas with others.

9. Trust your path | it will work out, even if it doesn’t look how you imagined.

10. Aim higher than “fine” | if you want more, go out and make it happen..

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Final Thought: Be proud of what you’ve achieved. Keep doing more. Inspire others. And if you know someone studying right now, send them a note, a parcel, or even just a few words of encouragement; it can mean the world.