Following my recent trip to Denmark, for 3 Days of Design, not only did I find inspiration from the design I saw, but also from the generosity of thought, the openness of process, and the support within our creative community and beyond.
There’s something powerful about stepping outside of your own projects to hear the stories, struggles, and ambitions of others. Conversations with designers from different disciplines, especially furniture makers, offered a fresh lens through which to examine our own approach. Their insights reminded me that good design rarely begins with aesthetics alone. It’s grounded in intent, shaped by constraint, and always layered with human context.
Hearing directly from furniture designers about their journeys helped me reflect on the decisions we make as interior designers, how each one contributes to a wider narrative. From their perspective, challenges around material sourcing, cost, longevity, and making ethical choices are not just technical considerations, but creative ones too. This informed view allows us, in turn, to make more considered and empathetic decisions in how we shape spaces for living.
Within our own projects, I feel we’ve developed a strong awareness of how the human narrative, our behaviours, rituals, and values inform the way we design and construct. In practice, this becomes an intricate web of decisions: what to keep, what to strip away, how to layer, how to frame. Every interior is a series of conscious choices, woven together to reflect not only how a space will look, but how it will feel and function for those who inhabit it.
Design that acknowledges the links between disciplines and topics is more than good practice, it’s essential. Behaviour, cost, sustainability, sourcing, and materiality are just a starting point before we even begin to talk about form, palette, or finish. These considerations are not constraints; they are catalysts for more meaningful outcomes.
As we continue to work across architecture, interiors, and furniture, I’m reminded that collaboration and conversation are what keep design moving forward. The work doesn’t exist in isolation, it lives in a wider ecosystem of people, resources, and stories. Trips like this one reaffirm the value of staying curious, asking questions, and sharing generously. Because ultimately, thoughtful design is not just about making something beautiful, it’s about making something that matters.
Robert Thake, Founder & Creative Director of Robert London Design
