Design Insider Digital

14/07/2025

A remarkable milestone for one of the commercial sector’s most respected leaders!

As Jonathan Hindle, President EMEA at KI Europe, celebrates 30 years since founding KI in the UK, he reflects on a career that has helped shape not only KI’s growth but the wider contract furniture industry itself.

“My work across design, property, and global markets has helped me establish the high standards now expected of KI… and cement KI’s place at the forefront of commercial furniture innovation.”

In this exclusive Design Insider interview, Jonathan shares how sustainability, wellbeing, and innovation remain at the heart of KI’s strategy, from the 100% recycled Sebel chair to new partnerships and product launches that continue to redefine workplace, education, and hospitality spaces.

Read the full interview here 👉 https://loom.ly/sAGimME

As KI celebrates 30 years in Europe, Design Insider sits down with Jonathan Hindle, President EMEA of KI Europe, Chairman of the British Furniture Confederation, and founder of the Design Guild Mark, to reflect on the journey of this globally respected contract furniture manufacturer. Since establis...

14/07/2025

Putting the spotlight on a British brand with people, product and planet at it’s heart, .

Alternative Flooring’s beautiful products reflects a commitment to quality craftsmanship and innovative design, and, with a range of award-winning designs, from their talented in-house designers and exclusive renowned British designer collaborations, there is a style to suit any project, from designer hotels to more practical retail spaces.

Find out more about Alternative Flooring in their Supplier Finder Profile in the comments.

14/07/2025

From hotel lobbies to luxury bars, walls are transforming from backdrops into storytelling canvases.

In our this Design Insider article, Spires Art share how bespoke, high-impact wallpapers:

✔️ Create unforgettable first impressions
✔️ Strengthen brand identity
✔️ Shape guest mood and experience

Ready to make a statement?

Read the full article here 👉 https://loom.ly/kZDPBNE

Transforming walls into masterpieces has never been more exhilarating. As we step into 2025, bold wallpapers are redefining commercial interiors and hospitality spaces, creating lasting impressions and elevating brand identity. From rich, textured finishes to arresting patterns, walls are no longer....

14/07/2025

Explore how Contract Furniture Group transformed the Casa Kitchen & Bar at Tŷ Newport Hotel into a vibrant, Mediterranean-inspired dining space.

The Project: A collaboration with Celtic Manor Resort and Calico Interiors for Wales’s first all-electric hotel.

The Challenge: Create a relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere while maximising seating and guest comfort.

The Design: Bespoke banquette seating, Nero Marmi Quartz tables, and vibrant fabrics deliver a warm, stylish space.

The Result: A popular, inviting restaurant that blends comfort and Mediterranean character.

Read the full project feature here 👉 https://loom.ly/OMve3PM

For over two decades, Contract Furniture Group has supported hospitality operators across the UK in bringing their interiors to life, supplying stylish, durable furnishings that elevate guest experiences while aligning with each venue’s character and brand. With in-house manufacturing, a wide-reac...

11/07/2025

We’ve been on the ground, capturing fresh perspectives from New Designers’ 40th anniversary – and we have three unmissable reads for you:

✨ 1️⃣ Fresh Design Perspectives at ND25:
Discover why New Designers remains the UK’s essential graduate design event, spotlighting the next generation of talent across furniture, product, and graphic design.
🔗 https://loom.ly/_Q3p0LE

✨ 2️⃣ A Conversation with Elliot Brook:
Deadgood’s co-founder reflects on his full-circle moment as an ND Ambassador, championing emerging voices and building a brand that values purpose and playfulness.
🔗 https://loom.ly/Z-2YyNw

✨ 3️⃣ A Conversation with Nathan Ward:
From Kingston graduate to creating the ND25 centrepiece, Nathan shares how paper can still captivate in our 3D world.
🔗 https://loom.ly/qBK9QQk

If you’re in London, don’t miss the final days at the Business Design Centre. If you’re planning your next design project, these insights will energise your thinking.

11/07/2025

New Designers is ON – and celebrating the power of paper!

In an age dominated by digital, UK designer Nathan Ward proves that paper still has a place in our tactile world. Commissioned for New Designers’ 40th anniversary centrepiece, Nathan’s intricate, playful, and sustainable paper creations transform humble sheets into captivating 3D storytelling.

In our new conversation on Design Insider, Nathan shares:
👉 How his journey from Kingston School of Art led to working with Hobbs, The National Trust, and now New Designers.
👉 Why paper is the ultimate sustainable, versatile design material.
👉 How technology complements (not replaces) handmade craft in a digitally driven world.

Don’t miss this inspiring insight while New Designers is live now at the Business Design Centre, London!

Read the interview on Design Insider here ➡️ https://loom.ly/qBK9QQk

Our day-to-day lives may continue to be dominated by digital technology, along with our growing concerns about its impact, but one UK designer is using his creative prowess to remind us that humble paper still has a place in our 3D and tactile world. Nathan Ward studied BA Illustration Animation Kin...

11/07/2025

We’re excited to publish our first feature from ABDA Design, sharing their transformation of voco Southampton into a maritime-inspired guest experience that starts the moment visitors step inside.

From luggage strap-inspired headboards to wave-like timber features in the lobby, ABDA’s design celebrates Southampton’s rich maritime heritage while blending storytelling, contemporary comfort, and sustainability throughout the hotel.

Discover how ABDA Design translates narrative into spaces that work – and what their expertise means for the hospitality sector.

Read the full feature on Design Insider here 👉 https://loom.ly/WZyex9o

The ABDA Design team recently collaborated with Valor Hospitality on an exciting project in Southampton to re-brand existing rooms and public spaces into the distinctive voco® brand. This comprehensive refurbishment included a redesign of bedrooms, selected bathrooms and public spaces, aligning bot...

10/07/2025

In our latest exclusive on Design Insider, we speak with Jasper Sanders, Founder of Jasper Sanders + Partners, about the evolving Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) sector and what it means for designers and suppliers working across hospitality, workplace, care and residential markets.

In this insightful interview, Jasper shares:
🔹 Why PBSA’s growth offers creative opportunities for designers.
🔹 How changing student habits are shaping wellbeing, sustainability and social space design.
🔹 What designers need from suppliers to better support PBSA projects, from sustainability data to colour choice.

PBSA sits at the intersection of commercial and residential design, offering lessons for creating spaces that balance operational efficiency with community and comfort.

Read the full interview here 👉 https://loom.ly/g7Iz1eo

Jasper Sanders is the Founder and Director of Jasper Sanders + Partners, an award-winning, Manchester-based space innovation studio known for redefining how people live, learn, and interact within the built environment. Since 2013, Jasper and his team have delivered market-leading interiors across t...

10/07/2025

As the landmark graduate design showcase celebrates its 40th year, Week Two (9–12 July) at London’s Business Design Centre highlights furniture, product, and graphic design, with graduates from across the UK sharing fresh, solution-focused perspectives.

On Design Insider, we explore how New Designers continues to put graduates at the forefront, offering a vital platform to connect with industry while presenting projects that tackle sustainability and social challenges.

We also cover the launch of the ND 40 Years Ambassador programme and the return of ND Selects, giving recent graduates the opportunity to show how their practices have evolved.

Finally, we look at the talks, workshops, and buying opportunities that make New Designers a vibrant space for discovering and supporting the next generation of talent.

Read the full article here 👉 https://loom.ly/_Q3p0LE

It’s July. So, along with hot weather, Wimbledon and festivals, also means it’s time for New Designers. Now celebrating its 40th anniversary, the event once again returns to London’s Islington Business Design Centre, with students from over 100 university courses descending, along with the out...

09/07/2025

At Design Insider, we believe in asking questions that inform, challenge, and inspire our sector. We posed the question:

👉 What role do mentors and collaborators play in developing future industry leaders?

Wesley Meyer, Creative Director at f.r.a., shares:

“Mentors and collaborators aren’t just helpful, they’re a requirement. They challenge us, inspire us, and push us to think beyond our own limitations.”

Wesley highlights the irreplaceable value of in-person guidance, the opportunities of digital connections, and the importance of humility and consistency when building mentoring relationships.

Read Wesley’s full perspective on Design Insider ➡️ Click on the direct link in our stories!

             

09/07/2025

As New Designers marks its 40th year, Design Insider catches up with Elliot Brook, Co-Founder of Deadgood, who returns to the show that once launched his career, this time as a New Designers Ambassador.

In this conversation, Elliot shares how he and co-founder Dan Ziglam took the bold step of launching Deadgood straight after graduating, with no funding and just a prototype chair and a big idea. He recalls how exhibiting at New Designers gave them the courage to back themselves and the validation to take the next step in their journey.

Now, returning as an Ambassador, Elliot sees this as a chance to “pay it forward” and support the next generation of designers finding their feet.

“That platform gave us the courage to back ourselves and the validation to take the next step. I don’t think we’d be where we are now without it.”

Read the full conversation on Design Insider 👉 https://loom.ly/Z-2YyNw

Graduating any course is a double-edged sword; on the one hand there is a sense of achievement and excitement for the ‘next stage’ of development, while the latter also creates a sense of expectation, even trepidation. Having graduated from Furniture Design at Northumbria University in 2003, des...

09/07/2025

At Design Insider, we believe in asking questions that inform, challenge, and inspire our sector. We posed the question:

👉 What role do mentors and collaborators play in developing future industry leaders?

Wesley Meyer, Creative Director at f.r.a., shares:

“Mentors and collaborators aren’t just helpful, they’re a requirement. They challenge us, inspire us, and push us to think beyond our own limitations.”

Wesley highlights the irreplaceable value of in-person guidance, the opportunities of digital connections, and the importance of humility and consistency when building mentoring relationships.

Read Wesley’s full perspective on Design Insider ➡️ https://loom.ly/WJv-zRM