Celebrating our fearless female talent

As we look to celebrate International Women’s Day, and more broadly, Women’s History Month, we asked some of our incredible designers to share their professional experiences in the design industry. We spoke with moms, sisters and friends, senior-level, junior-level and those just starting out in their careers. Reflecting on this year’s theme of Each for Equal, which encourages creating a more gender equal world, we asked our female talent to share advice to their younger selves and insight into creating a more equitable world.

Angela Lindsay, Senior Associate, Irvine

What role do you see design playing in creating a better world? 

Design in general has the power to elevate the ordinary into something extraordinary through creative thinking and problem solving. As resort designers, we have the ability to design immersive environments that transport users to other worlds where they will create family memories and connections.

If you could provide career/life advice to your younger self, what would it be?

Respectfully disagree with those who tell you to do things the way they have always been done. Learn from the past, but keep pushing forward and thinking differently. Do not be afraid to fail. You will learn more from your failures than you can possibly imagine.

Margarita Velez-Mantovani, Associate + Project Manager, Wimberly Interiors, New York

What role do you see design playing in creating a better world? 

We create spaces where people work, live and play. Spaces that contribute to people’s happiness.  As designers, we can take existing structures and spaces and evolve them using and selecting materials that are good for the environment.

If you could provide career/life advice to your younger self, what would it be?

Sometimes you have to stop chasing what you want to be and just enjoy what you have around you. The happy faces of your loved ones will be in your memory forever, a deadline is just one day that tomorrow will be forgotten.

Risca Adityarini Surono, Design Coordinator, Singapore

What role do you see design playing in creating a better world? 

It’s always difficult for anyone coming from a culture where their gender is looked down upon. But in this day and age, things are changing for the better. There will always be ups and downs.

The world is changing. Being “woke.”  Acknowledging societal and environmental issues is a necessity in every industry, including design. A heightened sense of awareness and sensitivity is required. The questions which shall be considered today would be in relation to influencing the betterment of the environment and society through innovative design. Achieving quality and luxury whilst minimizing environmental impact. Creating privacy and exclusivity whilst respecting local communities and diversity.

If you could provide career/life advice to your younger self, what would it be?

I come from a culture (Javanese Indonesian), where women are often labelled as “wong mburi”  – “the domestic gender”.  My traditional extended family were opposed to me pursuing a higher education.  When I left Indonesia after landing a job in Singapore right after I graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree, they also opposed. Despite this, I went on ahead, with full support from my parents and my older sister and started a new life. I would tell my younger self that the journey is never smooth. It’s always harder for someone coming from a culture in which your gender is looked down upon. But in this day and age, things are changing for the better. There will always be ups and downs.  Always keep your head up, rise again after each failure, surround yourself with good, positive people, be humble and never stop learning.

Ellen Manterfield, Associate, London

What role do you see design playing in creating a better world? 

I see design playing a crucial role in defining sustainable cities and spaces for the future. People spend 90% of their lives indoors on average and we as designers have to adapt to the changing climate, design trends and needs of users. A huge part of that going forward is making responsible design decisions, looking at locally sourcing or adaptively reusing materials, making climate orientated spaces to protect designs for future proofing.

If you could provide career/life advice to your younger self, what would it be?

Working gets easier, try to worry less about things but don’t ever stop trying to change things for the better.

Sarah Cardoza, Senior Associate + Project Manager, Irvine

What role do you see design playing in creating a better world?

We need to challenge ourselves to be in the forefront of emerging technologies and creative solutions that will make our world better than it is today.

Design is all around us and I believe it will always impact the way that humans occupy and use the spaces they inhabit on a daily basis. We should to continue to design and innovate while being mindful of the many technologies and natural resources available to our industry. Taking the time to consider the available resources in the various locations where we design is needed from the early stages of design through the completion of responsible built work. We need to challenge ourselves to be in the forefront to emerging technologies and creative solutions that will make our world better than it is today.

If you could provide career/life advice to your younger self, what would it be?

Be more adventurous and take more chances – be bold!  Embrace my strengths and weaknesses;  take longer strides, more steps, and perhaps a few giant leaps that make me uncomfortable.

Lisa Liu, Architect, London

What role do you see design playing in creating a better world?

Design is essential because it is the beginning of how change can be implemented. A lot of the times, we are always pushed to create fast solutions in order to be more efficient but in order for us to create a better world, we need better solutions. This means that design needs to be tested, researched and failed many times before innovation is able to be achieved.

If you could provide career/life advice to your younger self, what would it be?

Failure is essential because it allows us to learn. As architects, there are many instances when the work we produce may never see the light of day. However, it is through these iterations that we refine and build our skills, our design process and ideas. As a millennial, the concept of patience is something that goes over our heads, but it is sometimes essential to this career because the scale of the projects we are lucky enough to work on will take time to come to fruition.

Philippa “Pippa” Carveth, Project Designer, Wimberly Interiors, London

What role do you see design playing in creating a better world?

We can’t consume our way to a more sustainable world. We have to build it. Our role as designers is to create a world for multiple generations. Using green building techniques and sustainable materials will help create a better future for everyone.

If you could provide career/life advice to your younger self, what would it be?

Every great design begins with an even better story. Think about the message you want to create then create the space.

Chiara Calufetti-Lim, Associate Vice President + Senior Project Designer, Singapore

What role do you see design playing in creating a better world?

We designers can make a big difference in the world, we have a profession that creates, changes and leaves a mark in our environment. By changing the way we ideate and by integrating sustainability into all our projects, we can minimize negative impact and create opportunities for a cleaner planet and a better place for future generations. I also believe that we should reuse and repurpose instead of demolish and building anew. By reusing existing developments we can layer history and stories into our design, linking buildings to cities and their citizens’ past, memories and identity.

If you could provide career/life advice to your younger self, what would it be?

Speak up more and be more assertive. When an idea sounds good share it, when something is not right…just say it. This applies both professionally and personally.