Designscape Discussions

Our content programme has been carefully curated for professionals across retail, residential and hospitality, combining virtual discussions and insightful symposiums. With a dynamic line-up of speakers, Designscape stimulates every corner of the industry.

Enjoyed the great content from leading industry names? You may enjoy Decorex Virtual and Sleep & Eat Virtual, the virtual events combining thought-leading content programmes with global networking and product specification, taking place from 17-19 November 2020.  

Retail

The Consumer of The Future

Moderator: Elspeth Pridham, Editor, Studio

Speakers: Dr Ash Ranpura, Neuroscientist, Lynn Wilson, Circular Economy Specialist, Ab Rogers, Founder, Ab Rogers Design, Yorgo Lykouria, Founder & Creative Director, Rainlight Studio

World Health Organisation predicts that 68% of the world’s population will live in urban areas by 2050. As we adapt to living in smaller spaces, whilst attempting to keep costs down, how can clever design provide a much-needed lifeline? Alongside the new wave of urbanisation and microliving, we investigate the other macro trends across retail that will shape what the consumer of the future looks like.  

 

The Future Of Retail Design

Moderator: Andy Bishop, Creative Director, Informa Design Portfolio

Speakers: Kat Maclennan, Visual Merchandising, Dot to Dot, Rebecca Leathers, Assistant Store Manager, Heal's and Paul Nulty, Founder, Nulty

Looking beyond bricks and mortar, we ask ourselves what is the purpose of retail spaces aside from selling? These physical places are becoming more experience driven, with brands enhancing their offerings beyond products. We investigate how brands can be truly omnichannel and assess the function of the showroom.

 

 

Hybrid Shopping Destinations

Speaker: Markus Pesendorfer, Lifestyle Studio & Brand Director, Gensler

 

The last few years have seen huge advancements in retail technology, with consumers and brands embracing omni channels to sell and shop. In the wake of the global pandemic, retailers have reverted to digital-only communications but will this ‘new normal’ remain or will emerging consumer behaviours demand something entirely different?

Residential

Art & Science of the Home

 

Moderator: Pip McCormac, Executive Director, Living etc, Homes and Gardens, 25 Beautiful Homes

Speakers: Dr Ash Ranpura, Neuroscientist, Natalia Miyar, Founder, Natalia Miyar Atelier

 

We delve into the new criteria and considerations governing the design of the home. With behavioural and environmental factors affecting our priorities, will ideas of wellbeing, practicality and comfort gain traction over others?

 

The New Luxury

 

Moderator: Helen Brocklebank, CEO, Walpole 

Speakers: Shalini Misra, Founder, Shalini Misra Ltd, Staffan Tollgard, Founder, Tollgard Design Group,  Karen Howes, Founder & Chief Executive, Taylor & Howes

 

What does luxury mean to us today? We tackle the evolving attitudes to luxury and highlight considerations ranking highest to consumers nowadays: from sustainability to ultimate choice.

A Sustainable Future

 

Moderator: Sam Scott Jeffries, Editor, The English Home

Speakers: Georgia Elliott - Smith, Managing Director, Element-4, Nicola Keenan, Co-Founder & Director, Boxx Creative, Nicola Lindsell, Co-Founder & Director, Boxx Creative, Jennifer Manners, Founder, Jennifer Manners Design

 

How can we take a lead from our environment to create a circular economy in design? See our discussion focusing on the key pillars of responsible design and ways in which brands and designers can make a phased shift to a more sustainable practice.

The Future of Trends

Moderator: Sam Fisher, Event Director, Decorex

Speakers: Susie Rumbold, Creative Director, Tessuto Interiors, Brian Woulfe, Managing Director, Designed by Woulfe Ltd, Karen Haller, Founder, Karen Haller Colour & Design Consultancy

 

We shine a light on design and colour trends in the industry now and in the future, but also whether trends are relevant and if they have a future themselves.

Hospitality

The Great Reset In Hospitality

Moderator: Andy Bishop, Creative Director, Informa Design Portfolio

Speakers: Michael Levie, COO & Founding Partner, citizenM Hotels, Matthew Seal, Senior Director Luxury Brands, Marriot International and Ed Bakos, CEO, Champalimaud Design

 

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on hospitality has been huge, from operations, investment, conceptual design and much more. We discuss how purpose and brand can remain aligned, whilst highlighting new imperatives and learnings the industry should be taking on board.

Clean Design in Public Spaces

Moderator: Sophie Harper, Editor, Space

Speakers: Dexter Moren, Partner, Dexter Moren Associates, Damien Perrot, Senior Vice President, Design Solutions, Accor and Afroditi Krassa, Founder, Afroditi Krassa

 

Public spaces; the environments in which we congregate and socialise. Our attitudes to such places have changed considerably. How can designers, architects, artists and place-makers take into account these new considerations for a more harmonious outcome?

AI & Tech: Transforming the Guest Experience

Moderator: Heleri Rande, Sleep & Eat Conference Curator & Host

Speakers: Olivier Delaunoy, Operations and Technology Director, Bloc Hotels, Olaf Slater, General Manager Sales - DACH & Eastern Europe, Sabre Hospitality Solutions and Ben Webb, Co-Founder, 3Stories

 

AI technology has taken on a whole new relevance in the hospitality sphere. By integrating guest data from multiple touchpoints, can hoteliers better tailor and enhance their guests’ experience?

Hospitality Investment: Unexpected Opportunities

Moderator: Alexi Khajavi, Group President, Travel & Hospitality, Questex

Speakers: Matthew Livian, Managing Partner & Chief Investment Officer, Sydell Group, Hugh Taylor OBE, Chief Executive, Michels & Taylor, Kfir Levy, Co-Founder, Habitas

 

Recent events have shown us the importance of future-proofing expansion and investment plans. Our talk highlights how thinking around development and investment has changed post Covid-19, and looks at important new openings, locations and considerations for the industry.

Designing for Sustainable Hospitality & Tourism

Moderator: Harry McKinley, Journalist & Hospitality Consultant

Speakers: Erik Nissen - Johansen, Creative Director & Founder, Stylt Trampoli, Blanche van Berckel, Founder & CEO, Vous Hotels & Retreats and Jerry Tate, Partner, Tate Harmer

 

What does sustainable tourism look like? As host environments begins to understand their social responsibility, minimising impact, giving back and improving efficiency have come to the top of the agenda.