Interview with Tom Shelley for in. Design Magazine
Tom Shelley was recently interviewed by interiors magazine, in Design and featured in their April 2018 publication.
Tom is a Leeds based BIID registered Interior Designer at Bowman Riley. Tom has over 15 years’ design experience predominantly working in the commercial office sector.
Monday
My week begins with a 20-minute commute by train from the village of Menston into Leeds. It’s a really busy commuter route, so I rarely get a seat! Now that Spring is finally arriving, I must get on my bicycle!. Our Leeds office is right in the heart of the business district, pretty much opposite the train station, so I am straight off the train and into work.
I have been working in Leeds for the past 12 years. The city centre has undergone a major transformation over the past decade, which has seen it placed as the fifth city on Lonely Planet’s top 10 Best in Europe list. Leeds is a real hub for professional services and tech and creative companies are also flourishing. I recently designed a couple of bespoke office spaces for emerging tech companies.
I am currently designing a Nordic inspired office and factory for a leading fashion label specialist, Nilorn. Nilorn has a clear vision to create a unique office space for their team. Their new space will improve efficiency for the production side of the business as well as creating a truly contemporary office space with a layout that has been carefully coordinated to enhance the wellbeing of the staff. A Nordic influenced interior concept has been partnered with a Yorkshire industrial aesthetic to provide a flexible open plan office space – similar to the interiors I completed for the Design Studio of Abraham Moon, a high-end textile manufacturer. The client is planning to move in during the Autumn so things are picking up.
Tuesday
I drive over to our head office in Skipton, North Yorkshire. Due to the 25 mile proximity between our Yorkshire offices, my colleagues and I have the opportunity to work between both offices as suits the needs of our clients and their own personal circumstances. The leader of our London office also bases himself in Yorkshire once a week, so we all feel like one big team.
I catch up with my colleague, Ben Horobin, who is exhausted, yet exhilarated after spending a week in Cannes mixing with new and existing contacts at MIPIM, the biggest property event in Europe. Ben and I discuss any potential opportunities to follow up on his week of networking.
We have a new intern, Molly, who is currently studying a degree in interior design at Manchester Metropolitan University, which is where I graduated from back in 2001. It’s interesting to discuss the course and see if any of my old tutors are still lecturing! Straight away, I involve Molly in some live projects and look forward to seeing her fresh ideas.
Wednesday
Back in the Leeds office today where I begin a new project to create a concept for a leisure hub at a large shopping centre in the North East. The project involves plenty of research and 3D modelling to create the wow factor for our client.
Wednesday is our lunchtime CPD session. This week the subject is a common data environment that facilitates working in level II BIM, an accreditation Bowman Riley is currently working towards.
Thursday
Today I continue working on the leisure hub designs again working to a tight deadline. The 3D model is progressing and the concept developing with great ideas coming from our intern.
At lunchtime, my colleague Andy Tate and I head out for a 5K run along the Leeds to Liverpool canal side. We are in training to support our colleague Alex Holliday, who is running the whole 127 miles of canal side in April. Andy and I are joining him for the final four miles into Leeds to share some of the glory! It’s great to get a change of scenery and some fresh air over lunch and I return to the office feeling invigorated. Fortunately, our office is equipped with shower facilities, so we can freshen up ready for the afternoon’s workload.
Thursday is a big evening in the Leeds property networking scene. This week Bowman Riley hosted a party attended by 200 guests to celebrate our 50 years in business in a Manhattan-inspired rooftop bar in the new Victoria Gate development in the city. It was excellent to meet up with our clients and the wider property industry in a more informal environment. Fortunately, I managed to get the last train home, so I wouldn’t be too tired for my client meeting the next morning.
Friday
I meet with Nilorn at their premises to show them the updated designs and review the tender pack of information. We have a tour of the current site and review the layout of the existing and proposed production area ensuring efficiency is designed in. We review materials and specifications and further revise the layout.
After lunch, I quickly jump onto a new project and create a 3D concept model for a block of apartments in London on the site of a former pub. From the model we are able to generate several views to assist the client with his project.
Home-time: I intend to spend the weekend attempting to design my garden for the summer whilst being regularly interrupted by my son – who at 11 months is crawling everywhere at top speed.