Meet the team: Dougal

We would like to introduce you to Dougal, who recently joined us as an Interior Designer! His design ethos centres around the fusion of design and community, driven by a passion for crafting spaces that foster connectivity and engagement. 

We asked him a few questions to help you all get to know them a bit better.

Tell us a little about you, your background and your role at spacelab_.

I am an interior designer from Frome in Somerset. After graduating from Kingston University, I joined spacelab_ as an Interior Designer in the summer. I have a passion for crafting spaces that encourage connectivity and engagement, a focus that was central to my final-year project, Chatham Mussel Project: From Dockyards to Dining Table. This project, which won The Royal Society of Arts 2024 Student Design Award in the Flourishing Places category, aims to rejuvenate Chatham by promoting healthy eating habits and sustainable practices, such as zero-input mussel farming. It envisions a communal space where education and collaboration thrive, integrating community kitchens, cooking schools, and markets to foster connection and shared knowledge.

What inspires you?

My friends. They’re all really driven and super creative individuals, I am inspired by their talents in other areas of design–including music, product and fashion. 

What do you like the most about your work?

The idea that something I'm doing will help someone’s day-to-day be more pleasant and enjoyable. 

What would your ideal project be?

I’ve worked many years in the hospitality industry so something that would combine my passions for music and food along with my passion for the built environment.

What made you want to join the spacelab_?

I saw the photo of the pink staircase at Ted Baker and thought it was really cool.