Having worked as a designer, but always with one foot in the technical and operational world, I’ve learned to see problems as opportunities for better design. Early in a project, I look at risks and opportunities: where might costs escalate, where could operations or structure create constraints, and where is design input going to add the most value? That initial assessment is crucial because it informs the brief, the layout and ultimately the quality of the guest experience.
Cutting Budget Needn’t Mean Cutting Spec’
When a QS or project manager asks for a reduction to current project costs, my first instinct isn’t to simply cut the specification. Instead, I explore creative solutions that retain the quality and character of the design. I first look to where we can make a smaller adjustment of specification to an item of greater scale across the project. This typically makes a large saving without diluting the design or the guest experience. The goal is always to maintain the design value while respecting financial parameters. A lot of what I do as a designer is problem-solving through the lens of good design, balancing aesthetics, functionality, and long-term value. There will always need to be compromise on projects, but intelligent design does this in a way that the overall look, feel and vision of a project is retained.
We Often Act as the Design Manager on Hospitality Projects
For all intents and purposes, on many projects, we act as the design manager. I held this role in other organisations earlier in our careers, Jeremy at Selfridges Food Hall and me as design manager for the Selfridges London Estate. Design manager is a role that sits at the heart of the design process, making sure the hotel’s vision is delivered beautifully, practically and on budget. At Sibley Grove, we’re uniquely positioned to step into that role as part of our architectural and interior design service.
What makes Sibley Grove particularly well-suited to act as a design manager is the breadth of what we do. Because we offer both architecture and interior design under one roof, many aspects of design management, coordinating consultants, ensuring buildability, overseeing FF&E and managing quality control on site, are already part of our standard service. Depending on the project, we can either provide dedicated design management support or integrate it seamlessly into a full architectural and interior design commission.
Flagging Risk Early in the Project is Key to Efficiency
In practice, this means we can help from the very start of a project: running feasibility studies, assessing operational and spatial requirements, preparing detailed documentation and coordinating with all consultants. We flag risks early, ensure compliance with regulations and maintain the integrity of our design through construction. By taking responsibility for the design from concept through completion, we reduce risk for project managers and QS teams, and ensure the final space delivers the guest experience the client brand promises.
How Can I Turn A Budget Constraint Into a Better Solution?
What I particularly enjoy about design management is the opportunity to add value. Rather than seeing budget constraints or site challenges as limitations, I look at them creatively. I ask: how can this challenge inspire a better solution? How can we use this constraint to refine the experience, optimise flow or enhance materials? In luxury hospitality, these small interventions can make a significant difference, not just in how a space looks, but in how it feels and functions.
Ultimately, design management is about more than just keeping drawings on schedule. It’s about creating spaces that work beautifully, function efficiently and feel luxurious to every guest. At Sibley Grove, we bring design intelligence, technical knowledge and operational awareness together so that project managers and QS teams can have confidence that the vision will be realised, without compromise. For me, that’s the most rewarding part of the job – turning challenges into opportunities, and ideas into high-quality, lasting experiences.
