INTERVIEW: Megan Gibbon, Ennismore
Ennismore is a London based owner and developer of unique hospitality properties and experiences around the world. They’re currently crafting the global expansion of The Hoxton, from one hotel to many. We interviewed their Associate Director of Design, Megan Gibbon to see whats new in the world of design.
How does a typical working day pan out for you?
“My day normally starts with a coffee from our delicious barista-style machine. From there, it can be totally varied. It normally comprises of multiple meetings which are either to discuss internal schemes: fabrics, finishes, furniture and design direction. Or they are more ‘serious’: discussing project progress with external consultants and architects. On a more adventurous day, I would be visiting a building-site, reviewing progress and giving design updates. Site-visits are my favourite. I love seeing how the building is developing and watching everything come together is extremely satisfying and exciting.”
What are you currently drawing design inspiration from?
“We went to a great talk by Ilse Crawford and others at Sleep based around ‘Slow Design’. This is a notion that we are trying to instil into our process. Taking time to think through every aspect of the project and understand the best approach before diving head first into the detail.”
Your team has recently been granted planning permission for the new Hoxton Hotel on Shepherd’s Bush Green. Biggest challenge you and your team overcame?
“Though we have quite a few hotels on the horizon and already operating, Shepherd’s Bush was rare for us in that it didn’t have an existing or proposed façade design with planning permission, so it was really up to us. Within the team there were different opinions of how the hotel should look and fit into the neighbourhood. It was a challenge to align our aesthetics and really understand how we felt our building and brand would sit within the cityscape. The final design is an amalgamation of many ideas and we’re all really happy with the result.”
Ennismore recently ranked #29 in the FT1000: Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies’ list and #10 in the fastest growing UK companies. What would you say has drives such growth?
“The company is young and extremely ambitious. You can feel the office buzz around new prospects and the dedication to making them a success is inspiring. This drive is founded through our senior team, who is continuously striving to make Ennsimore the one of the best companies to be a part of.”
Many of the Ennismore brands that you work on appeal to the millennial and Generation X demographics. In your opinion, why is design so important to this crowd?
“Access to information helps the younger generation see everything that’s out there. With the likes of Pinterest and Instagram, we can be inspired by different styles and designs without even leaving the house. There are also new companies creating cheaper products which makes attaining a particular style more achievable.”
How do you personally push design boundaries, within the confines of project budgets?
“This is always a tricky one. We tend to aim for the ideal and then adapt the design to give a similar aesthetic with cheaper products or manufacturing. The key aim is not to forgo guest experience to get to the budget. There are always smart decisions to be found, saving the money to be spent on the high-impact areas.”
For people who would love to do your job, what advice would you give them?
“Go for it! It can be a competitive industry to get into but once you have dedicated yourself, the job is totally worth it.”
Lastly, we hear that of all things, you’re in love with cushion tassels? Please explain…
”Tassels have made a come-back and I love the fact that you can now put tassels on lampshades, cushions and bed throws and it’s quirky not naff!”