Attention To Detail

Director of architecture and interiors practice Conran + Partners, Tina Norden discusses bringing a little passion and joy to her work in Hong Kong and Europe

- Leona Liu

What drove you to become a designer?

Aside from an obsession with Lego bricks, my father was a landscape architect and took me to sites from a very young age. I loved it but realised quite soon that I don’t have much of a green thumb, so decided to become an architect instead. My second career plan was becoming a diplomat – funnily enough, that is a skill often required in our profession as well.

What does good design mean to you?

Good design for me is considered, engaging and appropriate. It should have a positive impact on people; an interior that makes its users feel good and that works for its intended function. Importantly, it also has to bring delight and joy – after all, we are in the business of making people’s lives better, rather than just serving our own creative ambitions.

What part of being a designer do you enjoy the most?

I feel very fortunate to work in a profession that doesn’t feel like work. I love going to work, engaging with my team and having the ability to think creatively every day.

You’ve worked on both architecture and interior projects. Are there more similarities or differences between the two?

We think of ourselves as interior architects rather than interior designers, treating our interior projects three-dimensionally and architecturally, as well as experientially.