A Life In Design - Simon Rawlings

With a gift for designing easy-to-use, ‘future-proof’ spaces, we hear from the man at the helm of David Collins Studio.

- Fiona McCarthy

Birmingham City University, I wrote to a few key designers who I admired, including David, for work opportunities. I was struck by the sense of authority in his work – it wasn’t about gimmicks or trends and always had a sense of purpose. When I came to London to meet him, he asked me to do some things on a computer while the whole office went to lunch. On his return, he asked me to start a week later. 

How do you begin a project? 

I don’t like to rush into a design until I know the space – in my own home, when we moved in 18 months ago, we stripped it bare, painted it white and lived in it before making any big decisions. It’s important to know where the light falls, how each room sounds. Don’t be afraid to paint half a wall and live with it. I’ve even been known to stay overnight in a client’s house to really get a feel for the space! 

Where do you look for ideas? 

Auction catalogues. For example, a recent one was for French 20th-century furniture. I see things in them I don’t see anywhere else and it takes me on tangents, learning about different designers and eras. I use Evernote to upload photos and handwritten notes, which it puts into folders for me – scrapbooking ideas is a great way to start the creative process. I like to print ideas out and put them on the walls to see how well they relate to the room. 

How about colour palettes? 

I play a lot with paint. I think it goes back to my mum’s love for painted coloured ceilings, which I’ve inherited, so I’m always trying to bring in colour to a project.