Bespoke Careers Podcast

Shawn Adams is an architect and outreach lead at HTA Design. He co founded POoR Collective (Power Out Of Restriction), a platform that works with young people to co design projects and build real skills. His work sits at the intersection of practice, education and community, bringing young voices into live briefs and treating them as the client.

He is a published writer with bylines in Wallpaper, Frame and Icon. He trained at Portsmouth and the Royal College of Art, and came through the New Architecture Writers programme. Shawn’s focus is clear. Make design public. Cut the jargon. Open the door for the next generation.

0:00 - Intro

1:15 - Why architecture?

2:07 - Experience at architecture school

4:20 - Founding the POoR Collective

7:15 - What do the POor Collective do?

8:38 - Finding the balance between designer and facilitator

11:40 - Build the Way Internship

12:40 - Getting people to believe in your ideas

14:25 - Working at HTA Design

19:32 - Becoming a published writer in design

22:16 - The relationship between architecture and writing

24:37 - The architect as the polymath

28:22 - Communicating design via social media

30:38 - Drop the jargon

33:19 - Increasing representation in architecture

36:13 - Has your career turned out how you imagined?

40:18 - Advice for the next generation

43:46 - What change do you hope to see in the industry?

Peter Murray once herded longhorn cattle down St Johns Street in London to make a point: Architecture should speak to everyone. In this conversation he unpacks a life spent shaping that dialogue from AA student to editor of Building Design and the RIBA Journal to co founding Blueprint, Wordsearch, the London Festival of Architecture and New London Architecture.We get into why so much architectural writing misses the public, how to switch the language, and when he realised he was becoming institutionalised and needed a reset. He talks candidly about raising the game at BD, opening the debate beyond the profession, and building platforms that connect designers, policymakers and the public.

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Here is the State of Sustainability in Architecture and Design 2025. A clear view of how sustainability is shaping hiring, skills and careers right now, based on a global survey of 350 professionals across the UK, US and Australia, plus straight talk from six pioneers who are pushing practice forward.

Chris Simmons speaks with editor Hattie Hartman to unpack the findings. You will hear what candidates want, which skills are in demand, how teams are built, why evidence beats slogans, and where firms fall short between big promises and delivery.Featuring insights from Andrew Waugh, Kossy Nnachetta, Tamar Warburg, Heather Holddridge, Caroline Pidcock and David Ritter.

Watch, take notes, then grab the free report and both handbooks for employers and candidates. Use them to hire smarter, structure teams with intent and build the skills that actually get you hired.

Architect and urban designer Mariana Cabugueira has bridged the worlds of physical infrastructure with immersive digital realms in the metaverse.

In this episode, she traces her path from studying in Lisbon to honing advanced skills in London, and from her years at Zaha Hadid Architects to spearheading ambitious virtual projects.

We explore what architects can contribute to the metaverse, how AI and parametric tools are changing workflows, and the challenges of building healthy design cultures.

Mariana also talks openly about stepping away from a dream role to start something new.

What does it take to run one of the world’s leading architecture practices? Grimshaw’s Group Managing Partner Mark Middleton shares lessons from three decades shaping global mega-projects, leading studios across continents, and keeping architects inspired on the world’s biggest stages.

0:00 - Intro

1:17 - Why architecture?

2:51 - How practical experience shapes better design

5:46 - Architecture school and a switch in work ethic

8:43 - Joining Grimshaw, working with Sir Nicholas Grimshaw and staying in one job for 30 years

11:44 - Becoming Group Managing Partner at Grimshaw

13:53 - Transitioning into leadership and staying close to projects

17:44 - How the global studio runs, board and regions

22:59 - Ambition, being asked to lead and the move to Australia

26:56 - Australia on the ground, local clients and a broader project mix

33:01 - Do big awards change anything?

37:10 - Film at Grimshaw, telling complex stories well

45:01 - Speak plainly and drop the archi-speak

54:24 - The gripe with architect stereotypes

From cubbies in the bush to projects in Melbourne, London, and New York, Martin’s career has spanned continents, practices, and passions. Now an Associate at FXCollaborative, he reflects on what drives him as an architect and his advocacy for diversity through Build Out Alliance.

00:00 Intro

02:51 Designing for the end user’s needs and enjoyment

05:38 DIY projects family building and formal training

08:09 London office planting the seed for international work

11:49 Getting licensed from the UK to New York

16:19 Balancing the technical and creative sides of architecture

18:49 Taking projects from concept through to completion

21:32 Working in London compared with New York contracts

24:10 Investing time in relearning codes and licensing

26:43 Build Out Alliance advocacy and LGBTQ+ support

29:33 Splitting time between comfort and work quality

32:21 Building awareness and inclusivity in the creative industry

36:18 Gaining opportunities and confidence through Build Out Alliance

39:14 Navigating straight environments and the energy of code switching

42:40 Designing with inclusivity and community in mind4

5:11 Making the move to New York and the mainland

48:02 Supporting queer communities through architecture and advocacy

The numbers aren’t great. Women in architecture are still paid less, promoted less, and leaving the profession at higher rates than men. It’s not unique to architecture, but there’s plenty of work to do. According to a Bespoke Careers report, the gender pay gap in Australia sits at 20.6% — nearly triple that of the UK and US. Angela Dapper has seen those realities up close, and has made it her mission to be the change she wants to see in the industry. Over a career in Melbourne and London with Grimshaw, Architectus and Denton Corker Marshall, she’s led landmark projects like the Stonehenge Visitor Centre, Aesop Store and Oxford Botanic Gardens Glasshouses. She’s mentored emerging architects, challenged industry norms, and built a reputation for making her voice count in rooms where women are still underrepresented.Now she’s stepping away from big practice to start her own socially sustainable studio on her own terms. This conversation explores the reality of being a woman in architecture and what it takes to create a career that truly works for you.0:00 – Introduction1:09 – What keeps Angela in architecture4:15 – Gender bias and the uphill battle in the 90s5:47 – Leaving Australia for opportunities in London7:17 – Designing the Stonehenge Visitor Centre12:22 – Lessons from working in three major practices15:41 – Leading diversity initiatives at Grimshaw17:55 – Why Angela moved from DCM to Grimshaw20:50 – Choosing the right practice for you22:26 – Why many senior women are leaving architecture24:05 – Starting her own socially sustainable studio27:59 – Making small projects high impact30:49 – Listening and adapting to community clients31:50 – Why she started her business later in her career34:22 – Returning to Australia as an architect36:41 – The value of panels, mentoring and professional networks40:13 – Gender equity in architecture today45:06 – Angela's experiences with gender discrimination47:19 – Advice for young architects finding their voice50:17 – Has her career turned out as expected?

What does it take to become a successful architect? How do you build an award winning practice culture? How do we fix the housing crisis? And are architects still hungry enough to make a difference?In this episode, Simon Bayliss, Managing Partner at HTA Design, shares what he's learned from 25 years at one of the UK’s leading housing-focused practices.

0:00 - Intro

0:56 - Why Simon became an architect

3:26 - Where architects bring the most value

6:41 - Going from Part II to Managing Partner at HTA Design

11:58 - Building an award-winning workplace culture

16:55 - Insights on hybrid and flexible working

22:18 - Benefits of a multidisciplinary approach

25:17 - Strategic growth in housing and co-living

29:51 - Rethinking space and the future of shared living

33:02 - Lessons for the next generation of architects

38:48 - Why trust and high standards go hand in hand

42:46 - What’s next for Simon and the future of housing

We spend roughly a third of our adult lives at work. A third. That's about 90,000 hours over the course of a career. And yet, many of us have never stopped to really think about how our physical environment is shaping our mental health, our productivity, and our overall wellbeing every single day.

We're living through the biggest shift in how we work since the Industrial Revolution. Hybrid working, which felt revolutionary just a few years ago, is now the norm.

But as Kirsten will explain, we're still getting it wrong in some fundamental ways. We're still thinking about workplace design as something that gets done to employees, rather than with them.0:00 - Intro1:29 - What is it about people's relationship with their environment?3:03 - Background in landscape architecture5:58 - The step into real estate7:03 - Transferable skills in design9:03 - Herman Miller and the importance of company values14:02 - The missing piece in designing for wellbeing at work 18:03 - The disconnect between designers and users21:12 - What happens when employees help design the workplace strategy23:52 - Are firms keeping health and wellbeing "in a box"?23:48 - How do we appeal to companies that aren't invested in wellbeing?27:10 - Do certifications like WELL and Fitwel actually matter?32:01 - What are the workplace wellness strategies that make a difference?33:19 - The balance/disconnect between health and sustainability36:53 - Latest research on hybrid working41:22 - The link between wellbeing and flexibility44:14 - Career trade-offs and raising a family45:55 - Key lessons from Kirsten's career journey: "Never stop learning!"48:22 - Has your career turned out how you imagined?50:05 - What's next?

Fed up with the traditional way of procuring architecture, Qutaibah Al-Atafi joined forces with builder Ryan Underwood to create something different. And with Underwood, their Melbourne-based design-led design and build firm, that’s exactly what they’re doing.

Immigrating from Iraq and growing up in the outer suburbs of New Zealand, Qutaibah was left questioning why some places felt like home and others didn’t.

In this conversation, amongst other things, we discuss whether architecture is still worth it. With tight fees getting tighter, and AI rewriting the rules, what’s keeping architects going?

0:00 - Intro1:40 - Why architecture?3:48 - Is architecture worth it?5:20 - Qutaibah's childhood and route into architecture9:27 - The importance of drawing and thoughts on AI16:37 - The design and build business model and philosophy31:01 - ADVICE - Seek out site experience!33:33 - Reimagining education and the role of an architect39:04 - The universal practitioner (always be learning)41:49 - Passive house, sustainable design, and an evidence based approach48:14 - Educating the client on sustainable design50:16 - Lessons learned and advice for architects53:36 - Mentorship (listen to older architects!)57:15 - Leave a job on good terms58:53 - Has your career turned out how you imagined?