Space by Stansons

“No one knows everything on site.”

Next week’s episode breaks down the real role of an estimator and why asking questions might be the most underrated skill in construction.

Stay tuned 👀

✨ Subscribe to Show Notes for more from Space by Stansons at https://www.stansons.co.uk/space ✨

In this episode, Guy sits down with Hamza Shaikh, Digital Artist at Gensler, to explore the rapidly evolving world of AI, image generation, and creativity in design alongside the release of his latest book.

Hamza shares his journey from architectural drawing and social media to becoming deeply immersed in AI experimentation, explaining how early exposure to tools like Midjourney shaped his thinking and led him to write about agency, authorship, and creative control in an AI-driven world.

The conversation dives into the current state of the industry, from the explosion of AI-generated content and “slop” online, to the growing tension around copyright, data ownership, and the ethics of creative work. Hamza also reflects on the limitations of current AI tools, highlighting that while image generation has advanced rapidly, the industry is still far from generating fully realised, data-rich built environments.

A key theme throughout is education. Hamza questions whether traditional architectural education is preparing students for the realities of practice, arguing that too much focus is placed on theoretical or utopian design, and not enough on real-world skills like documentation, client understanding, and adaptability.

They also explore:

• The rise and fatigue of social media for creatives
• Why AI should be used to amplify creativity, not replace it
• The importance of maintaining creative authorship and control
• How understanding legacy tools leads to better use of future technologies
• Why “learning how to learn” is the most important skill in a fast-changing world
• The future impact of AI and robotics on design, construction, and beyond

Hamza also opens up about his personal relationship with creativity, balancing his role in a global firm with his desire to reconnect with analogue drawing and artistic expression outside of technology.
This is an episode about understanding the tools shaping our future and ensuring creatives stay in control as those tools evolve.

Episode Resources

Hamza Shaikh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamza-shaikh-design/?originalSubdomain=uk
Guy Stanley on LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/guystanley

Learn more about Stansons Group Ltd. here: https://stansons.co.uk

🔗 Useful Links:
🎧 Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3JuplSC
🎧 Spotify: https://bit.ly/4924osv
💬 Comment below your favourite part!

Students spend 7 years in education.

And still aren’t ready for the real world.

Next week on Space by Stansons, Hamza Shaikh breaks down the gap between design education and practice, and how AI is making that gap even wider.

We get into:

AI in design

Creative ownership

The future of skills

Why the tools aren’t the problem

This is a big one.

Episode drops next week 👀🎧

✨ Subscribe to Show Notes for more from Space by Stansons at https://www.stansons.co.uk/space ✨

In this episode, Guy sits down with Helena, Creative Director and Founder of Studio Masat, to discuss navigating the design industry as a new mother while launching her own studio.

Helena shares her background in design & build, what it was like managing pregnancy in a client-facing role, and why transparency, planning, and trust are essential when balancing projects and maternity leave. The conversation explores outdated industry norms around flexibility, the loss of talented mothers due to rigid systems, and why outcomes matter more than hours at a desk.

They also dive into how motherhood reshaped Helena’s perspective on accessibility in the built environment — and why inclusive design should never be a retrofit or afterthought.

This is an episode about leadership, flexibility, and designing better systems — both in our workplaces and in the spaces we create.

They also explore:
How parenthood exposed everyday access barriers (and why it changed Helena’s design lens)

Why physical accessibility is being left behind in wider inclusion conversations

The difference between inclusive design and “retrofit” afterthought solutions

Announcing pregnancy on client projects: what works, what doesn’t, and when to share it

The “buddy system” approach that protects the client experience and grows junior talent

Why the “mothers are less ambitious” narrative is wrong — and what’s actually true

The outdated 9–5 model in a two-income world (and why flexibility is already happening elsewhere)

Trust + communication as the real foundation of flexible work

Examples of accessibility done well — and what most buildings still get wrong

Episode Resources

Helena Masat on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helena-masat-671522104/?originalSubdomain=uk
Guy Stanley on LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/guystanley

Learn more about Stansons Group Ltd. here: https://stansons.co.uk

🔗 Useful Links:
🎧 Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3JuplSC
🎧 Spotify: https://bit.ly/4924osv
💬 Comment below your favourite part!

“You don’t have to choose between motherhood and your career.”

From pitching multi-million pound projects while pregnant to launching her own studio for real flexibility, Helena shares why trust — not presenteeism — is what actually drives performance.

Full episode drops next week.

Come listen 👀🎧

Episode Resources

Helena (Studio Masat) on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/helena-masat-671522104/?originalSubdomain=uk

Guy Stanley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guystanley

Learn more about Stansons Group Ltd. here: https://stansons.co.uk

🔗 Useful Links:

🎧 Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3JuplSC

🎧 Spotify: https://bit.ly/4924osv

In this episode, Guy sits down with Jenny Edwards, Creative Director at Oktra, for a high-energy conversation covering sustainability, inclusivity, AI, and the realities of design in both traditional consultancy and design & build environments.

The conversation goes deep into what sustainability really means in workplace design. Not just recycled materials or box-ticking accreditations but designing out waste from the start, questioning lifecycle impact, and building spaces that are inclusive, adaptable, and built to last.

They also explore:

• Why AI can’t replace human-led design thinking
• The importance of inclusive design from day one
• Designing for dismantle and zero-waste principles
• Why “cheap” upfront often costs more long-term
• The real impact designers can have across cities
• OneNote, Miro boards, and the creative process behind the scenes

Jenny speaks candidly about having a strong voice in the industry, why sustainability needs advocates, and how even junior designers can influence meaningful change.
This is an episode about intent and the responsibility that comes with shaping the built environment.

Jenny Edwards  on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-edwards-a96b6ab9/

Guy Stanley on LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/guystanley

Learn more about Stansons Group Ltd. here: https://stansons.co.uk

🔗 Useful Links:
🎧 Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3JuplSC
🎧 Spotify: https://bit.ly/4924osv
💬 Comment below your favourite part!

“It’s not about recycled materials. It’s about designing out waste.”

From challenging AI hype to rethinking zero-waste design, Jenny Edwards shares why sustainability isn’t a tick-box — it’s a mindset.

Full episode drops next week.

Come listen 👀🎧

Episode Resources

Jenny Edwards on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-edwards-a96b6ab9/

Guy Stanley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guystanley

Learn more about Stansons Group Ltd. here: https://stansons.co.uk

🔗 Useful Links:

🎧 Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3JuplSC

🎧 Spotify: https://bit.ly/4924osv

This week on Space by Stansons, host Guy Stanley sits down with Dicky Lewis, co-founder of White Red Architects, for a wide-ranging conversation on neurodiversity, pitching, and what it really takes to deliver a major HQ project at the highest level.

From being diagnosed with dyslexia at 12 (and finding early inspiration in Richard Branson’s story) to winning and delivering Virgin’s headquarters in Fitzrovia, Dicky breaks down how his brain works, how White Red balances “instigator vs implementer” energy, and why the unglamorous stuff—process, people, honest post-project analysis—matters just as much as the design.

They also dig into sustainability in practice (not just slogans): reducing Cat A waste, making small spec decisions that add up, and experimenting with alternative building systems like fabric ducting adapted from swimming pools to cut waste and improve performance.

⸻

What You’ll Learn

1. How dyslexia can shape leadership style, creativity, and risk tolerance — and why it’s increasingly common in architecture
2. The “instigator vs implementer” dynamic inside White Red (and why you need both)
3. What it takes to win a major pitch: rehearsal, storytelling, detail obsession, and team chemistry
4. How the Virgin HQ opportunity evolved from a small refurb into a full HQ procurement — and what changed in the second pitch
5. The realities of delivering for a multi-stakeholder brand: sustainability, DEI, operations, and governance all feeding into the brief
6. Why reputation is everything for a growing practice — and how honest post-project review builds stronger delivery
7. The awkward-but-real moments that force you to “step up” (like clients waiting outside a locked studio…)
8. What Dicky learned from meeting Branson — and the handwritten note that became a full-circle career moment
9. Practical sustainability: incremental wins in finishes, furniture circularity, and designing out waste over time
10. A smart MEP example: why White Red trialled fabric ductwork, how it performs, and what they learned
11. Dicky’s concentration soundtrack: binaural beats, instrumental film music, and the “don’t let me DJ the office Sonos” rule

Episode Highlights

This episode is a must-listen for designers, founders, and project teams who want the honest version of practice-building: big wins, messy realities, and the systems that help you grow.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

00:00 Cold open: the origin story behind “White Red” (and the White Stripes influence)

07:00 Dyslexia: early diagnosis, stigma, and the Richard Branson inspiration

09:25 “Instigator vs implementer”: how the founders balance ideas, delivery, and focus

14:19 Virgin HQ begins: how a small refurb turned into a full HQ opportunity (and a re-pitch)

16:00 Winning the pitch: what they did differently—storytelling, detail, rehearsal, commitment

19:45 Delivery reality check: discoverables, structural issues, and complex stakeholders

22:00 Post-project honesty: learning without blame to improve the practice

29:37 Meeting Branson: the walkthrough, the “it’s really bright” moment, and the surrealness of it

31:21 The handwritten note from Necker Island: full-circle recognition and imposter syndrome

35:46 Sustainability in practice: Cat A waste, incremental wins, and the fabric ducting experiment

Episode Resources

Dicky Lewis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dicky-lewis/

Guy Stanley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guystanley

Learn more about Stansons Group Ltd. here: https://stansons.co.uk

🔗 Useful Links:

🎧 Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3JuplSC

🎧 Spotify: https://bit.ly/4924osv

💬 Comment below your favourite part!

“From dyslexia to delivering Virgin’s HQ.”

What started as a small refurb turned into a career-defining pitch — and a full-circle moment with Richard Branson.

Full episode drops next week.

Come listen 👀🎧

Episode Resources

Dicky Lewis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dicky-lewis/

Guy Stanley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guystanley

Learn more about Stansons Group Ltd. here: https://stansons.co.uk

🔗 Useful Links:

🎧 Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3JuplSC

🎧 Spotify: https://bit.ly/4924osv

This week on Space by Stansons Guy Stanley sits down with Warren Bragg, Contracts Manager at Ambit Moat, to dig into the side of projects we don’t talk about enough: the nuts and bolts of delivery.

From why “never assume” is the golden rule on site to how document control, health & safety, value engineering, and communication actually make or break a programme, Warren shares what it really takes to deliver projects on time, on budget, and safely — and how designers can help contractors long before site starts.

⸻

What You’ll Learn

1. Why bridging the gap between design vision and site delivery starts with earlier collaboration
2. The “never assume” mindset — and how small assumptions can create big site issues
3. How document control portals help teams work from the latest information (and reduce mistakes)
4. What a Contracts Manager actually does day-to-day across multiple live projects
5. Why health & safety is the biggest thing keeping delivery teams up at night
6. Practical value engineering wins — why lighting is often the first big saving, and how to do it smartly
7. How to spot cost-saving alternatives in furniture and finishes without compromising design intent
8. Where sustainability is genuinely viable — and where it becomes a cost/time balancing act
9. How AI, Matterport scans, and immersive visuals could change decision-making and reduce surprises
10. The biggest delivery challenge: communication, expectation management, and getting end users on board early
11. How designers can help projects run smoother by sharing standard details and build-critical info sooner

This episode is a must-listen for anyone designing, managing, or delivering workplace projects — and for teams who want fewer surprises once the programme hits site.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

⸻

Episode Highlights

00:00 Intro: Bringing the construction “nuts and bolts” into Space by Stansons

00:57 Warren’s career journey: from assistant site manager to contracts manager

02:33 “Never assume”: why construction needs checkpoints and rigorous process

03:31 Document control portals: keeping teams aligned on the latest drawings

06:35 What a Contracts Manager does: juggling projects, people, budgets, and programmes

08:42 What keeps Warren up at night: health & safety, changing sites, and risk management

11:11 Staying organised: diaries, emails to self, and why WhatsApp is underrated

14:47 Value engineering hacks: why lighting is often the biggest opportunity

16:47 Furniture & finishes: finding alternatives that protect design intent and budget

18:02 Sustainability in practice: reuse, repurpose, and when it does (and doesn’t) stack up

24:26 What’s changing in construction: robots, AI, Matterport scans, and immersive planning

30:18 Biggest delivery challenge: communication, end-user expectations, and disruption planning

34:36 How design can help delivery: sharing details early to avoid rework on site

38:02 What excites Warren: sustainable products becoming more accessible and affordable

39:13 Wrap: bridging design and delivery through better communication

Episode Resources

Warren Braggs on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/warren-bragg

Guy Stanley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guystanley

Learn more about Stansons Group Ltd. here: https://stansons.co.uk

🔗 Useful Links:

🎧 Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3JuplSC

🎧 Spotify: https://bit.ly/4924osv

💬 Comment below your favourite part!