Meet the Team: Olivia Culley

Layrd Design Ltd
Jul 22
3 min read

Meet Olivia, an Interior Designer working cross-sector at Layrd Design.

Can you tell us a little bit about your previous design experience?

Previously, my experience with interior design has been in the workplace sector, which I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of. When I started my career in 2023, there was a shift in how workplace design was being approached – with greater focus on employee wellbeing and effort being made to bring people back into the office. I appreciated the opportunity to contribute to projects that supported this change to make spaces more human.

Since joining Layrd, I've had the opportunity to branch out into new sectors such as stadia and gym design. This has opened exciting possibilities and expanded my interest into creating human-centred spaces within more sectors.

What inspired you to pursue a role in interior design?

I've always been a creative person, art and design were my favourite subjects at school, and I always knew I would have a creative career. In sixth form, I studied interior-focused Scandinavian oil painting and followed artists like Carl Holsoe and Vilhelm Hammershoi, which sparked my interest in how lighting, colour, shape and form influence a space.

I then went on to do a visual communications course at college, which introduced me to furniture design. Through this, I discovered interior design as a career and knew immediately that this is what I wanted to pursue.

What's your favourite part of the design process?

My favourite part of the design process is the concept stage. Translating the brief into something tangible and getting to be creative, exploring ideas, pulling together references and developing the initial themes that will guide the project. It's really rewarding when the initial vision is adapted over time and comes to life in the final result.

Where do you get your daily design inspiration from?

I feel like I get inspiration from everywhere, often from places I visit, showrooms, books, magazines and Pinterest! You can usually spot a designer because they're the ones peeking under chairs to find the manufacturer or getting overly excited about a seemingly obscure detail. I really appreciate that as a company we make time to attend events and design summits, keeping connected to the wider design world and being part of the conversation is something that's so valuable.

What does a typical day look like in the studio as a Designer?

A day is rarely typical, which is fantastic because I enjoy being out and about. Some days I'm in the office, others on site, or in London visiting suppliers and showrooms or travelling across the country to meet with clients. The variety makes things exciting, and working in different environments, I think, is great for creative work!

Why did you want to join Layrd?

What really attracted me to Layrd was the emphasis on company culture and collaboration. From the moment I connected with the team, I knew this was where I wanted to work. It was clear that this is a place where people genuinely support each other and value creativity. Layrd's portfolio of course stood out immediately, and the opportunity to work on such incredible projects keeps me motivated every day.

If you could design any space, where would it be and what would it look like?

I'd love to design a medical building - I think there's an opportunity to create spaces within healthcare that are more human and focused on mental wellbeing and recovery. I'd introduce softer lighting, natural-looking materials, biophilic elements and artwork, as well as a thoughtful layout to reduce stress and improve patient and staff experience. Design has a huge influence on our state of mind and ability to heal, so I'd love to make a difference within this setting.