Vegan design
Why animal friendly design?...
I'm an animal lover and vegan. I know from my time at The Body Shop International's head office that animal cruelty is easily avoided and projects can still look beautiful and have a long life. I want to help my clients to avoid them too! So I did more study around the subject and now I'm part of a growing and supportive community of vegan interior designers. There's lots of us and awareness amongst clients increasing!
We are a nation of animal lovers. My clients are more and more concerned about what they buy, how interior furnishings & finishes are produced and what happens to them at the end of their life.
I can assist clients with animal product-free, compassionate specifications for their business or home interior projects. It’s very easily and effectively done without comprising the specification or budget. Advancements in technology mean that ‘traditional’ animal-based furnishings we’ve used are no longer necessarily the best, healthiest or most kind.
International Vegan Design Association founding member.
It means avoiding....
leather
suede
skins
wool
silk
down
feathers
bone
fur
shell
some paints, grouts and adhesives - animal tested ingredients and animal product content
beeswax, lanolin and other coatings and additives are animal products
It's easily done. There are so many positive new technologies that are developing in fashion and automotive industries that are carrying through into interiors. I really want to avoid petrochemicals in the alternative solutions I deliver for clients.
Supporting qualifications
Vegan Design
Qualification: Vegan Design Certified™ (IDCEC accredited)
Organisation: Vegan Design Org
Date: July '17
Membership: International Vegan Design Association founding member
The course - supported by PETA investigations - covered the widespread use of animals in the interior design supply chains - as well as the methodologies used for material 'production'. It also examined the use of toxic chemicals and their impacts to workers and the vulnerable communities surrounding production.
I was the first interior designer in the UK to be VEGANDESIGN.ORG CERTIFIED™ (IDCEC accredited).
Regenerative Design
Qualification: Living Future Accredited Professional (LFA)
Organisation: International Living Future Institute (ILFI)
Date: April '23
"Socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative" - International Living Future Institute
LFA is a professional accreditation that recognises proficiency in the world’s most ambitious, advanced, and holistic regenerative design standards.
Administered by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) their accreditation LFA and their certification for buildings the Living Building Challenge®, are based on a framework of categories, based on the symbol of a seven-petaled flower, that help guide the design of buildings that do more good than harm and demonstrate "what good looks like".
Used with ILFI's wide span of tools to use to certify products, projects and communities - the PETAL CONCEPTS cover:
Place
Water
Energy
Materials
Health
Beauty
Equity
Read more here
Healthy Buildings
Qualification: Healthy Materials Advocate - Healthier Materials and Sustainable Building Certificate, Art & Design with Parsons certificate program
Organisation: Parsons New School, New York
Date: May '21
This course explored material health, sustainability and circular design strategies with in the Built Environment. Examined from the human health perspective - getting into chemistry and impacts on body systems.
Sections:
1. Healthier Materials & Sustainable Building PCID 0605 X1
2. Materials and Human Health - PCID 0601 Xk1
3. Building Products and Chemistry - PCID 0602 X1
4. Healthier Material Design & Specification - PCID 0603 X1
5. Executing a Healthier Project - PCID 0604 X1
Qualification: FitWel® Ambassador
Organisation: Center for Active Design became the exclusive operator of Fitwel. Originally developed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) + the General Services Administration (GSA), in 2016
Date: February '19
A healthy building certification system that focuses on improving the lives of occupants and local communities.
Also studied WELL Building Standard - took intensive course - but didn't take exam. Date: April '19
Circular Economy
Course: Skills Bootcamp in Circular Economy
Qualification: Circular Economy Institute accredited - Trained level
Organisation: Circular Economy Institute + Department for Education. Course run by Brighton & Hove City Council + SOENECS. Hosted by Plus X Innovation.
Date: March '26
Membership: Circular Economy Institute Trained member
Classroom: history, theory, case studies, group analysis. Lectures from Claire Potter, Sussex University
Site visits: Waste House/Wild House, circular cities: Brighton and London, Ford MERF (materials recovery facility)
Lifecycle assessment training
Individual Circular Economy Opportunity Assessment (CEO) presentation
Formulate a post study Action Plan
BIID article written with fellow vegan designer Jo Ahmedzai
Contributor to Vegan Food & Living magazine
Articles:
'Vegan Home & Next Generation materials' with Sadie MillerMaggs/Vegan Material House
'Does your home need a health check?' with Jecks Stone/Persona Abode
'How to live more sustainably' with Katie Proctor/Sustainable Squad
'Happy, vegan home'
VEGANDESIGN.ORG CERTIFIED™
I was the first interior designer in the UK to be VEGANDESIGN.ORG CERTIFIED™ (IDCEC accredited). I give advice to students and fellow designers and I really hope to influence my industry. I've also wriiten articles, given talks and taken part in panel discussions to promote the concept of more conscious interior specifications - both within my industry and for consumers.
Useful RESOURCES for designers and students....