issue two // XX

well as pens and paper!). Hardly anything in our world stays exactly the same – be it culture, technology, politics and policy, prevailing attitudes, people’s wants and needs – but certain fundamental principles do stay the same: the need for shelter and to provide buildings that enhance people’s lives. When David Levitt and David Bernstein founded the Practice, they were dedicated to creating better homes for all – a principle that is as fundamental to our work now as it was then.

How do you think creative industries are effective means for empowering women? Everyone from any background has the power to be creative, and the design industry as a whole benefits from the contribution of diverse people with different experiences.

In your opinion, should being a woman affect the way you work? No. There is a school of thought that women are more empathetic, but I don’t think this is related to gender – it’s to do with an individual’s background and experiences.

The most important thing is to have a diverse community of engaged and enthusiastic people doing something they love and hopefully making a positive contribution.

What would you say has been your greatest achievement? One of the amazing things about my job is the different kinds of success – from getting a tricky planning approval, to working out how to get a detail to work, to creating a space in a building that someone will enjoy inhabiting. The work is varied, so the achievements are varied. But even after all these years I do still think my greatest achievement is qualifying as an architect. It does take a fair amount of effort to get there and it’s nice to be reminded once in a while of the commitment we’ve all made in deciding to pursue this wonderful (if sometimes exasperating) career. Do you have a goal that you would like to achieve next, or a dream you would like to pursue? I hope to work on more fantastic buildings, with great clients that have a positive impact on people’s lives. I think it’s important not to be complacent about this as an ongoing ambition. Oh, and write a novel, learn to use a potters’ wheel and try Ikebana (minimal Japenese flower arranging)!

What is the best piece of advice you can give (to people entering the world of art and creative industries)? The advice I’d like to offer, and hope to take on board myself, is fairly topical. I went to Design City Reframed (part of Design Manchester) recently and virtually every presenter said something to a similar effect: look at the world more and look at your phone (a bit) less.