Emily Sheridan Named in Mix Interiors 30 Under 30

Emily Sheridan has been named in the 2023 Mix Interiors 30 Under 30! Mix Interiors 30 Under 30 is an award program that recognises the UK’s most talented young interior designers and architects. The program is open to individuals under 30 who have demonstrated outstanding work in the field of commercial interior design. In an interview with Emily, we delve into the key insights and perspectives of this brightest young star in workplace design!

Q: How did you get to where you are today? Have you always been in the office design industry?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be an interior designer. I used to redesign my bedroom layout every week when I was young. I studied interior architecture at Arts University Bournemouth, and during my second year, I had to do a six-month placement. I did this at a local architect in Sevenoaks, Kent. I returned there after my final year and then moved to another architect. I knew I wasn’t fully fulfilled doing architecture work, and I wanted to design the inside of spaces. After speaking to recruiters, I made the jump to working in London for a large D&B company. I’d never heard of D&B office fit-out before, so it was a new experience, but I loved the fast pace of it and the whole design process. It was then I knew workplace design was my passion. I started working at TWO in March 2022 and have loved every second since.

Q: What is your favourite thing about being a Designer at Two?

My favourite thing about being a designer at Two is the freedom and responsibility I have to design. I love that I’m able to lead my own projects. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do. Our design team is growing, and it’s so great being able to mentor and inspire younger designers within the business.

Q: Can you tell us what you are currently working on? Or perhaps a bit about a project you have recently finished?

I am currently working on a project for Work.life in a building called the Typewriter. What’s so great about this is the history of the building. Its name came from the fact it used to be the headquarters for a large office machinery business built-in 1956. The design throughout the 7 floors relates to the 1950s and typewriters whilst creating an energetic workplace with a real sense of community, which is Work.life’s top priority. We start on site in November, and I cannot wait to see my design come to life! This will be my biggest project to date.

Q: What is your current favourite design trend?

My current favourite design trend is giving people the choice of where and how they work. Our workplaces are diverse, and everyone has their own way of working, whether needing a quiet space for focus work or prefer working in a lively collaborative environment. As a result, it is paramount that, as designers, we create choices within a space suitable for multiple types of work. We can do this by including secondary agile workspaces such as individual phone booths, acoustic high-back sofas, collaboration tables, etc.

Q: Do you have any advice for those looking to become a workplace designer?

My advice for anyone considering getting into the workplace design industry is to collaborate with others to keep thinking of new ideas. Two heads are always better than one. Workplace design is incredibly fast-paced, but that’s what I thrive off. If you’re a good communicator, enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, and like the idea of no two projects ever looking the same, then workplace design is for you.

Q: What does it mean to work for a B Corp company? How does this benefit your clients/workplace designs?

Two has recently attained a B-Corp certification, which means we are creating a more positive social and environmental impact in our office and projects. It gives us a better chance at working with fellow B-Corp companies as we are all focused on the same thing, with sustainability at the forefront.

Q: What do you think office design in 2025 will look like? Any trend predictions?

My trend prediction by 2025 is that AI will play a big role in the office of the future. Employee health and well-being are the top priorities when designing a workspace. AI can help gather data to ensure the workplace suits everyone’s needs and improves company performance. Other ways AI will influence employee well-being could be through apps where people can adjust settings in their office before arriving, such as temperature control, desk heights, etc. AI will encourage people to move more around their office throughout the day.

Congratulations to Emily! We are so proud to see you thriving in our team and look forward to seeing more amazing projects from you!

Read more about our recent projects here.