Day in the Life: Laurel Butler

I always aim to start my day with something active, especially on Mondays. A morning spin class is my ideal way to set the week up right. But, on days when that doesn’t happen, I make sure to get a good number of steps in before arriving at the office. My commute from Finsbury Park is a breezy 20-minute tube ride, and I’m grateful for that!

As soon as I step into the office, I love to catch up with my colleagues over a cup of green tea. I usually prepare my lunch the night before, so I pop that in the kitchen fridge while chatting about everyone’s weekends. Although I occasionally work from home, I much prefer being in the office where I can fully immerse myself in the day’s tasks. Plus, being a designer, it's easier to work with fabrics and samples in person.

Designing workplaces post-COVID has presented new challenges. The shift from rows of desks to more collaborative and quiet zones, and creating a residential feel to make people excited about returning to the office, has been a significant change. It's crucial that these spaces are healthy and happy, as people spend 90% of their time at work. Recently, we’ve trained in designing for neurodiversity and the importance of biophilia in the workplace.

I really enjoy these challenges and love receiving positive feedback from clients when our designs are well-received. It drives me to do even better on the next project.

My motivation comes from helping clients and seeing a space come to life from concept to completion. Travel is another passion of mine; earlier this year, the Milan Furniture Fair was a huge source of inspiration. Sustainable design is also important to me, and I love learning about how manufacturers are innovating with recycled materials.

Outside of work, I’m a fan of art and fashion exhibitions. If I could, I’d spend all my free time at these events. A highlight this year was the Chanel exhibit at the V&A.