Meet the Team: Bethany Coulter
Can you tell us a little bit about your previous design experience?
I started at Layrd following the completion of my degree in Interior Design and so this is my first design role. During school, I studied Art and Photography, both of which inspired me to work in a creative role. During my time at university, I worked on a variety of projects but enjoyed commercial design the most, and really settled on this being what I wanted to do for my career.
What inspired you to pursue a role in interior design?
As a child, I used to go and visit my stepmum at work on her construction sites and I was fascinated with the show homes. I thought it was so cool that it was someone’s job to make the houses look the way they did. From then on, I wanted to work as an interior designer. I was drawn to commercial design, as the spaces are used by different people every day, it’s lovely to think that you can make a person’s day better by making the space around them work for them.
What does a typical day look like in the studio as a Junior Designer?
At Layrd, I have found not every day is the same, and neither is every project. Overall, my day-to-day, wherever it is, consists of a lot of collaboration between everyone at Layrd. As a junior I work alongside senior designers, assisting them in all stages of the design process. This is great as I get to see projects in the early stages and some in completion.
Why did you want to join Layrd?
I wanted to work for a company that not only designs amazing spaces but also focuses on wellbeing and sustainability within them. Will came to my university as a guest speaker, and when I heard him talk about Layrd, I thought, "I want to work for a company like this." And so, when I was offered a position at Layrd, there was no way I would say anything other than yes!
If you could design any space, where would it be and what would it look like?
It would be a well-being-focused space; I would want to be able to change the users' mood for the better. Using plants, natural colours and shapes to bring the outside in I would aim to create a calming interior. I would probably use a lot of curves and soft seating to make a cosy, warm experience for everyone!