Architects

DESIGN POD Alessandro Munge

Episode 32: transforming spaces (Alessandro Munge)

 1024 640 Hamish Kilburn
By:
0
Episode 32: transforming spaces (Alessandro Munge)

Hot off appearing on Travel By Design, a podcast hosted by Hamish Kilburn and brought to you by Marriott, Alessandro Munge, Founder of Studio Munge, joins DESIGN POD for a heart-to-heart masterclass on how to effortlessly transform spaces in hotel design…

DESIGN POD Alessandro Munge

Meet Alessandro Munge, the Founder of Studio Munge; a visionary interior designer who has worked with leading hotel brands on a global scale to redefine hospitality through the power of design. Editor Hamish Kilburn welcomed Munge as his special guest for episode 32 of DESIGN POD, sponsored by Geberit.

The Toronto-based designer and Kilburn first met on the Travel By Design podcast, by Marriott, where the two explored the fabrics, materials and the overall design story of Muir Halifax, Autograph Collection, a luxury hotel in Nova Scotia.

On this episode of DESIGN POD, Kilburn’s aim was to start where they left off from that meaningful discussion, to understand more about Munge’s approach to projects and how he has helped brands, through clever and socially driven design, to amplify perhaps a different side of their personalities.

A soft interior design scheme inside bedroom at Muir Halifax

Image caption: Muir Halifax, Autograph Collection, designed by Studio Munge. | Image credit: Marriott International

In addition to understand the architecture and design narrative of Muir, Kilburn spoke to Munge about sensitively designing EDITION’s first residences in Miami, how to effortlessly amplify a hotel brand’s language through design and the challenges involved in designing Sangri-La’s tallest hotel within its portfolio, which will open soon in Nanning, China.

DESIGN POD is brought to you by Hotel Designs. This series is sponsored by Geberit, produced by Mel Yates and hosted by Hamish Kilburn.

Main image credit: DESIGN POD

DESIGN POD Series 2 Jo Littlefair

Episode 15: A new era of luxury design (Jo Littlefair)

 1024 640 Hamish Kilburn
By:
0
Episode 15: A new era of luxury design (Jo Littlefair)

In episode 15 of DESIGN POD, in association with Minotti London, interior designer Jo Littlefair joins the sofa discuss interior schemes, materials and projects that are shaping a new chapter of luxury in hotel design and high-end residential (scroll down to listen)…

DESIGN POD Series 2 Jo Littlefair

Jo Littlefair, who won Interior Designer of the Year in 2019 at The Brit List Awards, is the Co-Founder of Goddard Littlefair, a design studio that is unquestionably on the curve of the hotel design industry. Taking time out of her daily mission to purposefully challenge the perception of luxury in interior design, she joined Editor Hamish Kilburn and co-host Harriet Forde – virtually due to a Covid-19 curveball – to discuss the ever-evolving luxury hotel sector in 2022 and beyond.

Injecting inspiration from her travels into the studio and sharing her passion for new and exciting dining, dwelling and hospitality experiences, Littlefair’s curious and observant nature allows her to recognise emerging evolutions in consumer, industry and design trends.

Having recently completed projects such as Villa Copenhagen, The Curtain – At The Mondrian Shoreditch and The Mayfair Townhouse – while currently working on, among others, the interior design scheme inside Mandarin Oriental in Vienna and the spa inside Raffles’ first hotel in London, Littlefair and her team shelter the skillset (and passion) to make meaningful noise and intuitive impact within the hotel design and hospitality arena.

So, let’s meet her shall we?

DESIGN POD, series two, is sponsored by Minotti London. In the next episode, Kilburn and Forde chat to Ed Murray, Associate at Dexter Moren Associates, to explore fluid and boundless architecture.

Main image credit: DESIGN POD

Fun fact: I’m usually the person friends rely on to organise trips, schedules, and group plans.

Workhighlights: Successfully coordinating events from planning through to delivery and seeing everything come together on the day.

Fun fact: I’m a keen cyclist and will happily bore people with copious amounts of cycling chat. My top cycling experience (so far) would have to be riding in the spectacular mountains of Crete.

Work highlights: Charles joined Forum Events in 2022. With a background in publishing, editorial media and events, Charles brings a wealth of experience to his role as Senior Production Manager. Having being involved with SPACE from the outset, he is excited to see the brand grow and develop.

Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

Fun fact: Katy has spent years perfecting all kinds of accents and loves a good impersonation!

Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
Most recently Katy has stepped in to the role of Publisher at SPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.

Together these platforms offer a comprehensive 360-degree service encompassing digital media, print publishing, and live events – providing unparalleled value to advertisers, partners, and readers alike.