The Brit List 2018 – Designer Profiles

676 433 Hamish Kilburn
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In the coming weeks, Hotel Designs will be profiling the 75 finalists in the Hotel Designs Brit List 2018. We continue with profiling our winning designers in alphabetical order…

This year’s The Brit List 2018 concluded on November 22, when leading designers, hoteliers and architects gathered at BEAT London to find out which of them made it on to this year’s The Brit List 2018. The hundreds of nominees and entries were whittled down by the event’s five judges, who were:

  • Gilly Craft, President of the British Institute of Interior Design
  • Charles Leon, founder of Leon Black Architecture and Interior Design
  • Gerri Gallagher, former associate editor, Tatler
  • Lysbeth Fox, founder and director of Fox PR
  • Hamish Kilburn, editor, Hotel Designs

Top designers 2018

Harry Gregory – Director, ARA Design 

Harry Gregory has more than 35 years’ experience in designing hotels, restaurants and private residences worldwide. After graduating from the Royal College of Art, he worked on product design and later specialised in furniture design at Dale Keller & Associates.

Gregory then made the move to GA Design in London, incorporating his product expertise into interior architectural design. It was there that he met Andre Avedian, and acknowledging their complementary work patterns and mutual desire to create a truly bespoke experience for clients, they co-founded Ara Design to deliver just this.

Harry Harris – Managing Director, SUSD

SUSD recently completed The Curtain, which opened as Shoreditch’s new kid on the block and has a key focus on private members’ clubs look and feel. With more than 25 years’ experience, Harris who founded SUSD Ltd, has been at the forefront of the renaissance in private members’ clubs in the UK.

SUSD specialises in delivering standard-setting, complex projects, within strict time and budget requirements. Its vision is to provide a project delivery service of the highest standard incorporating collaborative working combined with innovative thinking.

Helen Fewster – Director, Suna International Design

Suna Interior Design is an award-winning boutique interior design consultancy who provides interior services for property developers and the hospitality industry. Helen Fewster and Rebecca Hunt head up the London-based studio ensuring that a high level of attention is dedicated to each client and project.

“As a tight-knit team of designers, we ensure concepts and visions become reality, producing lifestyle enhancing designs delivered through a consistently personal service. We are proud of the portfolio we have created, which is showcased here.”

Jo Littlefair – Director, co-founder and designer-at-large, Goddard Littlefair

Jo Littlefair is a designer-at-large for the company, bringing 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 quickly recognises coming evolutions in consumer, industry and design trends. Her particular focus is on delivery, ensuring that the essence of a concept has always been fully evoked and that all the softer details and touchpoints meet her exacting standards.

Littlefair is regularly asked to write and speak about innovations in consumer behaviour, as well as in developments in luxury-market fabrics, furniture and colour.

Joseph Stella – Director, Twenty2Degrees

Prior to working with Twenty2Degrees, Joseph Stella worked as a senior designer for Jestico + Whiles and RPW Design.

He is currently working on projects such as Le Meridian Abuja, Hyatt Regency Rawalpindi, Four Points Sheraton Abuja and Westin Abuja. Since joining the company in 2013, Stella has brought to the team a diverse and open approach to design that encapsulates the ethos of twenty2degrees, strengthening the conceptual side of the practice.

 

Hamish Kilburn / 19.12.2018

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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.