My name is Sam, Iβm a designer
and researcher of s(p)orts.
I run πππππ πππ ππππππ studio.
M.O.
My specialism is design for playful, interactive use, always informed by explorative research, hopefully leading to ecologically balanced, healthy, ludic spaces, systems and objects.
I most often ply my trade at the early stages of ambitious projects, the first ascents of unclimbed peaks, slotting into teams and helping generate concepts that set the tone (and a high bar) for greater things to come.
Β
PREV EXP
Iβve spent the last couple of decades working with rekown designers, architects, cultural and technological organisations to realise visionary ambitions from unique briefs for special clients. [1]
[1] OMA, Heatherwick Studio, Rafael Vinoly Architects, Arup, the BBC, Google /Alphabet, see bottom of page for extended list.
Google Bay View (2014-17)
Role: Human Scale and Interiors Lead for Heatherwick Studio across projects for Google. Image:SA
Role: Human Scale and Interiors Lead for Heatherwick Studio across projects for Google. Image:SA
Battersea Power Station Redevelopment (2007-08)
Role: Design team at Rafael Vinoly Architects / Project leader for the construction of a Community Consultation Suite for developer Treasury HoldingsΒ
Image:SA
Role: Design team at Rafael Vinoly Architects / Project leader for the construction of a Community Consultation Suite for developer Treasury HoldingsΒ
Image:SA
Along the way, Iβve led schemes for new city neighbourhoods, designed construction systems, re-fitted heritage buildings with weird and wonderful new programmes, got my hands dirty on site, made fine things in workshops, and honed my design craft all the way down to crossing some tβs in typographic work.
Projects Iβve worked on have spanned scales and typologies - from workplace to healthcare, from cities to apps - their common ground being an ambition to challenge tired norms and push for something better.
AND NOW?
In 2019 I set up πππΌπΎπ πΌππΏ ππππππ - a near-future, research-driven visioning studio, applying some ongoing philosophical investigations to the darstedly real-world contexts that are getting hotter and more dangerous by the day.
These philosophical ideas revolve around the importance of βecologically relative autonomyβ - or in plain terms, making sure nature (including humans) remains an engaged and interactive component in what we design, rather than automated out. [2]
The most recent interrogation of these ideas was five years of faffing about on a PhD: Friction as Affordance for Flourishing (2026, University of Cambridge, UK)Β
For more on this see:
ππππππππ.πππππ
OTHER DATA:
See the project log for list of selected and recent projects
[full cv on request]
PhD - Philosophy of Design
Architecture Department
University of Cambridge (2020-24)
MPhil - Architecture & Urban Studies University of Cambridge (2019-20)
MArch (Dist) - Architecture
Royal College of Art (2011-13)
+
BArch @ Kingston (05-07)
Spatial+Int Design @ Chelsea (04-05)
Fine Art Foundation @ Central Saint Martins (03-04)
Founder/Director:
Space and Motion
(2018-Present)
Designer/Project Leader
at Heatherwick Studio
(2011-2017)
Office for Metropolitan Architecture (2009-10)
Rafael Vinoly Architects (2007-08)
Consulting and freelance
work for and with:
Architecture for Hummanity / Arup / Ash Sakula / Alison Brooks Architects / BBC / Brisac Gonzalez / Dowen Farmer / Eastlight Community Housing / iuvantium / Google / Greenfields Community Housing / Livlet / Nebbia Works / Patalab / Prior + Partners / Sidewalk Labs / Vital INC
A Models
Adamson Associates
AKTII
Arup
Atelier Ten
Bjarke Ingels Group
Dan Pearson Studio
Deloitte
Devcon Construction
Fisher Marantz Stone
HLW
Marc Koehler Architects
Occulus Light Studio
The Place Bureau
Schulze+Grassov
Transport for London
Turner & Townsend
Turner Works
West 8
Whiting-Turner
AXA-XL
Bristol City Council
Birmingham City FC
Dramatic Need (Arts Charity)
Google (Alphabet)
Government of Bhutan
Huntingtonshire Council
LAMP (Homeless Charity)
Lendlease
London First
Miu Miu
Peabody
Prada
Sidewalk Labs (Alphabet)
Transport for London
Treasury Holdings
YouTube
Victoria and Albert Museum
Wellcome Trust