Our second colour selected for ‘Colours Matters’ is the fresh and relaxing Green
November 5, 2019
COVID-19: An Update from Apteriors
April 3, 2020We’re Growing! Apteriors welcomes new Interior Designer
With ambitious plans for the future, we’ve been meticulously handpicking staff to join the team because we fully understand that our company and our future projects will only be as good as our people. We’re keen to keep pushing ourselves with new ideas and techniques, so selecting the right people for the Design Team is particularly key.
Recently, we caught up with our newest addition: Interior Designer, Mike Valentini.
Hi Mike! Welcome. Let’s start with a little bit of background about yourself. Tell us about your family.
I come from Urbino, a small town in the central part of Italy, homeland of Raphael (this is our claim to fame). It is a quiet place nested on the top of a hill, surrounded by countryside, a completely different landscape to London, where I moved 2 years ago.
My family is involved in the classic car business, that’s why I drive an old Fiat 500 from 1969 every time I am home visiting my parents. I have a brother who lives in London too (he drives a brand-new Mini Cooper though).
Classic cars, wow – I think we know where your eye for design comes from! And what about your studies? Were they in Italy too?
I attended the Industrial Design programme at the IUAV University of Venice, followed by an MA in Design at the Linnéuniversitetet in Växjö, Sweden. I think of design as a way to pursue functionality and studying in Scandinavia was a great opportunity to grow in that direction. I am also very interested in sustainability which was one of the pivotal points of my MA programme.
Oh yes, we are 100% behind the idea of interiors being beautiful and functional at the same time. So after uni, was it straight to London?
No, first I did an internship at GumDesign in Viareggio, Italy. They are a multidisciplinary studio that works in product, interior and architecture. And then it was London.
Prior to Apteriors, I worked as an interior designer for IPT Architects, London. The studio is focused on modular building with a keen eye on sustainability.
And here we are. For those that don’t know, what have you been working on since you joined?
I joined the design team when Apteriors was working to get the BIM Level 2 Certification. So, the first challenge was to make sure that our standards met the level 2 requirements. I really enjoyed it, as it gave me the chance to quickly understand how the company works in a lot of depth. Since then, I’ve worked on several interior design projects, mainly for educational spaces.
Ah, exciting times! What was it that attracted you to the role?
I wanted to work in a medium sized design team with the ambition to grow, and Apteriors is exactly what I was looking for. Functionality is a key role here, and I felt I could fit into this way of doing design.
Absolutely, it’s been great to have you join us. How has your time with us been so far?
I am learning a lot about educational spaces and how the interiors should be designed, while I work on the projects we have now, and this is something I am keen to continue doing every day. You should never stop learning, right?
Definitely. It’s great that we can all learn from each other, pushing the company forward.
I couldn’t have hoped for a better environment. I found a cohesive design team always ready to help and give advice. It’s a real collaborative way of working, which I really enjoy. Behind the scenes, the company is growing, and the future looks promising.
Thanks Mike! And once again, welcome to the team.
A BIT OF FUN
Ok Mike, this is the fun bit. It’s a quick-fire round so tell us the first thing that comes to your mind. No over-thinking! Ready, Steady, Go..