Meet the team: Claire

We would like to introduce you to Claire O’Connell, who recently joined us as an Interior Designer with over five years of experience across hospitality, commercial, and boutique residential projects in the UK and New Zealand.

Skilled in crafting beautifully refined and functional interiors, Claire is also highly experienced in FF&E packages and 3D visualisations. We asked Claire a few questions to help you all get to know her a bit better.

Tell us a little bit about you, your background and your role at spacelab_?

I’m an interior designer from New Zealand and I have been living in London for almost three years. I love all things travel, live music and exploring the scenic outdoors! My professional experience began in a multi-disciplinary architectural practice, working on a broad range of sectors. Since moving to London, I have expanded my experience across hospitality design for a hotel developer, as well as high-end residential design and now commercial projects for spacelab_! The role provides a well-rounded experience across all stages of the design and delivery process, which I find both rewarding and motivating. 

What inspires you?

I find inspiration in the people around me every day, whether it’s collaborating with my talented colleagues or sharing ideas and experiences with friends; it continually exposes me to new perspectives, challenges my thinking and encourages me to stay curious and open-minded. Travel is another significant source of inspiration. Discovering new cultures, experiencing different approaches to art and design, and learning about the histories and stories that shape places gives me a broader understanding of how people interact with their environments. It continually reminds me of the powerful role design plays in shaping experiences and creating meaningful connections between people and place. 

What do you like most about working at spacelab_?

Without a doubt, the people are what I enjoy most about working at Spacelab. I genuinely admire my colleagues and feel lucky to be surrounded by such talented, supportive, and warm individuals. The strong sense of teamwork and positive culture make it a pleasure to come to work each day and motivates me to continually grow and contribute my best. 

What made you want to join the spacelab_?

I’m passionate about designing spaces that can positively impact people’s lives, and that’s what I believe Spacelab is executing amazingly. I was drawn to the studio's ability to deliver innovative and meaningful spaces, which combined with the opportunity to work on exciting projects alongside a talented team, feels like the perfect place to continue developing as a designer. 

If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?

If I could change one thing about the world, it would be the existence of poverty and hunger. It’s difficult to accept that, in a world with so many resources, access to basic needs like food and security is still not universal.