Meet Our Head Designer : Lucy Spencer

ACI Group is thrilled to announce that Lucy Spencer has joined the team as our new Head Designer, supporting the development of our design department and helping to create iconic workspaces.

A passionate, innovative and creative Interior Designer, Lucy has a Master in Interior Design and a proficient portfolio of work across the industry. 

With a focus on creating designs with people at the heart, Lucy recognises the importance of maintaining the client`s original vision throughout the whole process and this is just one of the reasons that made her join ACI Group, a company that shares the same vision.

Whilst designing amazing projects, Lucy has also completed her RICS SKA exam, an environmental assessment method, benchmark and standard for non-domestic fit-outs, allowing her to bring sustainability as a key focus in her design process.

“Sustainability and wellbeing are highly important to me as a designer. I qualified as a RICS SKA Assessor in 2017 to allow me to work with clients who are keen to achieve a sustainability accreditation. In the process I have also gained a further understanding into how we as designers can have a positive impact on a fit-out project, even down to the smallest details when specifying products.”, she mentions.

We sat down with Lucy to get to know more about her and her short and long term goals at ACI.

What was the moment you knew you wanted to be a designer?

I honestly can’t remember even not wanting to be a designer. Design has always been a huge part of my life. I remember from a young age the challenges that my dad (who is in a wheelchair) faced day to day due to poor design. I could see solutions to these challenges and from then on, knew whatever I chose as a career would be to help make people lives better through design.

What inspires you the most?

I am most inspired by people.

Listening and understanding their challenges, expectations and aspirations is crucial to creating great design. Applying some great logic, sense and knowledge to a design is key but every design is different and that’s because we as humans are all different. 

I take inspiration from sources external to design, looking at the challenges we face currently, such as climate change, all these being a source of inspiration for me to become a better designer.

What excites you about this role?

The most exciting aspect of the role for me is getting to work closely with clients and the ACI team to design and deliver great work. The new design team comes with real strengths and different talents and I can’t wait to be a part of it. Bringing my experience of workplace design into this role, I look forward to sharing insights and learnings from pervious pitches and projects. I am looking forward to getting to know the team and working alongside everyone.

How do you see your future at ACI Group and what are your short term goals?

I see an exciting future with Absolute, growing with a business on the edge of an exciting growth journey. I hope to grow with the business and make a real impact along the way pitching, designing and winning work. My short term goals are to develop the current design processes enabling the design team to work effectively and efficiently, alongside developing how the design team engages and interacts with the wider team.

 Tell us about your favourite project.

My favourite project to date would be the design and delivery of Adidas HQ in Stockport. The key driver for the Adidas HQ was to put employees at the heart, to energise and inspire their people and improve their performance and wellbeing. I worked closely with the client and design influencers from across the business to ensure we delivered exactly that.  

Due to the existing architecture, silos had been created in the business as the floorplates were made up of a series of ‘maze like’ offices. The floorplates were opened up by removing build environment from the centre and re-locating them to the perimeter and creating central hubs, allowing people to connect and collaborate.

Following this project from design through into delivery taught me a great deal about working with a client to achieve the initial brief and drivers, whilst also overcoming any challenges along the way. This project will stay with me forever not only because of the successful outcome, but for the growth and learning I gained as a designer.

 What phase of the design process you enjoy the most?

The most exciting part of the design process for me is the early client engagement through into the first conceptual design output. Listening to the clients early brief and being able to present back a design which not only fulfils the brief but also develops the initial thinking, gives me a great sense of pride.

 What is it that made you join ACI Group?

The growth mindset of everyone at ACI Group and the talent within the new design team is really what caught my attention. On first impressions the ACI Group felt like family and a family I wanted to be a part of. The opportunity to work with great clients and interesting projects really made my decision for me. I’m excited for the future with ACI Group and can’t wait to get stuck into some amazing projects with a great team!

 How do you think the pandemic influenced office design and interior design trends?

Clearly the pandemic has made people stop and think about the purpose of the office. People and organisations are now having to navigate the balance between home and office based working. I believe it has given people the freedom of choice and organisations are figuring out how to entice their colleagues back into the office.

People are expecting more from the office as some people will need a greater push to come back , now more than ever.

Therefore, I think some of the biggest trends we will see off the back of the pandemic are more collaborative settings and wellbeing gaining priority for employees.

I think we will see an increase in the wellbeing offering in offices such as retreat spaces, in house gyms, cycle parking and showers to encourage people to cycle or walk to work, as well as investment in healthy buildings. I think more organisations will see the value of investing in the WELL building standard or Fitwel Certification to help them create a great space for their people.



 


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