Susan Quirke is a partner at Quirke McNamara Consultancy (QMC), offering interior design advice to clients in the Greater London area. Susan established the company to provide a bespoke solution to her clients and with expertise in lightning specifically, Susan and her team are experts at illuminating installations to fully showcase the design, furniture and architecture of properties. QMC also works on all types of projects including residential, commercial and entertainment installations. So we are proud to bring you the Designer Insights of Susan Quirke.
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1) In your own words describe your unique style and creative aesthetic?
My work is quite modern and I work with lighting as part of my interior design so I've always been known for my integration of both to create something quite dramatic and unique for each client. I like to do bespoke design items within my work so that each client has a unique interior.
2) When starting a new project, what is your creative process?
I always like to fully understand the clients wants and needs and their lifestyle and habits initially and then from there look at the space in both the day and evening so I create a design that works on both levels and is a fully thought out design. Its very important to spend time in the space understanding light quality and how this changes the overall space.
3) Out of the creative people you have worked with, who is it that you respect and admire the most?
I don’t generally work with any other creative people as I work with Contractors and sub-contractors and as I undertake the design and lighting and even the landscape design I'm generally the only creative on the job. A designer I admire would be Fabio Novembre an Italian designer who has a fantastic portfolio of very avant garde work from Nightclub to ceramic tile design.
4) When looking for inspiration is there a particular thing you do to get inspired?
Take a walk on the beach or anywhere quiet and remote really. You need to clear your head to be able to think in a creative way and any stress block creativity so walking on the beach or by the river works well for me. I would tend to do that rather than go looking in showrooms or looking at city life. Travel always inspires me to get a fresh perspective on life.
5) What has brought you to this point in your career? And what is your advice for people looking to follow in your footsteps?
I started with a degree in psychology then went into project management and then into design and then started my own company. My advise is that you can't think of design as a glamorous fun job its very stressful with very long hours and anyone coming into the industry without having a proper technical background and understanding clearly what can go wrong won't last. It has to be a passion as design isn’t a 9 to 5 type job which seems to shock a lot of people.
