Catching Up on the Journey So Far
written by Dicky
Five years have flown by. It was great to sit down once again with Rion Willard on the Business of Architecture UK podcast — this time from our new White Red studio in Shoreditch. Joe and I gave Rion a tour and reflected on what’s changed since we last spoke, and more importantly, what’s stayed the same.
From day one, we’ve believed that having an entrepreneurial mindset is key to running a strong design-led practice. For us, that means treating the studio like an evolving system — one that supports creative work, rather than gets in the way of it. We talked about the importance of staying agile, challenging assumptions, and creating space for people to contribute in meaningful ways.
The conversation also touched on hiring, ownership, and the culture we’re building. Growth isn’t just about numbers — it’s about building a team that’s diverse in thinking and aligned in values. Giving people creative autonomy, trusting them to make decisions, and allowing space to shape their own roles has become core to how we work.
Big thanks to Rion for having us back. Taking time to reflect — and to talk about both the wins and the ongoing challenges — was a reminder of how far we’ve come and how much further we want to go.
