IF YOU COULD GO BACK AND
DESIGN IN A DIFFERENT PERIOD
OF HISTORY, WHEN WOULD IT BE?
I’d love to go back to the 1920’s Bauhaus
period. This was an era when the gap between
art and industry was bridged and would have been
a fascinating era to have lived and worked in.WHICH ICONIC FIGURE WOULD
YOU LOVE TO DESIGN FOR?
I would love to design for an iconic Hollywood
‘character’, partly because I love movies, but
mainly because I could imagine that their
brief (and budget!) would be nothing short of
amazing! Designing to a narrative is the only way
that works for me and understanding the true
character and story that lies beneath a surface
brief is the inspiration and the fascination.WHAT FILM OR TELEVISION
SERIES FOR YOU ENCAPSULATES
THE PERFECT ON-SCREEN INTERIOR?
This is such a tricky question! If I want to dream
of romantic holiday locations, you can’t fault the
old-fashioned charm and beauty from the sets for
‘The Great Gatsby’ and ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’.
If I’m on my Californian inspiration wave, that
takes me to the alluring Beverley Hills apartment
of ‘The Graduate’. Fusing nature with incredible
architecture, The Ghost Writer has the edge here,
as do many of the James Bond sets. For more
recent movies, Iron Man lives in such a cool house,
and, now that I’m talking movies that I watch with
my children, I can’t help but mention Harry Potter;
the detail that went into those set designs was
beyond magical and so imaginative. I also can’t
leave out the original Bladerunner set, now
hat is inspiration.WHAT SONGS AND ARTISTS INSPIRE
YOU IN YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENT?
We’re very democratic in the studio and the dial
on the radio is always getting reset! However
music is incredibly powerful and an importantsupport for your frame of mind, whether it is for
maintaining focus or allowing your brain to change
state to tackle a different task. It’s about diversity
for me, a mix of experiencing new vibes and
embracing known, more ‘comforting’ vibes ... but
generally being lifted and inspired from a numberof different sources. I find that true inspiration can
never be found in just one source alone.NAME ANOTHER DESIGNER WORKING
NOW WHOSE SENSE OF STYLE YOU ADMIRE.
Patricia Urquiola has impeccable taste and designs
beautiful furniture.WHAT CHANGES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE
HAPPEN IN THE INTERIOR DESIGN INDUSTRY?
The design industry is such a vast and diverse
world and it is constantly evolving and changing. In
our lifetime, technology has had a huge impact
on the design industry, for better and for worse,
as has the enlightenment around issues relating
to the environment and sustainability. Design as
a force for good is vital but I’d like to make sure it
doesn’t obscure the magic. At its very basic level,
design reminds us of who we are as individuals,
with our own unique stories and journeys. It is such
a powerful vehicle for inspiration and pleasure and
we must be careful that we don’t allow the magic
of this to be washed away.
Design is a very personal language, one which
we interpret and translate in our own way, it’s an
important part of who we are as individuals, and
there is no right or wrong. Every form of creativity
should be nurtured at this very basic human level
and I believe, encouraged in our children and
future generations at school.http://www.studiofibre.comLast Word
WE ASKED FIONA LIVINGSTON, CO-FOUNDER, STUDIOFIBRE, TO REFLECT
ON CULTURAL REFERENCES THAT INSPIRE HER, NAMELY, MOVIE SETS.FILMSCAPE
DESTINATIONS
thelastword
If I’m on my
Californian
inspiration wave,
that takes me to the
alluring Beverley
Hills apartment of
‘The Graduate’...”“
Above: Fiona Livingston is a self-confessed
movie buff and loves fusing her passion for film
with her knowledge of the nuances of design.