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Rachel Savage is committed to bringing elegant ergonomics to Dubai.

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Hand sketch of the conference room for Clariden Leu.

Multi-functionality; social-responsibility and corporate creativity are just some of the keywords in Rachel Savage's daily design vocabulary. As project designer for office design specialist, CitySpace, devising a new breed of workspaces in Dubai is her main aim..

How did you choose interior design as a career?

When I was 13 years old I went on a trip to Barcelona and totally fell in love with the Antonio Gaudi architecture from the late 19th century Spanish Art Nouveau movement. In particular, I was fascinated by the unique way he adapted curves from nature and the human form in his designs. From that point on I dreamed of being an architect, but became drawn to creating the inner space rather than building the space. I completed my BA (Hons) degree in Interior Design in the UK and I've been a practicing interior designer in the commercial world for the past eight years.

You moved to Singapore straight after graduating - how did this experience shape your approach to interior design?

Working in Singapore as a fresh graduate was really a sink or swim situation. I was given huge responsibility considering my (lack of) experience and thankfully I swam! One of the most important things I learnt was to trust my instincts and have complete confidence in my designs. Singapore is a very competitive market, so we were always trying to come up with innovative designs.

Which of your projects in Singapore are you especially proud of?

It would have to be the design office I worked at. I was a relatively new recruit and it was a fantastic - yet challenging - opportunity to express my creativity. The design of the reception area revolved around the eye of the company logo, depicting our philosophy of an ‘eye for detail'. The focal point was the stunning cantilevered reception desk - a 4 metre long swathe of pure white Corian.

So what then brought you to Dubai?

I felt I'd firmly established my credentials as a professional and experienced designer and was ready for a fresh challenge. The media has had such a love-affair with Dubai in recent years and it's really staking its claim on the global map of ‘happening' places. It seemed to be such a vibrant cosmopolitan city through the huge amount of development taking place and I thought to myself ‘what an exciting place to be as a designer' ... and made the leap over to CitySpace!

What do you like most about your current role at CitySpace?

Believe it or not, I'm really interested in carpentry and marquetry craftsmanship! I especially enjoy being able to work so closely with the joinery company we partner up with. At least one unique feature usually appears in my design, be it a door or cabinet or reception desk. Watching it being built, I sometimes worry if it will turn out as I had pictured in my mind, but it's such a great feeling when you see the fabulous end result.

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