people

Click on an image or the list of names to read a short biography of each team member.

Linda Farrow

Linda founded White Design with fellow director Craig White in 1988. She has particular responsibility for sustainability consultancy, environmental policy, business development, programme management, quality assurance and research. 

Linda has extensive experience of working at national and European level in developing and implementing environmental legislation and policy.

Drawing on her MSc in corporate social responsibility, Linda offers consultancy advice on brief development and integration of sustainable development and environmental policy into clients’ day-to-day operations.

Linda is vice-chair of Creating Excellence, the South West’s centre for excellence in sustainable communities, a steering group member of the South West design review panel and a contributor to the South West panel on climate change impact and construction (SWCCIP).  In 2010 Linda was apponted as  a Visiting Fellow at the Systems Centre, University of Bristol.

Rachel Bramley

A graduate of the University of Edinburgh, Rachel developed her interest in environmental design with an MSc in Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies at CAT and UEL.  Rachel has led several major projects at White Design, with recent schemes focussing on the calculation of embodied energy and carbon in construction projects. 

Rachel now combines her research interest with the position of PA to the directors, working on a job-share basis with Catherine Ruffles. She brings an added dimension to the role through her sound knowledge of project management and research capability.

Sophie Christensen

Sophie is a qualified accounting technician and is studying towards her ACCA professional qualifications. Sophie worked as an accounts manager in the pensions and marketing sector before joining White Design in 2009 to support the day-to-day operations of the practice’s finance department. 

Louise Ciotti

Louise is a graduate of Sheffield University and gained her early professional experience in the UK and Portugal. She has a strong interest in health and the built environment and is keen to ensure that the well-being of occupants is a priority in her design work. 

Louise was part of the design team which transformed an industrial shed on Bristol’s harbourside into Bordeaux Quay, an organic brasserie and deli. Louise runs a number of research initiatives within White Design, ensuring the practice stays at the cutting edge of sustainable design.

Frances Cobley

Frances gained an MSc in Theory and Practice of Sustainable Design at Cardiff University before joining White Design in 2008. France’s prior experience included a community church, domestic renovations and new build projects, as well as contributing to the final phase of the Wales Millennium Centre. 

Frances gained her RIBA Part 3 professional qualification in 2009 while leading on the design for Ynysowen primary school in Aberfan, South Wales, which was completed in 2010. Frances  brings a strong interest in whole life costing and the impact of materials specification to her role. 

Russ Curgenven

Russell is a freelance consultant with 25 years’ experience helping businesses charities and individuals with information technology. Initially trained as an electronics design engineer, Russell worked as a programmer and systems administrator before launching his own IT support consultancy 3 years ago.

At White Design, Russell undertakes the role of Network Infrastructure Consultant, working closely with the team at strategic and practical levels to ensure our IT systems are appropriately resourced and consistently supported.

Eleanor Deacon Smith

Elly  joined White Design in 2005 and completed her professional practice and management qualifications while working on a number of award-winning projects. She was part of the design team for the Dalby Forest Visitor Centre as well as project leader for Rogiet primary school and Woodpecker eco-house.

Building on an early specialism in the relationship between architecture and sculpture, Elly has a keen interest in design, aesthetics and composition and is particularly aware of how buildings affect the people who live or work in them - a philosophy which informs her sensitive approach to building design.

Andrew Docherty

Andrew originally studied ceramics and spent some years teaching and exhibiting throughout the UK before entering architecture. He continued to explore architectural themes related to his art practice while preparing his Masters degree at the Welsh School of Architecture, including traditional construction techniques and the use of pattern and ornamentation of form in design.

Since joining White Design in 2005, Andrew has worked on visitor centres and schools and was the design team leader for the award-winning Dartington primary and community school in Devon.

Joe Edgard

Joe’s qualifications are in the disciplines of architecture and planning. He is a chartered town planner and is working towards his professional and management qualifications in architecture. 

Before joining White Design, Joe gained experience in a major planning and design consultancy, where he worked on a number of large scale masterplans and planning applications.

Joe enjoys facilitating public consultation events and his special interest is in the different approaches to weaving together existing and proposed new areas of development. 

Miles Ford

A graduate in business administration, Miles joined White Design as Business Process Advisor in 2008. In January 2010,  Miles represented WDA’s sister company,  ModCell,  a sustainable prefabricated straw bale cladding system, as part of the UK’s Clean and Cool Mission to San Francisco. One of just 19 clean technology firms to be selected by the UK government, ModCell has been used in residential, educational and commercial sectors to create buildings with outstanding thermal performance.

Following the success of the Clean and Cool Mission, Miles relocated to San Francisco in August 2010 where he is now working as a consultant,  developing  new contacts and business opportunities in the field of low environmental impact design. 

Contact: Miles Ford
228 Grant Ave, 4th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94108, USA
t: + 00 1 415 987 6845
e: miles@white-design.com
Note: San Fransisco time zone is US Pacific Standard, GMT-8

Craig White 

Craig founded White Design with fellow director Linda Farrow in 1998. He has 25 years' experience in architectural practice in the UK and Europe and has been involved in low energy and sustainable design since the 1980s. A graduate of the Welsh School of Architecture and the Architectural Association, his approach to design is innovative and grounded in a thorough understanding of practical delivery. 

Craig is a Design Advice consultant with the Carbon Trust and worked with dBERR (now BIS) on the Low Carbon Buildings Programme.  Craig is a board member of the Timber Research and Development Association and is Chair of Wood for Gold, the government’s champion of timber buildings for the 2012 Olympics. He is a  steering group member of the Technology Strategy Board and a trustee of Spike Island, the centre for contemporary art and design in Bristol. Craig is also a senior lecturer at the Department of Planning and Architecture at UWE, where he teaches architectural design with special emphasis on the principles of sustainability at both undergraduate and post graduate levels. In 2010 Craig was appointed as a Visiting Fellow at the Systems Centre at the University of Bristol.

Tim Forster

Tim studied architecture in Manchester and Bristol, before joining White Design in June 2009. He brings over four years of experience, previously working for an international multi-disciplinary practice, and then a small but highly regarded design studio specialising in environmentally responsive architecture with a specialism in housing and community work.

His interests include sustainable city design, the rehabilitation of buildings and the importance of ‘play’ within architecture, which was the basis of his thesis project for his Bachelor of Architecture degree which he has just completed with distinction.

Fiona Franklin

With a degree in integrated engineering, Fiona has applied her varied skill set to an increasing portfolio of consultancy and architectural projects since joining White Design in 2006. Fiona was project manager for Project Faraday, a government initiative to support interactive science teaching and learning by developing inspirational ‘exemplar’ designs for science provision. 

Fiona has a keen interest in community work and was a development coach for The Prince’s Trust. She brings her knowledge of social issues to her current role as project manager for White Design’s largest commission to date, the Oxford Academy.

Matthew Graves

Matthew studied Eco Design at Goldsmiths University of London and has worked in the UK and the USA as a building designer-maker and teacher of craft skills and design.

Matthew has extensive experience of working with computers, both in the practical sense of troubleshooting and repair, as well as more creative applications for art and design projects.  He combines his practical knowledge of operating systems with his art and graphic skills to produce websites and promotional material using a variety of media.

Matt Harrison

Matt has extensive experience in two areas of White Design’s activity. His design team leadership and construction management experience is demonstrated in his design for Torfaen County Borough Council’s Eco office, using straw bale technology. Matt is also the practice’s Project Lead Consultant, overseeing all our consultancy work.

Matt’s work in project-managing the Sustainable Design Code for the Ely Bridge scheme in Cardiff has led to a strategic policy advisory role to assist the Welsh Assembly Government in developing a Sustainable Buildings Policy for Wales.

Nick James

A graduate of the Welsh School of Architecture, Nick joined the practice in 2003 and is now a senior architect overseeing a number of schemes, including the recently completed £12M John Ferneley College in Leicestershire.

During a year spent in practice in Malaysia, Nick developed a keen interest in the concept of regionalism and a critical awareness of designing in response to locality and climate, an approach which continues to inform his work today.

Pat Hobbs

Before joining White Design, Pat had more than 20 years experience as an HR professional and Trainer in addition to managing small and large teams.  A Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel and Development Pat is the Human Resources Advisor for the practice. She supports the directors and staff by providing advice and guidance on human resources issues, developing HR policies and processes and identifying opportunities for individual and team skills and knowledge development. 

Karl Hutchison

After graduating from Liverpool University, Karl developed his interest in sustainable architecture through a PhD in Sustainable City Design, developing a support framework for low energy, self-build/participative housing - a continuing interest which influences his approach to all architectural projects. 

Karl brings over 10 years’ experience to his role as a Project Architect at White Design where he has led several residential, office, retail and mixed-use schemes since joining us in 2006. He is now Project Architect for the practice’s most significant commission to date, the Oxford Academy.

Paul Osborne

Paul studied architecture in Manchester and joined White Design in 2009, bringing 12 years’ professional experience to the practice. Paul has worked extensively in the housing, office and retail sectors and has a particular interest in the sensitive remodelling of urban environments particularly where they include listed buildings. He enjoys all aspects of the architectural process - from initial environmental analysis and building regulations strategies, through design development with the client, to construction information and contract management.

Louisa Philpott

Louisa studied design at Napier University in Edinburgh and Bioclimatic Architecture in Portsmouth before joining White Design in August 2009 bringing 12 years of professional experience in architecture practice.

Louisa has worked on masterplanning projects in urban locations in London and the South West. She has latterly focussed on urban extension and design coding in suburban areas and is now working on consultancy and urban design projects at White Design. 

Catherine Ruffles

As PA to the Directors, Catherine supports Linda Farrow and Craig White across the full range of White Design’s business and creative activity, a role she currently job-shares with Rachel Bramley.

With a background in hotel management, Catherine enjoys dealing with all aspects of the practice’s business administration, from day-to-day diary management to organising the team’s annual Away Day. She has a special interest in CPD and in developing the practice’s role as a learning organisation.

Vicki Sansum

Vicki first became a member of the White Design team in 2008 and has recently rejoined the practice after completing her Part II at Cardiff University.  In her thesis Vicki explored ‘Colour and Identity of a Valley Town’  looking at the role of architecture in helping a community regain a lost sense of identity. 

Vicki was involved with the Oxford Academy project, working on the elevational design and selection of the colour concept that runs through the building. Her current role involves  recording, monitoring and reviewing new work opportunities across all sectors as part of our business development activity,

Steve Terry

Steve trained as an engineer and then studied for an MBA before embarking on his architectural career. A graduate Architectural Technologist, Steve is working on a number of Education projects whilst studying for further architectural qualifications.

Steve has previous experience of large scale planning applications and also developed a design code as part of a design and access statement for a 5000 unit residential master plan. He also has extensive knowledge of ModCell prefabricated straw bale panels.

Helen Walford

Helen’s role as practice accountant began in 2006, when she brought her experience in a diverse range of industries to White Design. Having qualified as an accountant in 1997, Helen previously managed finance departments in organisations ranging from engineering to media and telecommunications.

Helen’s main focus is to maintain the integrity of the finance function and develop management reporting and forecasting in line with the company’s business strategy.

Anna Whitworth

Anna graduated from Sheffield University with a joint honours degree in landscape design and ecology followed by a diploma in landscape architecture. She now brings over seven years’ experience to her role as a landscape architect at White Design.

Anna has experience of designing in sensitive, historic and socially challenging settings and enjoys facilitating community consultation events. Anna’s work is enriched by her personal interest in the culture and arts of different countries and a passion for exploring colour.

Samantha Wright

Samantha originally trained as a 3D designer in products, interiors and furniture before pursuing her architectural career. She has extensive experience of developing the concept and design strategy for a range of educational projects as well as project-managing major residential and mixed-use developments in London and the South-East.

One of Samantha’s earliest and continuing interests is sustainable urban development. She also brings to her role as Project Architect at White Design experience of planning and development on sensitive sites, design of affordable homes, design for people with long-term disabilities and master planning.