Megan Morton (nee Ronnfeldt) is an interior designer with over 20 years experience and is currently working at WMK in Melbourne where she is interested in the burgeoning area of activity based working design.
Where do you currently work?
I'm a senior interior designer and project team leader at WMK Architecture in Melbourne.
What does your standard day involve?
It depends on what status any given project is but we work a lot with clients, project managers or we do a lot of work with consultants and suppliers and there's a lot of coordination and collaboration between those core members of a team. It's not really just WMK; there is a large team behind us.
Within the WMK team we work on everything from initial planning of doing briefing, to complete detailed design for documentation. When we're on site then we do site works as well.
What tools and software do you work with?
We use a lot of different types of programs. For a drawing program we currently work on AutoCad but WMK is moving onto Revit, which gives us the opportunity to utilise BIM which is Building Information Modelling both a design tool and management system, which enables us to work in 3D as well as work very closely with consultants to integrate that work.
Eventually that model can become a tool that then facilities managers for buildings use to help run their buildings more efficiently and effectively.
In addition to those drawing programs we also use a lot of graphics programs so we use illustrator, Indesign, Photoshop and we also use Sketchup. I also love hand drawing so I am a bit old school sometimes.
What is your biggest challenge?
My biggest challenge I'd say is a bit of a balancing act, being able to balance the coordination of all our consultants and the client's aspirations with a final outcome and being able to balance some creativity with some practicality. You've got to work quite laterally in the way you think about things and problem solving. That is quite a challenge sometimes and there are always different problems / challenges everyday which is quite nice.
How did you get to be in your role?
I've got about 20 years experience and I have predominately worked in commercial design. I studied at University of Technology, Sydney for four years and worked in both Melbourne and Sydney and I think you do get a lot of mentoring along the way working within the industry. However you do have to formally learn the basics of design, history of design and well as the more practical side of things.
What were your previous jobs and roles?
BVN Donovan Hill, Melbourne – Senior Associate – Interior Designer
WMK Architecture, Sydney – Senior Interior Designer
HBO+EMTB, Sydney – Senior Interior Designer
Incorp, Sydney – Interior Designer
What do you like best about your job?
I love drawing and nutting out the planning, design and the direction of a project. Being able to take a very conceptual idea and transform that into something that is tangible.
Our designs assist clients in whatever they might do depending on what the project is - whether it's a workplace, education or even a health club. It's the translating of those initial concepts which is what I really quite enjoy and I love seeing it come together on site, that's the most exciting thing.
What is your biggest frustration in your job?
Not enough time to do the stuff that I really like to do because it's a complex process and it is one element of a larger picture. I think the frustration is not having enough time to do that bit that got you enthused about being a designer in the first place but you win in some respects when you get great outcomes. That makes the frustration fade away pretty quickly.
What project are you most proud of and why?
In my last place of employment at BVN Donovan Hill, we worked on the Good Shed North project which was the old Good Shed near Spencer Street station (now Southern Cross Station) and it was sitting derelict for a long time. It was a heritage listed railway building used for goods and logistics.
We transformed that into a workplace for the Building Commission and Places Victoria ( formerly Vic Urban).
To be able to turn a derelict building into a contemporary workplace and achieve a 5 star green star rating was pretty amazing. It really was a great accomplishment.
What are you most proud of in your professional life?
I think it's making a difference in people's lives. Creating environments that enable people to be empowered and achieve the goals they put their heart to whether it is a workplace where they spend the bulk of their time and have an environment that supports them and use whatever skills they need to do to complete their job.
CBRE’s new workplace by WMK is an example of Activity Based Working design
Or if it's education, they need an environment that allows them to think a bit differently. I think that's one of the things that make me feel proud - when we can create a place where people love to be in even though they mightn't know exactly what it is that entices them to a space but it changes the way people feel.
What has been your biggest career challenge?
I think the biggest challenge was when I first started. I came out of university and there was a recession, it was quite hard at that stage to get into the industry as there was not much work about so through a series of different companies I've worked with, I had to build up a whole heap of experience. I think that was the biggest hurdle - getting into the business in the first place.
What is the biggest challenge facing your business?
I think if you're looking at the Architecture and Design business in general, we really have to maintain commercial viability and especially in today's economic climate.
This is something I've been working with the DIA on, How we make businesses aware of how important design is as a tool for their businesses. We need to re-confirm these attributes as design is not easily quantified in benefit but there really is a benefit there.
I think all of the design industry finds it quite challenging to enable people to understand the value of design in their business. We have to work very hard at making sure that we're innovative, pushing the edges and making good choices. Design decisions for businesses that challenge the way people think or do business.
CBRE’s new workplace by WMK
ABW (activity based working) is one of the ways it's currently being challenged. Sometimes it's trial and error. ABW is quite new and is being adopted by a lot of financial institutions.
WMK has just completed CBRE's headquarters in that style of working and I think it's going to be a challenge for some businesses, while it will be perfect for others. It's an interesting progression for design.
Contact details?
Linked In: Megan Morton
Website http://wmkarchitecture.com/
Blog: http://wmkarchitecture.com/blog/
Email: [email protected]
All images courtesy of WMK
