The interior designer is now Senior Interior Designer at POCO Designs. She sits down with Architecture and Design’s Digital Editor Clémence Carayol to talk about her new role.

Architecture & Design: Congratulations on your new role! Can you share what this new position entails and what you’re most excited about?

Harleen Grewal: In early November, I started my new role as a Senior Interior Designer at POCO Designs, a renowned high-end interior design studio, specialising in bespoke designs.

At POCO Designs most of the furnishings in our projects are originals designed by the firm. I am thrilled to be designing bespoke furniture items and challenge myself to elevate my creativity through my designs.

How has your career trajectory led you to this point, and what pivotal moments or projects have been particularly influential?

The most pivotal moment in my career was when I changed interior design industries from commercial to high-end residential.

Working in the commercial industry, the fast pace and lower budgets attached to the projects limited my creative expression. Designs would often become quite repetitive and mundane, which left me feeling uninspired.

Shifting to high-end residential introduced me to a world of larger budgets and thought-driven design.

Longer project timelines allow for more thoughtful and curated design. For example, it is easier to take sustainability into consideration when you have ample time and money. It was disheartening that previous short deadlines did not allow opportunities for it to be open for consideration; it is definitely a flaw in the industry.

Now, I consider future generations with timeless design at the forefront of my process, utilising high quality materials and sourcing bold furnishing that are so wild they will forever be cool!

In what ways do you plan to leverage your new position to impact the firm and the field of interior design more broadly?

At past firms I have been dubbed ‘the colour expert’; this is definitely a strength of mine. I plan to bring my colour expertise, bold design flair and dynamic creativity to POCO Designs.

I will be pushing myself to create new forms and expressions of design, which will hopefully be a catalyst for more experimentation across the board.

What challenges have you faced in your career, and how have they shaped your approach to interior design and leadership?

The biggest challenge I faced in my career is lack of confidence in my designs. The early stages of my career were an internal struggle, having to constantly remind myself that I was in my role for a reason. With experience, my confidence followed. I am proud to say, I have overcome this challenge and am now confident in my designs and capabilities.

This realisation has made my creativity flourish, not just as an interior designer, but also in other creative mediums. As interior designers we are expressing many emotions in our designs; it is important to acknowledge what we do is emotional.

Leadership at POCO designs is more about involving staff members of all levels in all stages of the design process. My role is less about hierarchical leadership and more about sharing my knowledge and experience.

How do you envision the future of interior design evolving, and how do you plan to contribute to that vision in your new role?

There is a shift towards artisanal design in Australia. Australia is currently lacking in artisanal design, as we don’t have the generations of craftspeople Europe has. We are seeing a big shift in our clients wanting their home to be customised and a reflection of their personality.

It is great to see there is more of a demand for these makers in Australia. I am excited to be working in a company that designs such bespoke pieces, in turn creating a larger demand for these artisans.

What advice would you give to aspiring interior designers who look up to your career path and achievements?

Don’t shy away from colour, be bold!

Can you discuss any upcoming projects or initiatives you’re particularly enthusiastic about in your new role?

As I have just started my new role, you’ll just have to wait and see!

Image: Harleen Grewal/Zelia Ranger

Clémence Carayol

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