🚀From Rocket Science to Rainbow Rooms 🌈
What I shared (and learnt) as part of BIID’s “Next Generation Design” panel at Clerkenwell Design Week
Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking at Clerkenwell Design Week as part of “BIID Presents: Next Generation Design” — a panel discussion celebrating the emerging designers shaping the future of interior design. Hosted by the brilliant Charmaine White, and joined by the fabulous Bee Janaye and Zoe Newson, it was a conversation that left me buzzing with ideas and gratitude.
We talked about our journeys, creative values, and the importance of design communities like the BIID. But also? We got real. About confidence, career pivots, emotional design — and how strange and magical it can be to forge your own path in this industry.
And since not everyone could make it, I wanted to share some of what I spoke about — along with some of what it stirred up for me.
🚀 From Wallpaper to Rocket Science… and Back Again
Unlike many designers, I didn’t follow a straight path into interiors. As a child, I grew up in a house that was always mid-renovation — my parents were restoring a centuries-old property in France. I was surrounded by dust, swatches, and offbeat design decisions. I learnt to install wallpaper at a very young age!
And yet… I became a rocket engineer.
For years, I worked in aerospace, engineering systems that were complex, precise — and utterly lacking in emotional connection. I loved the challenge, but I always found myself looking for something more human. I missed working with my hands. I missed storytelling. I missed colour.
Eventually, I realised that I didn’t want to design rockets— I wanted to design moods. So I retrained in interior and set design, and launched my own studio: Rainbow Shaker.
Now I use colour, texture, and geometry to create spaces that spark emotion — from calm to joy to curiosity. It’s been a journey from logic to intuition, and I get to bring both into my work. That’s the magic of having a non-traditional path — you don’t follow the rules, because you didn’t start with them.
🟨 Not a Style, But a Standpoint
One question we explored in the panel was: Do you need to have a clearly defined “style” as a designer?
For me, the answer is: no — but you do need a clear point of view.
I don’t have a signature colour palette or a “look.” I’m inspired by the Bauhaus and Memphis movements, but you won’t find me repeating the same visual language in every project. What I do have is a consistent ethic around joy, storytelling, and individuality. I believe that colour is emotional. Shapes are communicative. Our spaces should reflect our lives — not just match our sofa.
Every home I design starts with how my client wants to feel — not what’s trending. I listen to their stories, their rituals, their memories. Sometimes I’ll even ask them what colours they wear when they feel their best — or what vacation photo makes them smile.
The result is a space that’s not just pretty — it’s personal. Honest. Happy.
💥 A Project That Pushed Me
Charmaine asked a great question during the panel: Has any one project pushed your creativity further than you expected?
Yes — and its name is La Petite Rosa.
La Petite Rosa is a boutique hotel in Paris that I had the joy (and challenge!) of redesigning. From the very beginning, I knew it needed to be big, bold, and unapologetically joyful — but I still found myself hesitating. I tend to work with strong shapes and colour, but I balance that with simplicity and space. Here, the brief was maximalism. Layers. Pattern clashes. Flower explosions.
At first, I played it safe. But my client stopped me. “Justine,” he said, “I chose you because I know you can go bolder than this.”
And that unlocked something. I pushed beyond my own internal limits. I started combining unexpected motifs — Bauhaus geometry with romantic florals, checkerboards next to vine-covered wallpaper. Suddenly, the space came alive. It felt like an experience, not just a room.
That project reminded me that we often censor our own creativity before anyone else does. And sometimes, all we need is someone to say, “You’re allowed to go further.”
🤝 Why Design Communities Matter
Being part of the BIID has been such an important anchor in my professional growth. Coming from a non-design background, I struggled with impostor syndrome. The BIID gave me structure, validation, and community — especially through their CPDs, networking events, and mentoring opportunities.
But community, for me, isn’t just about institutions — it’s also about informal circles. The fellow designers who reply to your stressed-out Instagram story. The friend who reviews your proposal when you’re too anxious to look at it. The quiet mentorships that happen over coffee, DMs, or shared exhaustion. That’s what’s kept me going during hard times.
At one point, I had a client refuse to pay — and it was peers and mentors who helped me navigate that, emotionally and practically. This work is beautiful, but it’s also hard. And no one should have to figure it out alone.
🧠 What’s Next for Interior Design?
I’m hopeful for the future of this industry — because I see us moving toward more emotionally intelligent, inclusive, and intuitive spaces. More design for neurodivergent needs. More colour psychology. More “how does this feel?” instead of just “does this match?”
I think AI will shift how we visualise, test ideas, and prototype — but I don’t think it will ever replace the kind of deep listening, storytelling, and gut intuition that good design requires.
The next decade will belong to designers who lead with empathy — and who aren’t afraid to break a few rules along the way.
🎙 Final Thoughts
Speaking on this panel reminded me why I started. And why I stayed.
To anyone beginning their journey in this field, I’d say: don’t wait until you feel “ready.” The world doesn’t need more polished portfolios — it needs more honest voices. More strange paths. More people who are willing to follow their curiosity, even if it doesn’t make sense at first.
And if your journey is anything like mine? I hope it’s filled with shapes, surprises, and lots of unapologetic colour.
Thanks again to the BIID for having me, and to everyone who came along. You can find a few behind-the-scenes snaps from the talk on my Instagram — and if this post resonates, come say hi 💛
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