5 minutes with Mike Holland

Mike Holland joined Foster + Partners in May 1994. As Head of Industrial Design, he leads a team of designers to develop commercial mass manufactured products, lighting, furniture, building products and transportation for clients across the globe. He also works closely with the architectural studios designing bespoke solutions for a diverse range of projects around the world.

Mike tells us about the process of designing by making, his favourite objects, and the latest product launches at the Salone del Mobile in Milan.

Earliest memory at Foster + Partners

During the last year of my product design degree, the course leader put me in contact with John Small to develop the brief for my final project.

John was a Partner at the practice, who specialised in the design of furniture, products and interiors for major projects such as Stansted Airport, the Carré d'Art in Nîmes, and the Reichstag in Berlin.

I remember walking into the London office for the first time and being completely blown away. I was shown development work on the Carré d'Art, which informed my final college project.

A couple of years later, John gave me a call to ask if I would be interested in joining the practice’s industrial design team.

A standout project

From an architectural perspective, I really enjoyed working on Maggie’s in Manchester. We had a great relationship with Benchmark and the architectural team; the building and furniture work in harmony to reflect the charity’s warmth.

When it comes to industrial design, the FLO light for Lumina marked a change in our approach. We started to put a greater emphasis on model making and prototyping, which has become an integral part of our process. Reviews and conversations always take place around the models.

A mentor

I have collaborated with so many wonderful people at Foster + Partners, over the past 30 years. We get input from everyone in the office, from model makers to architects.

Model making and prototyping allows everyone to engage with the design process − and I think that always leads to a much better end result.

I’ve been lucky enough to work closely with Norman [Foster] and David [Nelson] for a large portion of my career. They are both inspirational thinkers and designers.

A recent source of inspiration

As a keen gardener, I’m currently reading and visiting the works of Piet Oudolf. He creates the most extraordinary gardens and planting schemes.

A product you couldn’t live without  

Many of my favourite objects are tools, which I use every day. From a kitchen knife that my father gave me to the humble garden trowel. It’s these highly functional, crafted objects that you form an attachment with over time.

A product you’re launching   

We’ve just arrived back from Milan, where we launched four new products at the Salone del Mobile.

The first is desk Z, which we developed with Unifor. It’s a sit-stand desk with a patented spring and cam mechanism that maintains consistent tension to hold the worktop at any height. The mechanism has been four years in the making! Then there’s Osuu, a timber chair for Walter Knoll, which explores the processes of pressing, steaming and CNC machining of timber. The third is VEA, a large light fixture with an adjustable light source at the top.

Our MA bathroom range has also been extended and recently won ‘Best in Bathroom’ at Elle Deco’s International Design Awards – which we’re delighted about.

Where do you call home?

Forest Hill in southeast London.

A hidden gem in your neighbourhood

The One Tree Hill allotment in Honor Oak.

Legend says Queen Elizabeth I picnicked there, to take in the amazing views of London.

Where will you be this weekend?

Travelling to football matches, either to watch my sons or Leicester play. Then I’ll run with friends and spend some time working in my garden.