Clare Dowdy, Freelance Journalist Profile

Articles

“Strategy is not a threat” - what strategists want designers to know

3 weeks ago | designweek.co.uk | Clare Dowdy

The relationship between strategists and designers is key to creating effective work that meets clients’ needs. But strategists can feel misunderstood, and even undervalued, in their attempts to set a project’s direction through clear and meaningful thinking. We spoke with a range of in-house and independent strategists about what they wish designers knew about their work. Is the role of strategists changing, like so many design industry roles right now? If so, how?
93FT designs “playful” new Treehouse Hotel in Manchester

1 month ago | designweek.co.uk | Clare Dowdy

93FT has created the playful interiors of Starwood Hotels’ second UK branch of its Treehouse brand. With chalk boards, patchwork quilts and tree stump furniture, the hotel leans into childhood nostalgia and creative freedom. Aimed at 25 to 45-year-olds, this Treehouse Hotel is housed in a 1970s concrete building in Manchester’s city centre. It started life as an office block, but more recently operated as a Renaissance Hotel.
The stunning retro space-age homes that are perfect for today

1 month ago | bbc.co.uk | Clare Dowdy

Space-age style is skyrocketing in pop culture – in celebrities' homes, at global design fairs and even in blockbuster films. We look back at the stunning retro-futuristic origins of 2025's biggest interiors aesthetic, and ask, why now? From aerodynamic cars to voluminous moonscape-style seating, popular culture and design is going cosmic.
The stunning retro space-age homes that are perfect for today

1 month ago | bbc.com | Clare Dowdy

The stunning retro space-age homes that are perfect for todayLigne RosetSpace-age style is skyrocketing in pop culture – in celebrities' homes, at global design fairs and even in blockbuster films. We look back at the stunning retro-futuristic origins of 2025's biggest interiors aesthetic, and ask, why now? From aerodynamic cars to voluminous moonscape-style seating, popular culture and design is going cosmic.
Proactive, honest and bold - what does a great client relationship look like?

2 months ago | designweek.co.uk | Clare Dowdy

Jonathan Kirk wants to talk about clients. The Up to the Light founder, and author of the What Clients Think Report – based on 680 client interviews and produced alongside the Design Business Association – believes relationships are key. In fact, he argues that the quality of client relationships, rather than the quality of thinking or creative output, is the biggest differentiator between design agencies. But what does a good client relationship really look like. We spoke with Kirk to find out.
“It stings” - designers discuss having their work replaced

2 months ago | designweek.co.uk | Clare Dowdy

Whenever a redesign gets a lot of attention, the focus of the design industry and the media is understandably on the new look – whether it’s loved or hated. But what about the design that’s been dumped? Often that work was also unveiled with much fanfare, and heralded as the way forward, a new beginning for the company. The last six months has seen a flurry of this sort of thing. Wolff Olins’ 2021 abrdn mark was rolled back as the brand brought back those much-mocked missing “e”s.
Wildish & Co. creates mascot-led brand for Ding - Design Week

2 months ago | designweek.co.uk | Clare Dowdy

Wildish & Co. has come up with the name, branding and icons for a platform that promises to make booking tradespeople “as easy as ordering a pizza.
Why these 1970s cabins are the 'perfect' holiday home

Mar 13, 2025 | bbc.com | Clare Dowdy

Why these 1970s cabins are the 'perfect' holiday homeVince JonesIn pockets of the British countryside, it's possible to stumble across clusters of beautifully designed, Scandi-style cabins. These aren't a product of the latest trend for off-grid retreats, but were created half a century ago by a pair of Welsh architects, Hird & Brooks. How did they become gripped by crafting the perfect holiday home? And why were they so inspired by Denmark?
“Nostalgia is powerful - but designers should be wary”

Feb 19, 2025 | designweek.co.uk | Clare Dowdy

When people get flustered about a heritage brand making changes, they often have a convincing business argument against the new look. “Abandoning loyal customers!”Poor old Jaguar felt the sharp end of those tongues. More recently, GF Smith took a turn in the firing line. “Do they not see the irony of embracing a kooky ‘digital’ brand for a paper company? The product is by its nature a legacy product,” claimed one incandescent correspondent in response to our story.
As the healthy snack market soars, visual boundaries blur

Jan 16, 2025 | designweek.co.uk | Clare Dowdy

Earthling Studio has redesigned the packaging of snack product Crunchits, with a look closer to Monster Munch than worthy, pallid health food brands. Made of edamame, black beans and rice, Crunchits’ new brand idea is “rough around the edges”, according to Earthling’s creative partner Stephen McDavid. It’s the latest product to launch or reposition in the increasingly active healthy snack category.