Get to know our Co-founder & Creative Director, Craig McKie
This week we’re catching up with our Co-founder and Creative Director Craig McKie who tells us a bit more about the new office location and what a typical day-to-day is like for him at Bell & Swift headquarters.
Why did you decide to enter the Interior Design industry?
Growing up I loved drawing, painting and just generally being creative, I knew I wanted to do something within that area but didn’t know what. Fast forward to college and I had a spot on a graphic design course, I really liked it and wanted to continue my studies once that ended so decided to go on an Interior Design course. I thoroughly enjoyed it; creativity is at the core of Interior Design so I knew it was the industry I wanted to enter into. I was lucky enough to get a job straight out of college, which is how I met Dawn and the rest is history!
Where do you find everyday inspiration?
Everywhere to be honest! These days, social media and in particular Pinterest, provide a lot of great inspiration but I find that when I’m travelling, I get my best ideas. I’m always really inspired by the places I’m visiting whether that’s the architecture of the buildings, street art, colours of buildings or just the general landscape. Nine times out of ten, I will come back to what I’ve seen on my travels, usually in colours or textures. I do read quite a bit as well which bizarrely enough helps me as it makes my imagination run a bit wild and I can form visions and new ideas in my head.
What’s your typical day-to-day like?
No two days are the same at Bell & Swift! Usually, we’ll have a project coming in were I’ll need to start thinking of ideas and start those initial discussions with the team. I also like to get hands-on with the technical side of things and spend a lot of time drawing up sketches of furniture or room layouts. I’m also making sure everyone is remaining on track in terms of deadlines and ensuring that we’re meeting the clients’ vision. I like to try and keep a couple of hours free if I can just to do some research or keep up to date with what’s happening in the industry.
What is your favourite part of your role?
I love that initial discussion when we get a new project in the door, it’s always very exciting, the team are really enthusiastic and I like to encourage them to get their creative juices flowing. Of course, there’s always a brief that we have to follow but I find it really interesting how each individual interprets it and comes up with their own ideas. After that stage, we have to figure out how we can bring our ideas to life and within budget. That’s of course when I have to put my other hat on and look at the practicality of some ideas.
Another big part of my role and something I’m really passionate about is fostering young talent. I view my role not only to oversee our creative outputs but to mentor designers of all levels and provide help and guidance whilst also giving them space to discover their own creative approach.
You’ve recently moved to a new office location in East Kilbride, how are you finding it?
It’s great! The commute is a lot shorter which is ideal and it makes a nice change from the hustle and bustle of the busy city but of course Glasgow city centre is only a short distance away if we ever want a change in scenery. We’ve really tried to make our new office a home away from home and a nice, inviting working space for the team. I think we’ve achieved that in this new space.
What do you like to do outside of work?
To be honest, as a creative, I always have design at the forefront of my mind, even when I’m at the pub! I love to watch the football but cycling is probably my all-time favourite hobby. I used to compete in cycling events and would love to do more in the future. Right now, though, I’m more than happy to grab a couple of hours and go a cycle in the countryside. Music is another big passion of mine; I love going to gigs. BBC Radio 6 is my station of choice but I’m sadly outnumbered in the office, who all prefer to have BBC Radio 1 on in the background!