Midweight Interior Designer | Hospitality Design Studio

Vacancy taken to accepted offer in just 12 days.

A London-based interior design studio approached Modus Careers to support the search for a Midweight Interior Designer to join its growing team.

The studio works across hospitality and F&B, with sustainability and responsible design sitting at the heart of its approach. Alongside strong creative ability, they needed someone who could demonstrate genuine hospitality experience, confidently work across both concept and delivery and thrive within a small, collaborative studio environment.

It was a specific brief, but also an incredibly attractive opportunity. The studio offered a highly flexible working model, a nine-day fortnight and the opportunity to work on design-led hospitality projects within a business taking a genuinely progressive approach to both design and working culture.

The Search

Rather than relying solely on applications, I combined targeted headhunting with an extensive search of the hospitality interiors market.

The focus was on designers with proven F&B and hospitality experience who could demonstrate more than a strong portfolio. They needed the technical capability to deliver projects, confidence communicating their ideas and an understanding of how thoughtful, sustainable design decisions translate into real hospitality environments.

Interest in the opportunity was extremely strong, which meant the challenge quickly became less about generating candidates and more about identifying the right ones.

Candidates were screened against the brief before a focused shortlist was presented to the client.

The Placement

One candidate stood out as an excellent match.

She brought extensive interior design experience, a strong background across hospitality and F&B projects and the balance of creative and technical capability the studio was looking for.

Following an initial interview and subsequent in-person meeting with the studio’s founders, both sides were keen to move forward.

An offer was made, presented and verbally accepted just 12 days after I first took the vacancy.

For a role requiring a relatively specific combination of sector experience, technical ability and cultural alignment, speed did not come at the expense of fit.

The result was a targeted recruitment process that moved from initial brief to accepted offer in less than two weeks, giving the studio the designer it needed without allowing the recruitment process to become a distraction from running and growing the business.

Freelance Interior Designer | High-End Residential Studio

Sector: High-End Residential Interior Design
Location: London
Appointment: Freelance Interior Designer
Specialism: Vectorworks | RIBA Stage 4 | Technical Delivery

The Brief

A leading London high-end residential interior design studio approached Modus Careers during an exceptionally busy period, requiring additional freelance support across a substantial portfolio of live projects.

The requirement was immediate.

With approximately eight projects progressing simultaneously and around 140 drawing packages requiring production, the studio needed an experienced freelancer who could integrate quickly into an established team and provide hands-on technical support.

This wasn’t simply a requirement for an Interior Designer who knew Vectorworks. The successful candidate needed to understand the standards expected within luxury residential interiors and be comfortable producing detailed, coordinated RIBA Stage 4 information.

The brief centred around:

• Advanced Vectorworks capability
• RIBA Stage 4 technical delivery
• Detailed bespoke joinery
• Kitchens and bathrooms
• Room elevations and General Arrangements
• Reflected Ceiling Plans
• Construction detailing
• High-end private residential experience
• The ability to work within established drawing standards and workflows

The initial assignment was expected to run for approximately six to eight weeks, with the potential for further work.

The Challenge

The combination of requirements made this a particularly targeted freelance search.

Experienced Vectorworks users with genuine luxury residential experience and strong Stage 4 technical capability represent a relatively small candidate pool.

The studio also needed someone capable of joining during a demanding delivery period. There was limited value in finding somebody who required significant technical development or supervision. The successful freelancer needed to understand an established design, take ownership of defined packages and produce accurate technical information at pace.

Studio attendance added another consideration, with many established freelancers increasingly favouring predominantly remote assignments.

The Search

Rather than approaching the wider interior design freelance market, Modus Careers focused the search around individuals with demonstrable experience delivering technically demanding residential projects within recognised luxury design studios.

Candidates were screened specifically around their personal involvement in:

• Vectorworks production
• Stage 4 drawing packages
• Bespoke joinery detailing
• Kitchen and bathroom packages
• Technical coordination
• Working within existing studio standards
• High-end residential project delivery
• Availability and ability to integrate immediately

This allowed the shortlist to focus on genuine technical capability rather than relying solely on portfolio aesthetics or job titles.

The Placement

Following the search and interview process, an experienced Freelance Interior Designer was successfully appointed to support the studio.

Crucially, the successful freelancer combined the technical capability required for the immediate workload with the professionalism and ownership needed to integrate into a busy design team.

The appointment provided the studio with additional capacity during a critical delivery period without compromising the level of design and technical quality expected across its residential projects.

The Result

Freelance Interior Designer successfully placed.

The contractor was able to join the studio quickly and provide immediate support across its live project workload.

For Modus Careers, the placement demonstrates the value of maintaining a specialist network of freelance interior designers who can be introduced when studios experience sudden increases in workload, project deadlines or gaps within their permanent teams.

Need freelance interior design support?

Modus Careers works with experienced freelance Interior Designers, Interior Architects and CAD specialists across the UK, covering everything from concept design and FF&E through to Vectorworks, AutoCAD and detailed Stage 4 technical delivery.

Position: Project Manager
Sector: Ultra High End Residential Interiors
Location: Chelsea, London

Finding exceptional Project Managers within the luxury residential sector is never about matching a CV to a job description. It’s about finding someone who can operate at the intersection of design, construction and client management while protecting the creative vision throughout the delivery of some of the world’s most prestigious private homes.

Our client, a globally recognised interior design studio with an international reputation for delivering timeless private residences, approached Modus Careers to identify a Project Manager capable of becoming the link between their design team, architects, contractors and private clients. The successful individual needed to combine technical understanding, commercial awareness and meticulous organisation, whilst appreciating the level of craftsmanship and attention to detail demanded by projects of this calibre.

Rather than relying on active applicants, we carried out a targeted search across the luxury interiors market, engaging experienced professionals with backgrounds spanning high end residential interior design, architecture and project delivery. Every conversation focused not only on technical capability but also on personality, communication style and the ability to thrive within a highly collaborative, design led studio.

Following a carefully managed search and interview process, we successfully secured a Project Manager who aligned with both the technical requirements of the role and the culture of the business.

The Result

The successful appointment will play a key role in delivering a portfolio of prestigious residential projects across London and internationally, coordinating complex design information, managing relationships between multiple stakeholders and ensuring the client’s renowned design standards are maintained from concept through to final installation.

At Modus Careers, we believe the best placements aren’t measured by how quickly a vacancy is filled. They’re measured by finding people who genuinely elevate a business, protect its culture and contribute to its long term success.

Our client, a growing workplace design and build business based in Bath, partnered with Modus Careers to support the expansion of its interior design team.

The business was seeking a Junior Interior Designer with existing commercial workplace experience, strong creative potential and the ability to thrive within a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment.

This was not a graduate-level opportunity. The brief required a designer with a minimum of two years’ industry experience, exposure to workplace projects and the confidence to contribute across the full design process, from concept development and space planning through to presentations and project delivery.

Alongside the technical requirements, cultural fit was equally important. Our client places significant value on curiosity, communication skills and a genuine passion for creating inspiring workplace environments.

The Challenge

The market for emerging workplace designers remains highly competitive, particularly for businesses seeking candidates who combine commercial experience with the right attitude and long-term potential.

The role was predominantly office-based in Bath, requiring candidates to be committed to an in-person, collaborative way of working. Experience within workplace design was essential, narrowing the available talent pool further.

Additionally, the interview process included a live design task and presentation, meaning candidates needed not only the right technical background but also the confidence to communicate their ideas effectively.

Our Approach

We worked closely with the client to gain a detailed understanding of the team’s structure, project pipeline, culture and long-term growth plans.

Rather than focusing solely on technical skills and software capabilities, we identified the behaviours and personal attributes most likely to drive success within the business.

Our search process included:

• Targeted headhunting across workplace design studios and adjacent sectors
• Detailed screening interviews to assess project experience, motivations and career aspirations
• Comprehensive interview preparation, including guidance on the design task and presentation expectations
• Regular communication with both client and candidate to ensure alignment throughout the process

Throughout the search, we acted as a consultative partner, providing honest feedback, managing expectations and delivering a positive experience for all parties.

The Outcome

Following a two-stage interview process, including a live design exercise and team meeting, we successfully placed a Junior Interior Designer who brought a blend of workplace, retail and hospitality experience, alongside a strong cultural fit and genuine enthusiasm for commercial interiors.

The process highlighted the importance of looking beyond technical skills alone. By understanding both the client’s ambitions and the candidate’s long-term motivations, we were able to deliver a successful appointment built for long-term success.

Junior Project Manager

Manufacturing & Retail Fit-Out
Haverhill, Suffolk

Some placements are about speed.
Others are about precision.

This one required both.

Our client, a long-established manufacturing and retail fit-out specialist based in Suffolk, approached us to support with an early career Junior Project Manager. Not a graduate in theory, but someone practical. Technically minded. Comfortable on the shop floor. Someone who understood how things are made before they are managed.

The brief was clear:

• Early career level, with genuine progression potential
• Strong technical manufacturing background
• Ideally exposure to wood, joinery or metalwork
• Organised, commercially aware and eager to learn
• Based full-time in Haverhill with scope to progress into site involvement

This was not a role for someone chasing a job title. It was for someone who wanted to build a career properly, learning under experienced Directors and Senior Project Managers within a business that has delivered retail environments for decades.

The challenge was balance.
Too junior, and they would struggle with pace.
Too senior, and they would be misaligned with the long-term development plan.

Through targeted search and detailed screening, we identified a candidate with hands-on manufacturing roots and a natural aptitude for project coordination. Someone who understood technical drawings, production realities and workshop pressures, yet had the communication style and ambition to step into project management.

The result:

• £40,000 starting salary
• Clear six-month review structure
• Defined pathway toward full Project Manager status
• Long-term growth within a stable, well-established manufacturing business

For our client, this meant securing a future leader who understands their operation from the ground up.
For the candidate, it meant stepping into a role with structure, mentorship and tangible progression.

Another thoughtful placement delivered.
Right person, right environment, right trajectory.

Some placements are about speed.
Some are about leverage.
This one was about alignment.

This placement began long before a role officially existed.

The candidate was a junior interior designer with a clear aesthetic eye and a strong sense of where she wanted her career to go. One studio in particular had always stood out to her. Not because of job titles or salaries, but because of the quality of their work, the tone of their interiors and the way they approached residential design. It was very much a long-term ambition rather than an active application.

When a vacancy later emerged at a globally respected, high-end residential interior design studio, the timing finally made sense.

At that point, I reintroduced the candidate to the studio, providing context around her experience, aspirations and why this environment was such a strong match. From there, my role was focused on guidance rather than gatekeeping. Preparing her for interviews, helping her articulate her strengths clearly and supporting her through each stage of the process with confidence and clarity.

It is important to be transparent. The candidate had previously reached out to the studio directly, prior to the role formally existing. For that reason, I chose not to charge a placement fee. This was not a commercial decision. It was a values-led one.

What mattered was the outcome.

The candidate secured the role, joining a studio she had long admired, in an environment where she can learn, grow and contribute meaningfully from day one. The studio gained a motivated junior designer who genuinely believes in their work and culture. Those are the placements that last.

From my perspective, this was still a win. Not every successful recruitment outcome needs to be transactional to be worthwhile. Supporting talented designers into the right studios, even when the commercial model flexes, is part of building long-term credibility and trust on both sides of the market.

Sometimes recruitment is about introductions.
Sometimes it is about timing.
Sometimes it is simply about doing the right thing and letting the result speak for itself.

This placement did exactly that.