Meet Our Expert Faculty

Catarina has a Master’s degree in Architecture and a Postgraduate qualification in Art studies. She actively collaborates with designers in the industry and has significant experience in residential, commercial and hospitality interior design. Catarina believes that interior design has the power to transform people’s lives.

Luca holds a master’s degree in architecture with experience in design studios in Italy, China, and the U.K. Before joining BAID, he was a tutor of product and interior design in Thailand. Luca is also a Fitwel Ambassador and RESET AP and he champions sustainability and health & wellbeing in the built environment. He also works in data analysis, biophilic design, and Building Information Modelling (BIM). Luca has worked across all RIBA stages of construction and refurbishment projects from small-scale residential to hotels and office buildings.

Mauro earned an MA in Fine Art at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Venice before moving to London and becoming an expert in conservation framing. He then went on to study interior design where he graduated with honours and later completed an internship at Kelly Hoppen. It wasn’t long before he was an award-winning designer. Today Mauro runs his own hi-end conservation framing company where he is advisor to artists and designers alike. Mauro is part of a creative collective based in Italy called ‘Uffici Creativi’ who collaborate on numerous interior design projects all over Europe. Mauro never lost his passion for making art and shows his work on a regular basis.

London based Interior Designer Samuele has extensive experience creating comfort and luxury through a range of styles and periods. Awarded a member of the BIID and part of the team at Kelly Hoppen Interiors, Samuele continues implementing his passion and dedication to detailed architecture, design, art and culture while working with prime residences throughout the world.

Rita holds a Masters in Interior Design and a Bachelor's degree in Product Design. Working as an Interior designer since 2012, Rita has been involved in planning and designing interior design projects for hotels and cruise ships. She enjoys the wide range of experiences a design career provides and has developed a special interest in management and tutoring.

Following 10 years of progressive experience in recognised interior design studios in London plus a master’s degree in Interior design, Ana has set up her own practice delivering high-end residential and boutique commercial projects. From a three-storey house in London, a Swiss chalet apartment, to VIP Lounges in luxury shopping centres, Ana specialises in delivering projects from conception through to completion, around the world.

Sophia Kokinis is a Creative Designer currently living and working in Manchester. She first started working as a designer, whilst gaining her BA Hons in Industrial Design Engineering. She moved to London after completing an MA in Interior Design at the University of Brighton and worked as a Store Designer for International brands like Tom Ford and Estee Lauder. Sophia has worked with companies and brands in various countries, and has exhibited her work during the Berlin Fashion Week and the Liverpool Biennial. She has also collaborated with cultural organisations, such as the Thessaloniki Biennale of Contemporary Art. Some of her work has been included in The New York Times.

Gail Speck has been a designer since the age of 18, having entered the industry straight after A-levels. Over the years she has undertaken various design roles, culminating in running her own business and teaching her own courses in Interior Design, CAD, Photoshop, Canva, Revit and interior design business skills. Gail is also a part-time student, studying for a BSc in Psychology & Counselling. Gail enjoys a varied career in interior design and currently freelances and collaborates with larger companies, as well as teaching, and running some small projects. She loves the excitement of working with a new client and how every project is different.

Pavithra is an Interior Architect with a background in both design and the arts. She has a Master’s in Interior Architecture, a Bachelor’s in Architecture (Interior Design), and a Diploma in Painting. She also completed an Interior Design course at the University of the Arts London in 2022. She has worked as a lead designer on hospitality and residential projects in London and India, creating designs for restaurants, bars, lounges, and homes. Her skills include technical drawing and 3D visualisation using AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Photoshop. Alongside her industry work, Pavithra has over five years of teaching experience. She has taught interior design, construction, and computer-aided design at university level, as well as painting and sketching for children and adults. She is passionate about design, creativity, and helping students bring their ideas to life.

Pavlina started her career in kitchen design working closely with customers to understand their needs, specifications and budgets. Pavlina has been working at IKEA's flagship store for the past six years delivering complex interior design projects from concept through to design, planning and implementation. Pavlina has a BA in Interior Design & Applied Arts.

Jamila holds 2 master’s degrees in Interior Design and Interior Architecture and a BA in interior architecture, all with distinction. With 9 years of Interior Design experience, she has worked on residential and commercial projects of various budgets and managed projects from design concepts to site supervision. Jamila has also worked on projects across the UK and the MENA region and prides herself on her high IT skills in producing CGI renders as well as her creative skillset.

Jorge has worked as a garden designer for more than 15 years, first in Spain and later in the UK. With extensive horticultural experience, he has also held the position of Horticulture Manager and later as General Manager within the garden centre sector. Having trained in agronomy and studied in both Spain and Scotland, Jorge holds a BSc in Landscape Management and an HND in Horticulture and Plantsmanship. He is passionate about every aspect of design and how it can enrich people’s lives.

Neyran has a master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from University of Pennsylvania School of Design and a bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from University of Istanbul. She established her own firm in Turkey before moving her practice to the UK in 2014. She has participated in a range of projects from Urban Design to private gardens and she had been teaching at various universities in Turkey throughout her career. Her firm in The UK provides services in home design, renovation, extensions, and landscape designs. Neyran is a member of Landscape Institute, American Society of Landscape Architects and Turkish Association of Landscape Architects.

Yvette is a garden designer working with both private and commercial clients. She holds a BSc(Hons) in Environmental Design and Management and a FdSc in Horticulture, Garden Design with Distinction. Yvette has exhibited at RHS Hampton Court Palace and Tatton Park Flower Shows.

After a very successful 25 year career in the entertainment industry managing large outdoor festivals as well as a number of medium scale theatres, Jon decided to follow his lifelong passion for gardens, plants and design and re-trained as a garden designer. Jon started his own design practice in north Essex in November 2018 and now works all over the county mainly designing domestic gardens of various scales. He has recently designed a brand-new garden park for a local parish council which received a government grant for its development. Jon’s business has also attracted interest from a number of independent landscapers for whom he does design work. Jon is a member of The Society of Garden Designers the only professional association for garden designers in the UK.

After completing her MA in Landscape Architecture in Lisbon, Filipa worked on councils’ large scale landscape projects. She then graduated with Distinction from the prestigious English Gardening School and has found that moving to London has led her more towards designing domestic gardens. Filipa is currently Head of Design at The Chelsea Landscape Gardener and runs her own business designing private outdoor spaces.

Hugo Felix is a studio, portrait and landscape photographer. His work has been featured in many exhibitions and photographic magazines. He has a large catalogue in Micro Stock Photography and has over 30,000 images available on 10 different sites. Hugo has been teaching photography for a number of years and enjoys sharing his passion and knowledge with students.

Robert is a Commercial Photographer who specialises in PR, Advertising, Architecture, Events, Products, and Editorial photography. Rob also writes feature articles and has been tutoring for a number of years.

Ana Vieira de Castro is a photographer, visual artist, and educator whose work blends fashion, fine art, and curatorial practice. Ana holds a BA in Visual Arts and Photography and a Postgraduate Degree in Curatorial Studies. She has taught widely, curated major festivals, and exhibited internationally, including at EXPO 2025 Osaka.

Jonathan is a documentary, portrait and travel photographer, who works on a variety of commercial photographic assignments, with a focus on food and interiors. With a background in communication design, he is also the creative director for an independent arts journal that explores emerging creative talent and new approaches to visual story telling.

Giorgia is a photographer and educator. Besides her MA in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography at the University of Westminster, Giorgia has worked with schools, festivals, charities, associations, private clients, magazines and institutions such as Urban Photo Fest, Photography Oxford Festival, the Calthorpe Project, Caritas Foundation, Migrants Resource Centre, the Prison of Pescara, Reuters Institute, CNN, Source Magazine and more. Giorgia has been teaching Photography students for BTEC since 2014 on London. She has completed an Internship with Magnum Photos. She is now collaborating with private clients and inspiring institutions such as BAPH, UAL, and SAE, working on photojournalistic pieces for organisations like AlJazeera, capturing portraits, telling stories, and covering news, music, and events. She also works on personal long-term documentary projects, using both digital and film formats with a variety of cameras to explore themes of vulnerability, humanity, and diversity.

Pat Graham is a Professional photographer, artist and media tutor who specialises in photography. His work has brought him across the USA and Europe and the UK to London where he is now based. He holds a MA in Documentary Photography and Photojournalism from University of Westminster London, and an MFA (studio practice) from The School of the Art Institute, Chicago IL. Pat has 10 years’ experience mentoring and teaching in the UK on Levels 2-6 (BTEC/BA Honors) and over 25 years of experience as a commercial photographer and artist. Pat success includes four published books and numerous exhibitions and prestigious commercial clients. His current practice-based research involves archival materials, and expression through traditional photography, film, and storytelling.

Alecsandra is an award-winning freelance photographer and photography teacher. She currently freelances for the Guardian, National Geographic Traveller UK, National Geographic Food, and BAFTA.

Carly holds a BA (Hons) in Fashion Design and Garment Technology and has recently graduated from the MA Fashion Futures course at London College of Fashion. Passionate about elevating sustainable fashion design, Carly is currently Programme Lead for Sustainable Fashion Week UK and has extensive experience working in wholesale distribution and fashion events. She is also involved in community workshops focusing on clothing repair.

Charlène is a freelance designer with an interdisciplinary approach to fashion design. After graduating from a BA in Fashion Design at the ESAA Duperré in Paris, Charlène moved to London to further her education by completing a PgDip in Pattern Design and Garment Technology, followed by a MA Digital Fashion, both at the London College of Fashion. She has worked in high-end fashion and Couture, and has collaborated in innovative projects involving smart textiles and new technologies.

Marie McElheron has been working in the Irish Fashion Industry for 20 years. She graduated with a BSc in Fashion Design and Management. Since then she has worked with many Irish designers in both Bridal and Day Wear and in different areas of the industry. She also ran her own successful Bridal Design business for 8 years, creating bespoke bridal and evening wear. Marie now works for a ladies clothing brand, based in Dublin. Teaching allows her to pass on the knowledge and experience she has gained and Marie really hopes to inspire Ireland's young designers.

Sinead is a trained pattern-cutter and fashion designer and has over 10 years professional experience in the fashion industry. Prior to establishing herself as a freelance pattern-cutter she worked for world renowned international designer John Rocha plus the design and manufacturing company Styletex.

Sophie graduated in 2011 from Bath Spa University with a BA Hons in Fashion Design. She is currently a Womenswear Designer for a luxury British brand. Previously she has created bespoke outfits for clients and enjoys the whole process of garment creation from design, pattern cutting and making.

Diana has a degree in fashion and more than 15 years’ experience in the fashion industry. An expert in pattern cutting and contextualised presentation, she has worked with many high-end designers to design, produce and market fashion collections. Diana has a postgraduate qualification in further education and is excited about combining her industry experience with her passion for education.

Maike Gunther has 30 years’ experience in the fashion industry and 10 years’ experience as a tutor/ lecturer in fashion and the arts. Her career began as senior pattern cutter for some of Germany’s leading fashion companies, including Gerry Weber, Marc Aurel, and Larochelle. In the UK she has worked for and consulted with numerous companies from large international fast fashion enterprises to independent labels, boutique brands, and entrepreneurial designers. She has taught at all levels from community learning to BA level. Maike has a particular interest in sustainable fashion, working with environmentally friendly materials, and preparing the industry for future challenges.

Patricia Gomes holds an MBA in Retail Marketing and a BA in Costume Design and Fashion History. She has been working in the fashion industry for 25 years and has been teaching for almost 10 years. Passionate about fashion and tutoring, Patricia is currently doing an MA in Design and Marketing for Fashion Products.

Lauren Keegan is a graphic designer with over ten years of experience across design studios, in-house teams, and freelance projects. A First Class Honours graduate in Design and Visual Communications from Limerick School of Art & Design – TUS, Lauren has built a dynamic and versatile career in the design industry. Her portfolio spans branding, digital and print design, and environmental graphics, and she has collaborated with clients at both national and international levels. In addition to her industry work, Lauren is passionate about design education and regularly mentors and tutors emerging creatives, helping to shape the next generation of designers.

Chris is a graphic designer who has been working in the industry for 14 years. During his career he has worked in-house for large brands, within a large team delivering digital projects, and as part of a creative team within an advertising agency. He currently runs a successful freelance design studio where he works across a range of visual communication disciplines in order to service charities, ethical companies and the education sector. Chris’ passion for design revolves around communicating visually with clarity and simplicity. This passion is instilled into each one of his client projects.

Yamira holds a master's degree in Digital and Visual Media from IE Business School and a Bachelor's in Digital Arts and Sciences from the University of Florida. With over four years of commercial experience as a freelance Graphic Designer, she collaborates with private and corporate clients across Europe and the U.S. from diverse sectors. Yamira specializes in creative visual solutions including marketing collateral, content creation, and product packaging. With a passion for brand aesthetics and innovative design, she consistently pushes the boundaries of creativity to develop the most effective visual strategies.

Hugo Jucá holds a Master’s in Communication Design from NABA, Milan, and a BA in Graphic Design from Estácio de Sá University, Rio de Janeiro. An integrated designer with a strong focus on motion graphics, video editing, and art direction, Hugo brings extensive experience leading creative campaigns and delivering high-quality visual assets across digital platforms. With a background spanning graphic design, photography, and videography, his approach merges creative execution with strategic thinking. He is passionate about visual storytelling, mentoring junior creatives, and producing design work that is both user-centered and results-driven.

Diane Richardson is the current District 91 (London and Southern England and South Wales) Director for Toastmasters International, a worldwide Not-for-Profit organisation that helps its members develop their own public speaking, presentation, and leadership skills. She has a wealth of experience supporting businesses to improve their brand reputation. Diane is a graphic designer specialising in brand development and training clients in design thinking techniques. She also Art Directed a communications group at Amnesty International when leading their transformational worldwide brand and communications strategy. Diane has qualifications in business, photography, and graphic design and worked as a graphic designer at several leading design consultants in London and New York, including Wolff Ollins, Landor Associates, MPL and Siegal + Gale.

Zam is an accomplished Head of Design with a portfolio brimming with international clients and projects that span the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia Pacific region. With over 20 years of experience, Zam has worked across everything from branding, exhibition and motion graphics to packaging and both digital and print design. He has won international pitches and has trained, mentored and inspired multidisciplinary designers and copywriters in international award-winning agencies. He is an experienced FE/HE lecturer who has designed curriculums and managed internationally accredited programmes. As a design educator, Zam finds fulfillment in empowering people to excel in the ever-evolving world of graphic design.