VW+BS, an international architecture and design firm, is joining forces with two designers who have recently left the in-house design team at Virgin Atlantic, to create Viewport Studio, a new venture. The two designers – Gareth Southall and Nathan Sparshott – have worked closely with VW+BS in the past in creating the newest Virgin Atlantic A330 bars (see HERE for details). The idea behind the venture is that the combined experience of all parties will bring fresh thinking to all aspects of the aviation and transport experience, from check-in areas, to passenger lounges, aircraft seats, meal service and lighting design.
Southall explained the decision: ‘We’ve been working together as client and design office for some years now and it made sense for us to become one team to offer clients an exciting new prospect for design thinking, but also one that can offer outstanding project delivery. Our extensive industry network put together over many years in the business from all manufacturing sectors will allow us to execute projects with efficiency and flair.’
A key aim of Viewpoint Studio – which will be based in London and Singapore – is to ensure that any design concepts created for clients can actually be implemented. “We immerse ourselves in the brand and the journey [a client’s] customers take, so that we can create a blueprint for delivering a solution. At the same time, we like clarity, propriety, longevity and attention to detail. We are old school like that,” stated Southall.
Voon Wong, founder of (and the ‘VW’ of) VW+BS added that, “This is an exciting new design challenge for us, to extend the work that we have done for Virgin Atlantic to other transport projects and clients in the hospitality industry. With Gareth and Nathan on board, this gives our new studio the necessary edge because their customer experience knowledge will allow us a new insight into the brand of an organisation, and improves our ability to deliver innovative design solutions.’
If you want to hear more, the team will be at Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg from 8-10 April. As Sparshott said, “The timing of the Hamburg Aircraft Interiors show is perfect for our business launch – where else is better to meet our colleagues in the business to let them know about this exciting new venture? And, no doubt we’ll try to rustle up a bit of new business over a few beers at the same time.” You can read a little more about Sparshott HERE.
In addition to Sparshott, Southall and Wong, the Viewpoint Studio team will include Gautier Pelegrin, a product designer who has been with VW+BS studio since 2007; and Ian Macready, who has worked in the design world since 1990 and has been communications director at VW+BS since 2006.
Further news will be available soon at the studio’s website: Viewportstudio.co.uk
