RICHARD'S STORY
“Design is in my DNA. Some of my earliest memories include wallpapers from National Trust properties I visited as a child or Eames furniture I passed at The Conran Shop. As I grew older I became curious as to how things were made and if I were to design it, what I would do differently?”
Growing up in Edinburgh, it appears Richard was destined to be creative. Surrounded by the arts, he cemented his love of creativity in the classroom and found his passion for performing on the stage. After studying Industrial Design in Newcastle, he moved to London to intern at the Brent Hoberman brainchild, mydeco. The website was the UK’s largest interior shopping destination, and from an intern, he worked up to become the Design Coordinator; curating the creative aspects of the site and fronting mydecoTV.
Richard’s next role would take him in somewhat of a different direction, moving into the food retail industry and becoming the Head of Creative at Tossed. Here he would develop the new wave of its identity and interiors – being involved in every stage from initial sketches through to creating bespoke products and delivering eye-catching results. Richard went on to join Pret A Manger, where he worked internationally for the brand in all areas of design. Notable projects include the launch and evolution of Veggie Pret, creating the annual Christmas packaging and the introduction of Pret into retail. In 2022 Richard became the Head of Creative at Mindful Chef, which accumulates his experience in both the digital and retail spheres.
“My design aims to positively impact peoples lives - whether it’s improving a task, telling a story or making people smile”
In addition to his roles in-house, Richard has worked on commissions for a wide variety of clients from The Archbishop of Canterbury to Zizzi, where he designed the bowls used in over 120 restaurants throughout the UK. Richard’s commitment to quality and creativity saw the launch of his eponymous design brand, with its premiere range being the much talked about, Out Damned Spot napkins.
Alongside Richard’s success in design, his accomplishments on the stage have also progressed. After a string of shows in Edinburgh as a child, he went on to perform on London’s West End in the original cast of Martin Pippin in the Apple Orchard. He later returned to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, to produce and act in two sell-out musicals. He performed in the London Olympics Opening Ceremony and The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Richard Brownlie-Marshall’s multi-hyphenate career has seen him work with a diverse collection of brands and in an extensive range of sectors, which has no doubt contributed to his unique perspective in design. His passion for creativity is demonstrated through his portfolio of work and he continues to bring innovation across an ambitious range of mediums.