12th June 2026 | IN DESIGN ADVICE | BY SBID Share Tweet Pinterest LinkedIn Caroline Roles, Design Principal at Spectrum Workplace, has given her insights into the industry. Why did you want to work in the interior design profession? I’ve wanted to be a designer for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I was always creating—whether that was making things by hand or painting—and I naturally became interested in interiors through helping my dad decorate our homes. That early exposure made me aware of how a space can change how people feel and live. Over time, that creative instinct combined with my enjoyment of problem-solving, led me to pursue interior design as a career. Spectrum Workplace Which elements of your profession do you enjoy the most? What I enjoy most is the balance between creativity and functionality. I love the conceptual stage—developing ideas, materials, and palettes—but equally, I enjoy resolving the practical challenges that come with delivering a project. Ultimately, the most rewarding part is transforming a space so it not only looks good but works better for the people using it. I enjoy the process of understanding a client’s needs and translating that into a thoughtful, functional design. Spectrum Workplace What has been your most memorable career highlight from the past year? Over the past year, leading the design team at Spectrum Workplace has been a real highlight. Seeing projects come together collaboratively and watching the team grow and develop has been incredibly rewarding. I tend to take a supportive and empathetic approach to leadership, so creating an environment where individuals feel understood, valued, and able to contribute has been particularly important to me. Delivering workplace environments that genuinely improve how people work and interact stands out as a key achievement— The Southern Co-operative Ltd project is a perfect example of this—but equally, seeing the confidence and capability of the team grow along the way has made it especially memorable. Spectrum Workplace What are your favourite types of projects to work on and why? I particularly enjoy workplace projects because they have such a direct impact on people’s daily lives, with real opportunities to influence wellbeing, productivity, and culture through design. An excellent showcase of this is our workplace transformation project for Gen II Fund Services, LLC. That said, having worked across residential, hospitality, education, and public sectors, I value the variety each one brings, as every sector presents different challenges and keeps the work fresh. Spectrum Workplace What are the most challenging aspects of working in interior design? Balancing creativity with constraints is always a challenge—whether that’s budget, time, or technical limitations. Managing client expectations while maintaining design integrity can also be complex. As a Design Principal, another challenge is ensuring consistency and quality across multiple projects while supporting and leading a team. Spectrum Workplace What do you wish you knew before working in the field? I think understanding just how much of the role involves coordination, communication, and problem-solving—not just design—would have been useful early on. Interior design is as much about managing people, processes, and details as it is about creativity. Spectrum Workplace If you could give one tip to aspiring designers, what would it be? Stay curious and keep creating. Develop your creativity outside of work as well as within it. But also build strong organisational and communication skills as being able to turn ideas into reality is what sets a good designer apart. Spectrum Workplace How do you see the interior design industry evolving in the year ahead? I think the interior design industry will continue to focus strongly on wellbeing, flexibility, and sustainability, particularly within workplace design. Spaces need to work harder than ever, supporting different ways of working while also creating meaningful experiences that draw people in. Offices are increasingly being designed as destinations for collaboration and focus work, with hybrid working, and hospitality-led experiences shaping the brief. What does being an SBID Accredited Interior Designer mean to you? Being an SBID Accredited Interior Designer and Design Practice is a great achievement, and represents a commitment to professionalism, quality, and continuous development. It’s an important benchmark that demonstrates credibility within the industry and reassurance for clients that they’re working with a qualified and experienced designer. Caroline Roles, Design Principal at Spectrum Workplace About Spectrum Workplace Spectrum acts as a strategic partner, guiding your organisation through the full workplace journey from initial brief to successful occupation. We work closely with leadership and staff to define how your workplace should support your business, building a clear, aligned brief from the outset. Our integrated approach combines strategy, design and delivery, supported by ongoing cost validation, governance and technical coordination to reduce risk and maintain control. Throughout the process, we engage your team and manage all aspects of delivery, ensuring the workplace is not only delivered efficiently, but fully adopted and performing from day one. Visit Profile If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.