Patrick Goff is a former interior designer, with his own practice from 1982 to 2002 and is now a hotel critic and commentator at Hotel Designs. As a practising designer Patrick ran one of the UK’s largest firms, completing over 300 new builds and hotel refurbishments. He was also awarded a number of prestigious awards including two European Design Awards. His website currently receives 160,000 readers per month. So we are proud to bring you the Designer Insights of Patrick Goff.
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1) In your own words describe your unique style and creative aesthetic?
My creativity finds expression through writing. I write about anything that intrigues or engages me, but mainly about my own creativity in photography, writing, my return to the studio and painting again.
2) When starting a new project, what is your creative process?
It saddens me that so many designers are followers of fashion rather than design innovators. My world is visual and I use a sketchbook and camera to both record and comment on my work.
3) Out of the creative people you have worked with, who is it that you respect and admire the most?
Bob Lush, founder of Richmond Design who encourage and developed many of the practice leaders of today’s leading interior companies. Then Olga Polizzi, still a figure I greatly respect. The design manager first of Forte Hotels, with her brother Rocco, inventor of the Travelodge chain, now design leader to Rocco Forte Hotels and who, like Bob Lush taught many of the leading Hotel figures of today their trade.
4) When looking for inspiration is there a particular thing you do to get inspired?
I find inspiration in the garden, its colours and movement, the way it changes with seasons and weather. I also take this visual stimulation from landscape that I travel through and have a particular delight in watching how architecture used to change with the nature of the climate it was in.
5) What has brought you to this point in your career? And what is your advice for people looking to follow in your footsteps?
To others I say be persistent, don’t chop and change what you do as I did in switching between design and fine art. I am a little a practitioner of too many trades, master of none. To younger designers I say, innovate, carve your own path, lead don’t follow, develop an individual voice.
