Ben’s avid interest in contemporary design has led to a career spanning over two decades in the world of fashion, lifestyle, interiors and design journalism. He has spent much of the last 11 years driving the ELLE Decoration brand in the United Kingdom, while also giving talks and chairing discussions.
How have you set the mood to work efficiently from home?
It’s intense working from home every day but I’m surprised at how quickly I’ve adapted to it. For me, it’s all about combatting stress and strain by keeping my workspace as light, airy and uncluttered as possible. I try to surround myself with fresh flowers, plants and scented candles to make the environment as calm as possible.
Are there any hobbies that you’re indulging in while confined?
I’m reading lots, constantly tackling different, small renovations around my flat, and I’ve renewed my love of cooking.
Who is your greatest inspiration?
At this year’s British Design Awards, Jasper Morrison won the Designer of the Year title and it’s so deserving. In a world of shouty social media and rather a lot of style over substance, I find Morrison’s understated but nonetheless impactful, approach to design refreshing and beyond inspiring. His work will feel relevant and powerful for years to come.
How has WFH changed the way you and your teamwork?
I think we’re going to be much more flexible and quick to respond to the needs of our readers and the industry. Digital outlets and social media have come into their own and given us a new way to interact with our audience.
What is your most treasured possession?
A vintage Swiss watch, which I found in a box of pictures I bought at a flea market in New York years ago. I don’t know anything about its history or whether it’s worth anything. But I love the possibility of the lives it may have touched and the stories it may have been a part of.
Your current favourite design object…
The marble Saarinen table collection by Knoll is exquisite. For me, it’s the epitome of beautiful furniture design that has never been bettered.
A book or movie you’d happily read or watch over and over again…
The book I reread constantly is Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. It’s brilliant, brutal and quintessentially British. Among films, I love High Society. It’s hard to beat the panache of Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. Plus, Grace Kelly plays the most stylish and hilarious drunk ever.
Your all-time favorite architect…
Frank Lloyd Wright. Like me, he has Welsh roots and I am always blown away by the power and drama of his buildings, which have a resonance that lasts and lasts. His is an interesting and colourful story and Fallingwater is a place I am desperate to see in the flesh.
A promising product designer from the UK to watch out for…
Yinka Ilori—colour-obsessed, super creative and a positive force, fusing his British and Nigerian heritage to shake up the world of design. Definitely one to watch.
Once the travel ban is lifted, where would you first travel to?
My sister, who I am very close to, lives in Los Angeles and that will be my first port of call. After that, Milan. It’s like my second home and I’ve missed getting my fix of everything the Italian design capital represents.
Scroll to see images from his home office…
