A lot can happen in four years — and Lauren Kay is proof of that. Starting her Carr journey in lockdown and working entirely remotely, Lauren’s first months were anything but typical. Since then, she’s navigated a period of remarkable growth, culminating in her recent elevation to Senior Interior Designer. We caught up with her since her last Five Minutes With in March 2022 to find out what she’s been up to.
Taking it back to 2021, when you first joined Carr, how does that period compare with now?
Outside of work, a lot has changed for me personally — getting married, moving house, and welcoming a dog have all been big milestones. It’s really felt like a coming-of-age period.
Looking back to when I first started at Carr, there have also been some really positive shifts within the team. The studio has introduced a number of great initiatives, including training and mentoring programs, sustainability measures, and Carr’s RAP (Reconciliation Action Plan). Together, these reflect a strong commitment to both people and the broader impact of our work.
If you could give Lauren of 2021 some advice, what would it be?
It would be to trust herself and be confident in her design decisions, while also embracing the possibility of mistakes and experimentation. At Carr, our team undertakes rigorous design testing and research to achieve the outcomes we do, and often being bold with an idea is essential to innovate and reach the right solution.
In the past, I was hesitant to present concepts, worried they might seem too unconventional. I’ve since learned that voicing ideas — no matter how “out there” they may seem — is crucial to fully developing a design concept or solution.
Congratulations on your promotion to Senior Interior Designer! How do you hope to lead and support the team in this role?
Thank you! It’s an exciting time, with commercial projects really picking up after a period of significant market change.
I’m passionate about supporting and empowering those in more junior roles, sharing knowledge and lessons from past projects, while staying curious about new ways to approach briefs and challenges. I want to remain approachable and open to questions, while being mindful of where projects may need extra support, and ensuring my team receives recognition when it’s due.
I also hope to continue representing Carr well, keeping excellence a priority across all the projects I’m involved in.
Over this time, what personal and professional achievements or milestones are you most proud of?
It’s always a great feeling to see your projects recognised in awards programs. Some highlights include Minter Ellison Adelaide and Russell Kennedy Melbourne’s offices, both nominated in the Australian Interior Design Awards. These milestones are something I’m very proud of.
It’s also incredibly rewarding to hear from clients, like Russell Kennedy, that a project has positively influenced how their business is perceived and how their team feels coming into work. Knowing your design has that kind of impact is a special achievement.
Can you share where you feel your skills as an interior designer have truly developed since joining Carr?
Before joining Carr, my abilities in Revit were minimal, and I’ve worked hard to continue learning and growing in that area.
Another key development has been thinking through a commercial lens. Considering compliance, durability of materials, and furniture selection was a new process for me, coming from a single-residential background. Four years on, these considerations have become second nature.
Working at Carr has also strengthened my design rigour and attention to detail across all aspects of a project. Since these qualities are central to everything Carr produces, they’ve naturally grown within my own skill set over the past four years.
Finally, what is it about Carr’s design ethos that you resonate with?
I resonate with Carr’s commitment to creating enduring outcomes. I love that our team strives to produce designs that are timeless and remain relevant for years to come. Equally important is the focus on quality, crafting spaces and details that the end user values and cares for long after project handover.
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