Anna Burles Re-Election Statement
Tell us about your professional skills and experience
My name is Anna Burles and I am the Creative Director of Run For The Hills, a design studio I founded with my husband Chris Trotman in 2012, specialising in interiors, branding and art. We work for residential and commercial clients, with me leading the interiors side and Chris leading Branding, Graphics and Art.
We're based in West London and design all kinds of spaces from houses to bars and restaurants to hotels and boutique cinemas - working mainly in the UK but also overseas. Highlight projects include the design of two 130-bedroom lifestyle hotels in Switzerland, Audrey Green and Larry’s Bar at the National Portrait Gallery, Kricket Soho, members club Kindred, Tivoli boutique cinema in Bath and Paradise Green for the Daisy Green Collection. On the resi front, we've designed for a few well-known faces (actor James McEvoy and singer Ellie Goulding) and love designing creative spaces no matter how big or small. Highlight resi projects: the transformation of two Grade II listed barns in the Cotswolds, turning them into a luxury, Unique Home Stays group guest stay and designing an eco-fantasy bedroom for HRH Queen Elizabeth during the Coronation Festival.
I'm also a BIID Registered Designer and one of the BIID’s current Council of Directors, standing for a second term.
Why are you standing for election to the BIID Council and what do you think you will bring to the role of the director?
I'm standing for re-election as I'm coming up to the end of my first term as BIID Director. I've learned so much during these first two years and would really like to continue for a second term.
I love being part of the BIID family, and have been a passionate advocate and active Member since 2014. Joining the BIID Membership Committee in 2015, chairing it for a number of years, until recently taking up a new role as BIID Student Chair. I speak regularly on the Design Circuit, doing talks, podcasts and lectures (at design shows, in my old interior design school and on BIID panels and breakfasts) sometimes as a speaker, other times hosting discussions.
I’m proud to wear the badge of Registered Interior Designer and remember going in front of the assessment panel back in the day, bidding to move from Associate Member to Full Member. I was so nervous! So I understand how daunting it can feel, but being a Member gives back in spades and gives you a support network like no other.
I’d love the opportunity to build on my first term as a Director with another two years on Council.
I'm standing for re-election as I'm coming up to the end of my first term as BIID Director. I've learned so much during these first two years and would really like to continue for a second term.
I love being part of the BIID family, and have been a passionate advocate and active Member since 2014. Joining the BIID Membership Committee in 2015, chairing it for a number of years, until recently taking up a new role as BIID Student Chair. I speak regularly on the Design Circuit, doing talks, podcasts and lectures (at design shows, in my old interior design school and on BIID panels and breakfasts) sometimes as a speaker, other times hosting discussions.
I’m proud to wear the badge of Registered Interior Designer and remember going in front of the assessment panel back in the day, bidding to move from Associate Member to Full Member. I was so nervous! So I understand how daunting it can feel, but being a Member gives back in spades and gives you a support network like no other.
I’d love the opportunity to build on my first term as a Director with another two years on Council.
What activity or initiative outlined in the 2024-2027 BIID Strategic Plan would you like to focus on if you are elected?
There are many BIID initiatives I'm passionate about, but two in particular I'd focus on if elected:
Inspiring students and recent grads to join the BIID (and Associates to move up to being Registered Designers). Encouraging the next generation of talent and growing the BIID community.
Helping students and other designers on the way up has always been a passion. People helped me on my journey and I'm a great believer in giving back. We always make a home for interns in our studio and I chaired the Alumni Board at KLC Design School for ten years (lecturing to students, judging their awards, and setting live project briefs for them to get real-world experience during training). Through the BIID, I've had great fun judging the Student Challenge, and reviewing BIID student/career guide pieces, so it felt natural to put myself forward for the new BIID Student Chair role. So I'm excited to be working alongside the BIID team, giving back to student members, new grads and BIID designers early in their career through networking events, portfolio reviews and competitions.
Sustainability also needs to be a core focus, looking for ways to reduce waste and be more eco-conscious in what we do as designers. I'm also fascinated with what AI can do for us. I don't believe it threatens us as designers (AI lacks 'taste' and the 'human touch' with clients and contractors), but it can help speed up our very complex design process, so is worth exploring!