Michael Schienke Re-Election Statement

Tell us about your professional skills and experience

Before setting up his own practice Michael worked for some of the top practices in London, such as Winch Design and Argent Design, to name only a few. He worked on prestigious properties in London, as well as abroad, on luxury island houses and yachts. Michael J. Schienke also gained valuable first-hand knowledge of the build stage as a project manager in construction companies. His work experience also includes working on offices, high-rise buildings, shopping centers, student accommodation, and multi-family housing.

Currently he is actively involved with the BIID and a mentor for both BIID and RIBA members and students, and a lecturer at WSUS. He is currently chairing the internal CPD committee.

Michael was educated in Germany, Poland, and Sweden. He is fluent in both German, French and Polish, and registered as an architect in the UK, France, and Germany. Recently he is managing projects in Dubai and Ethiopia as well.

Why are you standing for election to the BIID Council and what do you think you will bring to the role of the director?

From the mentoring sessions I feel that us at the BIID need to give new and existing members more support in terms of helping with PR, the process of getting and keeping clients and also mindset of how to run an interior design business, while at every step focusing on practical guidance, aimed at one (wo)man designers as well as smaller practices.
During my last two years as Director I am also focusing on more in-person CPD events to allow for a better cooperation between our members, and what better way to do this than in person.

What activity or initiative outlined in the 2024-2027 BIID Strategic Plan would you like to focus on if you are elected?

To grow as a mature organisation, the BIID should improve and expand mutually beneficial relationships with not only professional bodies, but also with larger companies who have a strong interior design focus, as well as partner and collaborate with universities / organisations abroad. These should be selected organisations whose values align with the BIID and its members.

The aim is to foster long term collaboration but also give our members guidance and direct contacts to organisations abroad which will be able to support their work in other countries.

To be a British interior designer still has great weight abroad, and I believe that every UK based designer needs to have connections and work with and in other countries, to supplement their current UK based workloads. I would like to continue to work towards this goal in my next term.

What do you see as the long-term strategic priorities of the BIID?

The BIID should build on its existing offering for CPD activities and focus more on in person events, and strengthen its regional ambassador programme to offer more non-London centric events.
We should also focus on advising our members on how to offer the best possible service to clients during these difficult times, and support them at every step along the way.