Eric Lawrence

Eric is responsible for the day to day operations and business development of the Melbourne studio in liaison with the UK senior management team and provides project management and consultancy in all aspects of theatre design.

I see my role at Charcoalblue in terms of what work and life experience I can bring, to help make this a great place to work and produce great design for our clients. The multiple job titles like Partner, Managing Director or Theatre Designer reflect a position but what brings most satisfaction is being able to make sure that what we do is the right thing for our employees and clients, and we produce work that has a positive effect on people’s lives.I like to think that the approach to short term daily tasks as well as long term business strategy is focused on considering what effect our decisions has on the user or the participant. Everything we do has in some way a human perspective and it matters to me that we consider how good design and considered thinking can improve how we work and how we share experiences together.

What Excites You Most About Your Work

At heart I have always been a problem solver, whether big picture or in the detail. I was taught to listen and analyse a problem, then be creative when proposing a solution. Being in a room with a client and watching their reaction to something they had not even considered and seeing that we had listened and tabled a robust, well considered proposal that answers their brief is still the most exciting and fulfilling part of our work.

What Does Great Design or Experience Mean to You

Producing great design should be at the centre of everything we do. We exist on the principles that our reputation will grow our business and we build that through great design and user experience. That means making sure we listen to a client, we are creative and innovative in our approach and that our output is functional, user and human focused, efficient, and answers their brief. Truly great design can embrace the unexpected, the innovative and bring joy and improvement to lives.

A Project That Shaped How You Work

One of the great joys of designing theatres is the range of problems that you have to solve, whether auditorium geometry, audience or performer movement, how many toilets are really needed, bar counter joinery details, or where the wardrobe ironing board is kept, they are all the most important thing for the particular user and you have to get them right. Every project I have ever worked on brings this amazing variety of design challenges and in order to deal with them you find yourself learning how good communication with fellow stakeholders is intrinsic to a positive end result. That can mean collaboration skills with designers, discussing the merits of concrete finish on site, learning the craft of joinery contractors, presenting to client boardrooms; they all require different communication skills. Sometimes it requires humility, sometimes inquisition, and sometimes robust debate. I think understanding the moment and the response is something that we all need to learn and recognise.

Coffee, Travel, or Creative Ritual

Do not expect me to communicate or function before my first cappuccino of the day.Do expect me to communicate or function well with my first glass of a Barossa Valley Shiraz and a block of 70% Lindt Chocolate.

Cultural Value That Inspires You to Go the Extra Mile

As indicated in my bio responses I probably identify most with our values of Collaboration, Communication and Creativity. They play to my personality, my ways of thinking and what I believe drive good design and working practices. As you become more involved in what drives a business, then I find that Commercial focus pushes me and inspires me to try harder and think differently. Understanding the direct correlation between creativity and business growth brings clearer focus and drive.