Could you tell us a little bit more about yourself and what made you start the business?

 

I studied Industrial Product Design at De Montfort University and was preparing to spend my entire career working in the industry. Setting up my own business was just a pipe dream. I was spurred on by encouragement and support from my husband. After several years in the industry, I started with a classic laptop in a bedroom scenario as a graphic designer. I was, however, missing being in a collaborative space, prototyping, exploring different materials, working with physical form. As the studio work grew it afforded me the luxury of setting up a maker space to be shared with like-minded people and an opportunity to work on new ideas. This was a turning point; the workshop space allowed for creativity and experimentation to take place, that’s how Horticus came to be.

 

 

 

What inspires your work? 

 

Nothing is created in isolation, so I am learning to embrace people who are happy to question. It is hard to do it to yourself, especially when it comes to your own work, so having people who will broaden your point of view is invaluable. I’ll admit it’s not easy and often frustrating, but it makes you and your work so much better in the long run.

Willingness to have a go. I find that relying on imagination entirely can be misleading. Seeing the physical item shows options that otherwise would not have been considered. So, trying things out brings out unexpected and wonderful outcomes.

And surprisingly limitations. It may be budget, space I work in, materials, equipment access, time, all these boundaries make me open to solutions I wouldn’t normally consider, and as such can yield interesting results.

 

 

 

What is the most important thing for you in your business?

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People I work with and my customers, without them I wouldn’t have a business.  

 

 

A little story or an anecdote you would like to share?

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As a kid, part of my summer holiday was spent putting a herbarium together with my grandmother. Aside from drying flowers, there was a lot of research involved about each plant followed by a write-up. For a 10-year-old it was painful, to say the least, with a burning question, ‘What is the point of it all?’ Well, now I know. 😊

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Based In: Leicester, England, United Kingdom

Product Range: Living Wall 

Website: horticusliving.com 

Instagram: @horticusliving