Name: Charlie Williams
Job title: UK Showroom Design Manager
Tell us a bit about yourself
I live in the Peak District with my husband Clive. We met at IKEA, designing and opening new IKEA UK stores. We have a son called Eli who has just graduated from Bristol (SO proud!) and a dog called Snout. I spend my spare time perusing antique and charity shops, collecting weird and wonderful objects (taxidermy and dolls heads mostly!) to make into strange works of art (see below). When I’m not creating art, I can be found having fun with friends or meandering around the countryside solving murders.
Describe your job to a five-year-old
I draw buildings inside and out that work well and make people money/happy!
What do you like most about your job?
Designing beautiful YET functional spaces. My motto is “There’s always a way!”
How did you get here?
My degree is in technical and scientific illustration. This means I can draw really well if technology fails! In my first role, I worked in Germany designing a modern-day cannon for the Swiss Army! I worked for IKEA in the UK and Sweden designing the IKEA catalogue and then UK stores, and then moved more into architecture and interiors, designing schools, offices, hotels and residential interiors. Having worked on Libyan universities and Aintree Racecourse, designing toilet and ablution areas led me into the bathroom world! Weird, I know!
What motivates you?
Learning new skills and meeting positive “can do” people. “Radiators not Drains!”
If you could swap jobs with anyone, who would it be?
Guy Ritchie. He’s a fabulous director, screenwriter and producer.
Your favourite song lyric or line from a film
“We’ve gone on holiday by mistake” from the film Withnail and I.
Your favourite app?
Pinterest, Instagram and I seem to use the weather a lot!
Biggest facepalm moment at work?
Getting a company car and not knowing how to start it. I had to get someone to show me!