We are a purpose-driven design studio, committed to being a force for good in the built and natural environment. As a group of architects, designers and strategists we work closely with our clients and collaborators to design useful, beautiful and impactful places.
Force for good
We believe that making a big impact doesn’t need a big budget. Our exemplary portfolio includes ‘small but mighty’ projects that range from high-impact solutions to suit small budgets and fast-paced programmes, through to large-scale redevelopments and strategic masterplanning.
We work with clients to identify value in their assets, unlocking potential opportunities and efficiencies to increase revenues and reduce operational costs.
Lean approach
Lean design is minimising materials, designing for adaptability and demountability, seeking opportunity for re-use, and removing unnecessary layering which adds carbon and cost.
We create assets that are durable, resilient, and able to cope with changing demographical and environmental needs. Simultaneously, buildings must be flexible and adaptable over time, designed as a suite of materials and components that can be deconstructed and reused again and again.
Circular ethos
We and the wider Trust have been drivers of the Circular Economy in the built environment.
We strive to find creative ways to use materials efficiently whilst generating less waste and delivering circular outcomes.
We actively reduce the need for ongoing maintenance, saving critical time and money for building owners and occupiers long after the works are complete.
Restore + adapt
Our work restoring, adapting, and reinventing spaces at all scales with low cost (and low carbon) interventions can maximise the experience for all users and the wider community.
Our regenerative design approach seeks to restore habitats and ecological networks, and promotes the creation of green corridors. We design to be resilient in the face of increased flood risk, overheating and other impacts associated with climate-breakdown.
Purpose driven
While finding solutions for clients we seek to exceed expectations and have a deep respect for our responsibility to design for climate resilience, habitat restoration and positive social outcomes.
Multidisciplinary
Our unique position within the Useful Simple Trust allows us to engage leading engineers, sustainability experts and communication designers in every project we undertake, irrespective of scale or budget. Our shared ethos of useful, ethical and intelligent design permeates everything that we do.
We are a B Corp and Social Enterprise
Useful Studio is a B Corp and a certified Social Enterprise. Becoming a B Corp and Social Enterprise is recognition of the fundamental mission and ethos of the Useful Simple Trust set out over 10 years ago.
Our net zero commitment
The Useful Simple Trust is committed to leadership on climate action, through our projects and the way we operate our business.
In line with best practice, we have calculated our corporate carbon footprint and set official science-based targets through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Our near-term net zero company-wide emissions reduction target is to reduce scope 1 and scope 2 GHG emissions by 46% by 2030 from a 2019 baseline year, and to measure and reduce our scope 3 emissions.
To elevate what we are doing beyond science-based targets and demonstrate industry leadership, we have also joined the B Corp Climate Collective and signed up to B Corp's pledge to commit to Net Zero by 2030, which will require us to offset any residual emissions.
