Richard is a museum designer with over 25 year’s experience of major projects around the world. He is Founder and Creative Director of HKD, which he set up in 2000. He is happiest when weaving a complex story through a space and imagining the response from visitors and participants.

Highlights of his career have been his long term association with the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles and the Science Centre, Singapore, both institutions allowing the exploration of new and challenging ideas in exhibition environments. His ambition is to build a design practice that attracts the brightest and best designers.

When not in the studio, Richard is trying to finish his graphic novel based on Karel Capek’s play, “RUR”.

Kate set up HKD in 2000 with Richard Houghton, combining his experience with Museums and Science Centres with her background in television, theatre and teaching. A lifetime spent exploring different ways of shaping and sharing stories. Kate has covered most of the tasks in the studio so she really understands the complexity of delivering an integrated museum project. But she wants more – Kate wants to work with inspirational creative people in an environment which is constantly learning and developing. She is interested in collaborative projects and process.

HKD’s move to Margate is part of this, HKD is now at the heart of Marine Studios. As well as the design studio we now have a gallery and meeting space where we host cultural and community events, sharing our skills and learning from others. 

Kate explores her world through food, tai chi and beach combing.

Zara’s background in art and design allows her to approach projects in a fresh and multi-disciplinary way. She enjoys the challenge of displaying an object innovatively to reveal their hidden stories. Her designs are led by a tactile sensibility, appropriating materials in new and exciting ways. She enjoys surprising the visitor with unexpected interventions and interactive learning experiences.

Working across a range of projects from concept design to installation, Zara has been responsible for the design, development and delivery of museum environments and exhibits.

A graduate of the Royal College of Art, Robert is passionate about inspiring people and creating engaging spaces and products.

Trained as a 3D Designer, Robert brings a strong understanding of using materials in innovative ways to create high quality meaningful outcomes. With a passion for content lead design Robert regularly works in the boundary between disciplines – product, interior, exhibition, urban design and craft. In each situation the creative process is the mechanism to involve and inspire the potential viewer as participant or co-author of the work. Robert is an academic and practitioner able to consider the long and short term impact of the process and outcomes of projects.

Kam joined HKD as a Graphic Designer in December 2009. His role here is to produce graphic work in response to each exhibition brief. Every project requires its own specific approach so there is the chance to cover a range of styles, periods and techniques. Before joining HKD Kam worked as a graphic designer and illustrator in a publishing, printing and education. His aim has been to vary the ways in which he works and to learn something new from each project.

With HKD Kam has the opportunity to be involved in many areas of design that look beyond the traditional approach to producing graphic work. As well as working here with the team Kam is studying an MA in Graphic Design at the London College of Communication.

As Studio Manager, Eve organises and supports the designers at HKD, dealing with the day to day tasks of keeping the studio running smoothly. This can involve some pretty exciting challenges. With projects in Singapore, the USA and UK, ranging from Ballet to Terrorism, there is a constant round of people, objects and information that needs to be managed. Eve has intellectual curiosity, great organisational skills and a really good sense of humour – all core requirements to work at HKD.

Before joining HKD, as well as studying, Eve worked with several arts organisations on events programming so she is a key member of the team when it comes to organising Marine Studios 1st Friday events and exhibitions.

Pat O’Leary, Environmental Graphic Designer
Sian Busby, Writer
Jaana Fowler, Artist
Ami Zienkiewicz, Researcher
Boost-Ed, Academic Researchers
Pan Leisure Consulting
onclick
Superblue

As part of Marine Studios we are part of an Artist in Residency programme, we have projects with Alex Head, Sophie Herxheimer and Guðrún Sigríður Haraldsdóttir coming soon.