How do you go from almost joining the Marines, to leading the world’s largest hospitality design firm? 

Born in Yorkshire and now based in Singapore, Chris Godfrey’s story is one of creative grit, adaptability and quiet determination. From humble beginnings as a teenage print boy in an architectural practice, to founding his own studio, to now serving as Co-CEO of HBA, the global design powerhouse behind some of the world’s leading hotels and residences, his career has been shaped by curiosity and craft in equal measure. 

Listen in as Vince and Chris explore his remarkable rise through design, the future of global hospitality and wellness, and how his early lessons in resilience continue to shape the way he designs for life. 

HBA: https://hba.com/

How do you go from almost joining the Marines, to leading the world&rsquo;s largest hospitality design firm?&nbsp;
Born in Yorkshire and now based in Singapore, Chris Godfrey&rsquo;s story is one of creative grit, adaptability and quiet determination. From humble beginnings as a teenage print boy in an architectural practice, to founding his own studio, to now serving as Co-CEO of HBA, the global design powerhouse behind some of the world&rsquo;s leading hotels and residences, his career has been shaped by curiosity and craft in equal measure.&nbsp;
Listen in as Vince and Chris explore his remarkable rise through design, the future of global hospitality and wellness, and how his early lessons in resilience continue to shape the way he designs for life.&nbsp;
HBA: https://hba.com/

Your life is the most important design project you will ever undertake!

Design is everywhere, in what we make, how we think, and how we live. The question is: are you designing your life, or just living by default? 

Each week I sit down with creators, entrepreneurs, and thinkers who’ve shaped their own paths, to uncover the ideas, struggles, and breakthroughs that can help you design a life with purpose. 

Vince Frost is the CEO and Executive Creative Director of Frost*collective, a strategic creative group dedicated to designing a better world through human-centered design. Its goal is to design experiences that enrich lives by combining specialist skills to tackle complex challenges and drive superior results.

Your life is the most important design project you will ever undertake!
Design is everywhere, in what we make, how we think, and how we live. The question is: are you designing your life, or just living by default?&nbsp;
Each week I sit down with creators, entrepreneurs, and thinkers who&rsquo;ve shaped their own paths, to uncover the ideas, struggles, and breakthroughs that can help you design a life with purpose.&nbsp;
Vince Frost is the CEO and Executive Creative Director of Frost*collective, a strategic creative group dedicated to designing a better world through human-centered design. Its goal is to design experiences that enrich lives by combining specialist skills to tackle complex challenges and drive superior results.

In his Design Your Life podcast series, Vince Fro…

Design Your Life with Vince Frost

Your life is the most important design project you will ever undertake!

Design is everywhere, in what we make, how we think, and how we live. The question is: are you designing your life, or just living by default? 

Each week I sit down with creators, entrepreneurs, and thinkers who’ve shaped their own paths, to uncover the ideas, struggles, and breakthroughs that can help you design a life with purpose.

Your life is the most important design project you will ever undertake!
Design is everywhere, in what we make, how we think, and how we live. The question is: are you designing your life, or just living by default?&nbsp;
Each week I sit down with creators, entrepreneurs, and thinkers who&rsquo;ve shaped their own paths, to uncover the ideas, struggles, and breakthroughs that can help you design a life with purpose.

Designing life at scale with Chris Godfrey

 What does it mean to design a legacy — not just through buildings, but through the lives they shape? 

In this episode of Design Your Life, Vince sits down with architect Koos de Keijzer, founding director of DKO, to explore how culture, travel and values influence the way we design — and the way we live. Raised in a Dutch household in New Zealand and trained in the Netherlands, Koos developed an early belief that architecture is deeply human, collaborative and grounded in place. 

Listen in as Vince and Koos discuss leadership without ego, why finding the best idea matters more than owning it, and why the future of architecture lies beyond iconic towers — in the everyday suburbs where most people live. From mentoring the next generation to embracing simplicity, sustainability and long-term thinking, Koos reflects on what it really means to design work — and a life — that lasts. 

https://dko.com.au/

&nbsp;What does it mean to design a legacy &mdash; not just through buildings, but through the lives they shape?&nbsp;
In this episode of Design Your Life, Vince sits down with architect Koos de Keijzer, founding director of DKO, to explore how culture, travel and values influence the way we design &mdash; and the way we live. Raised in a Dutch household in New Zealand and trained in the Netherlands, Koos developed an early belief that architecture is deeply human, collaborative and grounded in place.&nbsp;
Listen in as Vince and Koos discuss leadership without ego, why finding the best idea matters more than owning it, and why the future of architecture lies beyond iconic towers &mdash; in the everyday suburbs where most people live. From mentoring the next generation to embracing simplicity, sustainability and long-term thinking, Koos reflects on what it really means to design work &mdash; and a life &mdash; that lasts.&nbsp;
https://dko.com.au/

Designing a legacy with Koos de Keijzer

What shapes the feeling of a place? And how does a life spent moving between cities, countries and creative worlds influence the way you design for others? 

For interior architect Simone McEwan, co-founder of international design studio Nice Projects, the thread has always been the same — creating spaces that make people feel something. 

From a childhood spent moving between eight homes before the age of 12, to studying architecture at 17, to an unplanned move to London that opened the door to a global career, Simone’s path is anything but linear. Her work with Anouska Hempel, Richard Horden Soho House, Selfridges, and Studio Ilse has shaped some of the world’s most iconic hospitality and retail experiences. 

Today, she leads projects across London, Singapore, Japan and Sydney — designing with empathy, intuition and a deep understanding of how people live. 

Listen in as Vince and Simone explore her nomadic childhood, the craft behind world-class hospitality, and how designing for life — not ego — creates spaces that truly connect.

https://niceprojects.work/

What shapes the feeling of a place? And how does a life spent moving between cities, countries and creative worlds influence the way you design for others?&nbsp;
For interior architect Simone McEwan, co-founder of international design studio Nice Projects, the thread has always been the same &mdash; creating spaces that make people feel something.&nbsp;
From a childhood spent moving between eight homes before the age of 12, to studying architecture at 17, to an unplanned move to London that opened the door to a global career, Simone&rsquo;s path is anything but linear. Her work with Anouska Hempel, Richard Horden Soho House, Selfridges, and Studio Ilse has shaped some of the world&rsquo;s most iconic hospitality and retail experiences.&nbsp;
Today, she leads projects across London, Singapore, Japan and Sydney &mdash; designing with empathy, intuition and a deep understanding of how people live.&nbsp;
Listen in as Vince and Simone explore her nomadic childhood, the craft behind world-class hospitality, and how designing for life &mdash; not ego &mdash; creates spaces that truly connect.
https://niceprojects.work/

Designing Nice Projects with Simone McEwan

What does it take to lead one of the UK’s oldest and most respected architectural practices into the future? 

As CEO of Scott Brownrigg, Darren Comber has steered the 115-year-old practice through change, challenge and reinvention. From its early roots in Guildford to a network of studios spanning Amsterdam, London, New York, Singapore and Riyadh, Darren has played a pivotal role in shaping its global presence. 

With a career defined by persistence, vision and curiosity, he reflects on the power of reinvention, the evolution of design, and why keeping energy alive is fundamental to sustaining a business over decades. 

Listen in as Vince and Darren explore the art of leadership, the role of architecture in shaping society, and how to stay relevant in a fast-changing world. 

What does it take to lead one of the UK&rsquo;s oldest and most respected architectural practices into the future?&nbsp;
As CEO of Scott Brownrigg, Darren Comber has steered the 115-year-old practice through change, challenge and reinvention. From its early roots in Guildford to a network of studios spanning Amsterdam, London, New York, Singapore and Riyadh, Darren has played a pivotal role in shaping its global presence.&nbsp;
With a career defined by persistence, vision and curiosity, he reflects on the power of reinvention, the evolution of design, and why keeping energy alive is fundamental to sustaining a business over decades.&nbsp;
Listen in as Vince and Darren explore the art of leadership, the role of architecture in shaping society, and how to stay relevant in a fast-changing world.&nbsp;

Designing life at scale with Chris Godfrey

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