Designer Spotlight: Nicky Richter

For Designer Nicky Richter, it’s not just about how a space looks; it’s about how it feels. Finding inspiration in the natural world, she creates business spaces that are timeless, authentic, and reflect the brand narrative.

We sat down with Nicky to learn about her design ethos and how future-proofing and doing more with less might just be the next big design trend. Discover what she had to say below.

Can you share a brief introduction about yourself?

I’m the Design Lead in New Zealand for Cachet Group. I’ve been in the industry for about 15 years now, predominantly in workplace design, retail, hospitality, and the commercial design industry. And I’ve worked in both New Zealand and the UK.

So how would you describe your design style?

I don’t necessarily have a direct style as such. I tailor each design to suit the client’s needs, working with the brief and customising it for each design and brand.

Elements of trends tend to come through into my work, but if anything, I focus on things being timeless, authentic, and customised to suit the brand.

What are your main sources of inspiration, both personally and professionally?

I’m inspired by pretty much everything around me. Big on the outdoors, I love being on the water. I take inspiration from a lot of natural materials and forms, and I think that carries through into my designs quite a lot. 

Professionally, I really enjoy working with the client to understand a brief really accurately and making sure that there isn’t anything too personal coming into it. It’s more around the space, the requirements, and the environment that we’re working with.

I consider what the client wants to achieve out of that space and what they need their staff or clients to interact with. So, making sure that everything is customised and tailored, and every detail has a narrative behind it.

What is your approach to innovative design? 

I would say there are probably four main aspects to it—creativity, functionality, human experience, and the commercial reality, as we’re working with clients on a set budget. 

It’s not just about how a space looks, it’s about how it feels and how we customise and tailor it to suit the client’s needs. 

It’s also about thinking ahead—future-proofing and adaptability. We want to make sure we’re not designing something that will only last in the short term. That’s where sustainability also comes into play—not just from a materials perspective, but through reuse and repurposing, and by better understanding spaces and how we can adapt them to ensure they remain future-proof.

Where do you see design trends hitting in the coming years?

I see design trends heading towards more sustainable options. Timeless designs and working with heritage and parasitic architecture.

While considering trends, it’s important to help clients to understand their future-proofing options and how we can make spaces more adaptable. 

I think everyone is leaning towards the idea of using less space and building less, and there will be a big turning point. It’s one of the most unsustainable practices in the world, so we want to just make sure that we’re reducing our carbon footprint, using natural materials, and repurposing things. It’s about making design better for the future.

Are there any current or upcoming projects you’re particularly excited about?

We’re working on a few cool projects. We recently completed the Cachet office design, so we’re really excited about that. There’s been a lot of work from the team that’s gone into it, ensuring that it’s highly functional for us and will last a while.

We’re also currently working on a head office for Restaurant Brands. The client is really happy with the direction we’re going with the design. It’s quite different and unique for them, so I’m excited to see that completed.

We’re working with a client on a large-scale project at the moment. It’s going to be a significant change for the brand as they’ve been in the same space for a long time. So the way they’re working is changing quite a lot. We’re currently working through space planning and workplace strategy with them to ensure a great outcome.