Archives: People

Jane Valentine founded Valentine Interiors and Design in 2015 and leads the team in delivering intriguing and compelling outcomes.

With 29 years in the design industry, she has received multiple national awards, including the NAWIC Contribution to Design, Crystal Vision, Business Woman of the Year, and was a state finalist for the Telstra Business Awards. Most recently, two national shortlistings in the Interior Design Awards for hospitality design.

Jane has a fellowship and is an accredited designer with the Design Institute of Australia. Recently, she became co-chair of the Tasmanian Branch Council. She graduated from the University of Tasmania with First Class Honours in Design and was awarded the prestigious University medal.

She invests her energy in the design process, her team, and industry collaboration through public talks, written pieces, and education. She works hard to support the design community and society through the studio becoming carbon neutral, judging national awards, and mentoring students, always ensuring she contributes to something more significant than just her practice.

Jane has taught the Swinburne University of Technology Associate Degree for Commercial and Residential Interior Design, specialising in hospitality design, concept development, human centred design, spatial design, and activity-based environment design.

In the studio, Jane is our big picture person, constantly shuffling the pieces of every design puzzle to ensure that not only each design element is exceptional but that the whole design is cohesive and utterly compelling.

Jane has an avid interest in art selection and curation and loves all things hospitality. Her bubbliness and empathetic approach always make you feel at ease when you meet her.

Simon’s energy is infectious, and once you have met him, it is difficult not to walk away with renewed enthusiasm and be utterly inspired.

Simon is an accredited interior designer with the DIA (Design Institute of Australia), a qualified residential draftsperson and is currently undertaking a Diploma of Building Design. He has endless passion and a deep understanding of spatial design, user experience and architecture.

He is fascinated by ideas and is the first to admit that many of his ideas are a little out there. However, we can tell you that the ideas that make it through the ‘bonkers’ filter are enormously creative, innovative and always based on a better view of the current situation. 

Simon Trewin is constantly collecting and connecting seemingly disparate skills and knowledge. Over three decades, he has developed an exceptionally high level of understanding in hospitality design, branding, marketing, fine art, teaching, writing, design thinking and complex problem solving.

As a qualified chef, Simon has extensive international and national hospitality and food retailing experience. He has created and launched many hospitality ventures, including multiple appearances on the Fast 100 List. He has consulted to industry in New Product Development, Service Design, Innovation & Design Thinking. 

His expertise in hospitality operations of every scale, coupled with a relentless focus on the end-user experience and the importance of operationally sound spaces, enhances the commercial value of every project he is involved in.

Simon has taught entrepreneurship, brand & visual identity and marketing, along with writing and teaching design thinking at University level.