When you think “landscape architect,” you might picture someone planting a back lawn—but as Lisa reveals in this episode of Managing Creative Studios, the work goes far deeper (and sometimes even involves creating hotels for bats!).

Lisa, Studio Manager at Harrison Grierson, takes us inside the world of large-scale design where ecology, culture, and community all intersect. She shares how she worked with conservationists and ecologists to design a Hamilton project that doubled as accommodation and a buffet for native bat populations—proving that good design can support both people and wildlife.

We also get a peek behind the curtain of the profession, including the surprising “dirty little secret” that many landscape architects like to deny: deep down, they really do love flowers. In fact, Lisa’s passion project, The Memory Botanist, transforms special-occasion blooms into art that lasts a lifetime.

This episode blends ecology, leadership, and creativity—showing how landscape architecture shapes the spaces we live in, while quietly influencing how we connect with nature (and each other).

Find out more about Lisa's workplace here: https://www.harrisongrierson.com/

Check out Lisa's side hustle The Memory Botanist here: https://www.instagram.com/thememorybotanist/

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In this episode Amanda Chambers takes us on a rich journey through her remarkable career in advertising and production—from her early days at Flux Animation working with her brother Brent, to executive roles at Saatchi & Saatchi, Assembly, and True. Amanda shares heartfelt stories about building creative teams, navigating agency life, and balancing compassion with leadership in high-pressure environments.

She opens up about the joys and challenges of working with family, launching her agency ANTI alongside her daughter Nico and creative partner Jane Langley, and what it means to build a female-founded business doing things completely differently with a 'no douchebags' approach.

We explore how she’s making advertising fun again, integrating AI into creative workflows, and fostering a culture of collaboration, fairness, and shared success. It’s a conversation filled with humour, industry gossip, and genuine inspiration for anyone navigating the advertising game.

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In this episode, we talk with David and Jamie, the co-founders of One to One Hundred (OTOH), a leading architectural visualisation studio. From their first meeting at architecture school to moonlighting as grad architects and launching a startup from a dilapidated office, their journey is a story of grit, experimentation, and creative evolution.

They reflect on early career missteps, the value of artistic intuition in hiring, the changing landscape of 3D rendering, and lessons learned from side ventures like Little Lot and offplan.kiwi. The duo also open up about maintaining passion over two decades, the challenges of scaling a niche business, and the rise of AI in ArchViz. With candour and humour, they discuss leadership, workaholism, creative ownership, and what really makes a great render.

This episode is a must-listen for any 3D artists, aspiring founders, or those curious about what it takes to build and sustain a purpose-driven studio in a constantly evolving field.

This episode is proudly sponsored by 5 Digital. Check out the talented team at https://5digital.co.nz/ for all your digital printing needs!

You can also find out more about OTOH on their website: https://www.otoh.studio/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.