News

Inside perspective: Halkin's head of design

Rayon's Q&A session with Taciana Dos Santos

Shira Nathan
by Shira Nathan on Dec 18, 2024
Inside perspective: Halkin's head of design
"Rayon empowers multiple teams at Halkin to collaborate more effectively, enhancing our overall productivity. It's incredibly intuitive, unlike other software like AutoCAD, which requires extensive knowledge of complex commands."

In this Q&A, we sit down with Taciana Dos Santos, head of design at Halkin, a leading provider of flexible office and co-working spaces based in London. Taciana shares her insights on understanding client needs, overcoming project challenges, and how Rayon has transformed Halkin's design and collaboration processes.

Who are you?

"I am the head of design at Halkin, a London-based provider of flexible office and co-working spaces."

How do you understand and meet client needs at Halkin?

"At Halkin, we develop office and co-working spaces, acting as our own clients. This allows us to address requirements creatively. Our design process involves analyzing the location, intended users, and their daily experiences.

For example, our King William Street property serves a different audience than our Paris Garden site. We conduct user research to ensure our spaces resonate, considering nearby commerce, restaurants, and transit. This helps us create tailored environments that meet diverse needs."

How do you handle unexpected issues during projects?

"At Halkin, we can effectively manage unexpected project issues thanks to the fact that we use our in-house construction company and operate a well-organized inventory system. This enables quick responses without heavy reliance on external resources.

For example, during a recent refurbishment, we overcame door delivery delays by utilizing stored doors from another project. Similarly, to address furniture supply delays, we can temporarily use items from storage and replace them when the original ones become available. Our operations team closely coordinates all aspects, from stock tracking to transportation, ensuring we can adapt smoothly to any challenges."

What advice would you give an interior designer at the start of their career?

"My advice to new interior designers is to embrace mistakes as part of the learning process. Setbacks are inevitable, so instead of dwelling on errors, focus on finding solutions and moving forward. Relying on other stakeholders for help can sometimes be essential, even if it doesn't always work out. Developing resilience and problem-solving skills early will benefit you throughout your career."

How has Rayon improved your design process compared to the tools you used previously?

"Rayon empowers multiple teams at Halkin to collaborate more effectively, enhancing our overall productivity. It's incredibly intuitive, unlike other software like AutoCAD, which requires extensive knowledge of complex commands.

Rayon makes generating detailed floor plans and editing their internal configurations and furniture super easy and fast—including creating test fits.

It enables our design team to collaborate with the sales and operations teams and achieve faster results together. For example, the sales department can now quickly adjust floor plans in real-time with clients, accommodating changes instantly and speeding up the overall turnaround."


Rayon is the fastest tool for creating perfect architectural drawings; it's the next-generation CAD software for interior designers and architects working in teams!

Want to know more about Rayon?

- Watch this 10-minute demo!

- Apply to Rayon's Design Partner Program.

- Check out Rayon's YouTube channel for more interviews and tutorials.