Grant Associates’ Martin Knight appointed to new Design Council expert network

Martin Knight, Associate at Grant Associates in Bath, has been appointed to the Design Council’s new network of more than 400 built and natural environment experts, who collectively embody the organisation’s commitment to make life better by design.

The new Design Council network, officially announced this week, combines the expertise of active leaders and change makers from a number of professions, backgrounds and regions.

The network is key to the role that the Design Council plays in delivering design advice and support services in the built and natural environment and beyond. 34 ambassadors and 350 associates and specialists, as well as more than 20 corporate partners, comprise the new network, which replaces Design Council’s previous roster of built environment experts.

Martin Knight, Chartered Landscape Architect and Associate at Grant Associates in Bath, has joined the new network as a Design Council Expert Associate. His role will involve strategic design support and design reviews, contributing to a community of practice that will develop, co-create and partner on new projects, programmes and opportunities with the Design Council, sharing knowledge and expertise with fellow experts and wider society. Martin will also participate in thought workshops, roundtables, panel discussions and input into policy development.

Martin brings to the role his personal passion for creating inspirational and beautiful places that delight, consider the needs of both people and nature, and that contribute positively to the health and wellbeing and overall quality of life.

Since joining Grant Associates in 2015, Martin has been involved with a diverse portfolio across a variety of project scales and sectors, including higher education, residential, strategic small- and large-scale mixed-use master planning projects, parks and public realm design. His portfolio includes work on the University of Sussex West Slope Residences project at the University’s Falmer campus near Brighton, and Mountbatten House, affectionately known as the Hanging Gardens of Basingstoke and cited as one of the 15 most important modern listed buildings in the UK. A key current focus for Martin is Brabazon, Bristol, one of the largest brownfield redevelopments in the UK.

Martin Knight, Associate at Grant Associates, comments:

“I’m absolutely delighted, very proud and honoured to have been appointed to the role of Design Council Expert Associate. I believe design is at its best when it is collaborative in nature; involving the viewpoints and talents of designers, thinkers and communities within the Design Council’s new network is a chance to help facilitate and encourage this approach, throughout the world of design. As a Landscape Architect, I believe that fundamentally our role is to make the world a better place for people and nature. My involvement with the Design Council feels like a wonderful fit and I’m excited to share my passion, professional knowledge, experience and skills to help the Design Council make life better by design.”

Minnie Moll, Design Council Chief Executive, adds:

“The social, environmental and economic value of the built and natural environment is informed and enhanced by solutions that are inclusive and holistic. I am delighted to welcome back many of our existing experts as well as introduce new faces and bring them together with our highly acclaimed design associates to build a dynamic community of practice. In creating the new network we deliberately set out to increase the diversity in the group, reflecting under-represented groups and bringing greater breadth of perspective and expertise.”

Over the coming months, the new network of experts will join with Design Council’s design associates to form a dynamic community of practice which will share ideas, insights and develop exciting opportunities to collaborate. By bringing together experts in place, social and business innovation, service and systemic design, and by better reflecting under-represented groups, this community of practice will be able to respond even more effectively to some of society’s most pressing challenges.

For more information about the work of the Design Council, visit www.designcouncil.org.uk