We are a purpose-driven design studio, committed to being a force for good in the built and natural environment. As a group of architects, designers and strategists we work closely with our clients and collaborators to design useful, beautiful and impactful places.

 

We are experts in retrofit, circular and strategic design:

Reuse, repurpose, reimagine

We specialise in the creative reuse of buildings and the public realm. Combining lateral thinking with rigorous viability assessment, our projects demonstrate the breadth of opportunities that a place can yield without the need to start from scratch.

Circular and future-proof

We and the wider Trust have been drivers of the Circular Economy in the built environment. We design with the core principles of lean – less materials, less layering, re-use and disassembly. We actively reduce the need for ongoing maintenance, saving critical time and money for building owners and occupiers long after the works are complete.

Unlocking potential with agile insight

We enjoy problem-solving and finding answers in challenging situations. We pride ourselves on our ability to digest and interpret a project’s constraints so that we can offer sound strategic and deliverable advice on how these may be overcome.

We're part of the Useful Simple Trust

Our unique position within the Useful Simple Trust allows us to engage leading engineers, sustainability experts and communication designers in every project we undertake, irrespective of scale or budget. Our shared ethos of useful, ethical and intelligent design permeates everything that we do.

We're a B Corp and Social Enterprise

Useful Studio is a B Corp and a certified Social Enterprise.

Becoming a B Corp and Social Enterprise is recognition of the fundamental mission and ethos of the Useful Simple Trust set out over 10 years ago. 

Our net zero commitment

The Useful Simple Trust is committed to leadership on climate action, through our projects and the way we operate our business.

In line with best practice, we have calculated our corporate carbon footprint and set official science-based targets through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Our near-term net zero company-wide emissions reduction target is to reduce scope 1 and scope 2 GHG emissions by 46% by 2030 from a 2019 baseline year, and to measure and reduce our scope 3 emissions.

To elevate what we are doing beyond science-based targets and demonstrate industry leadership, we have also joined the B Corp Climate Collective and signed up to B Corp's pledge to commit to Net Zero by 2030, which will require us to offset any residual emissions.