Why Good Design Is About Concept, Not Cost with Marta Gordiychuk

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This week on Space by Stansons, Guy heads to Paris with designer Marta Gordiychuk to explore how taste, emotion and honest material choices can shape spaces that feel memorable rather than simply functional.

Marta shares why Paris is a place she returns to for inspiration and recharge, from its food and fashion to the way interiors combine beauty, simplicity and everyday experience. She reflects on the connection between environment and emotion, and why good workplace design should offer people something beyond the basic purpose of getting work done.

The conversation also explores breakout spaces, materials, budget and the importance of a strong concept. Marta explains why a breakout area should feel like a genuine getaway for staff, how colour and shape can communicate an idea at almost any budget, and why designers should be honest with materials rather than imitate high-end finishes cheaply. From natural surfaces and organic forms to the balance of old and new found across Paris, the episode looks at how thoughtful design decisions create spaces with identity.

Marta also shares how she protects the “heart” of a project: once the core concept is clear and understood by the wider team and client, other elements can flex without losing the idea that holds the design together.

Whether you’re designing workplaces, leading a team or simply interested in how physical environments influence emotion, this episode offers practical insight into creating spaces that are honest, purposeful and full of character.

In this episode:

• Why workplace design should offer more than the basic purpose of work.
• Creating breakout spaces that help people recharge and connect.
• Using colour and shape to create impact across different budgets.
• Why materials should be honest rather than imitate what they are not.
• Balancing heritage, modern design and natural forms within a clear concept.
• How protecting the core concept keeps a project coherent when details change.