Create, innovate, design
by Jon Brooks
It only takes a few minutes with affable Adelaide-based interior architect Ryan Genesin to realise that there’s more to his job than meets the eye.
"Some clients come to me with a really detailed idea of what they want and others have as little as just a word or a basic concept of what kind of lifestyle space they want to create - it’s my job to turn that dream into reality," Genesin said.
"My job isn’t just design, I have to be a mind reader, a psychologist, a mediator and sometimes even a bit of a marriage counsellor.
"It’s really common in residential jobs for couples to have very different ideas and it’s my job to find a solution that works as well as pleases both people - it can be pretty full-on."
Not that Genesin seems to mind.
"I guess I do love the challenging aspects of the job," he says. "While big budgets can be fun, in many ways I prefer working with smaller ones because it challenges you to get really creative and in a lot of ways that’s where I really call back on my learning at UniSA."
Graduating with honours from the Bachelor of Interior Architecture in 2003, Genesin then moved to Melbourne to further his experience and establish himself professionally.
Working for a well respected firm SJB Interiors, Genesin said the first few years were made up of long hours and lots of on-the-job learning.
"It was hard work but you can’t expect to succeed without working hard and I was very lucky that during that time, I was exposed to some high profile jobs and some really prestigious clients," he said.
Genesin’s hard work caught the eye of a competitor at HPG Interiors and he was offered a senior role.
"It’s a really nice feeling to be recognised and I guess poached by the competition - it’s a confidence boost because you start to realise that you must be doing something right," Genesin said.
Immersing himself in the world of corporate interior architecture, Genesin obviously continued to impress his new employers, who kept him on staff even when he and his partner moved back to Adelaide in 2007 to be closer to family and friends.
"There was lots of flying between cities but it was really worth it and the contacts I made through that job have been a blessing since I started my own company late last year," he said.
"A good network is vital for anyone looking to start their own business in this field and I still maintain a good working relationship with HPG even though I’m my own boss now.
"I’m incredibly lucky to be able to work with some truly fantastic clients, people like Naomi Milgrom who’s the head of the Sussan Group – she is a real professional, has enormous knowledge, is great to work with and does amazing charity work as well."
Genesin, still less than a decade in to his career, now works across a diverse portfolio, from retail outlets to restaurants and even a $5 million Melbourne penthouse.
And his secret?
"Staying ahead of the game," he says.
"It’s so important to not only know what’s going on in the industry, but to try as best you can to be innovative, because your design work is your signature and if you’re going to start your own business you need to stand out from the crowd for the right reasons."