Meet the two Future Leaders dubbed ‘out of the box thinkers’ by their peers. Leadership is about more than guiding a project or a team along a well-trodden path; it can also include finding new ways forward or strategising ways to bridge a gap others thought unpassable. Nominated for their commitment to a design less ordinary, Harriet Langdown and Liz Schneider are innovative design leaders who steer their projects to their intended conclusion and beyond – if not always via their expected route.
Their Future Leaders nominations praised Harriet and Liz for their ‘visionary’ leadership, as persons full of ingenuity and zeal, and with the capability to take any brief and run with it until they create something extraordinary. We wanted to tap into their perspectives and hear their thoughts on design, leadership, the future of cruise ship interiors and how to create the unexpected.
Thinking outside the box
First under the microscope was their approach to fulfilling a brief. Both Future Leaders held the perspective that doing ‘just enough’ garners results that are also ‘just enough’. It’s the act of stepping out of your comfort zone and pushing yourself that really makes a project exciting.
Exploring her perspective, Harriet said, ‘Continually learning and collaborating is essential; understanding that the mentality of “staying in your lane” is often damaging, and being willing to make wild suggestions is the best kind of creative thinking out there. You never know what a seemingly mad idea might lead to.’
Liz envisions the role of Interior Designer as collaborating more in the design process, from the initial brief to the point of execution. She said, ‘I provide complete design packages for marine clients – renderings, material boards, custom furniture, casework & flooring designs, drawing sets, finish schedules, a written scope of work, and often preliminary budgets for bidding. I manage the project from bidder’s meeting to execution at dry dock – advocating for crane lifts, yard support for steel repairs, and liaise with corporate and ship teams and refit companies to deliver the interior projects back in time for guests to embark.’
The future of cruise ship design
Future Leaders are the people their peers think will be leading tomorrow’s interior design community . So, we asked them what they predicted would be part of the future cruise ship interior design landscape.
Liz highlighted collaboration as a cornerstone of the design community that is only going to become more essential in this new age of cruise ship interior design. She said, ‘I think we’re cruising, yes I said it, into a renaissance of cruise ship interior design. There are all of these brands and all of these visions and all of these concepts. I foresee a lot of teamwork and collaboration to create, to build and to execute to exceptional standards. CSI+ has done a great job at demonstrating this collaboration through interviews and events, and I see our processes continuing to be such as we learn more about how we can support each other.’
Technology, Harriet predicts, will be one of the driving forces of change in the cruise interior industry. Savvy cruise designers will need to employ the emerging technologies of today in order to create designs that are compelling to the generations that are currently maturing into future cruise guests. She said, ‘We will need to see a sophisticated integration of technology for Gen-Z cruisers as they enter the market to cruise without their parents. There will be an expectation for interactive displays, smart lighting, holograms, A.I. and VR… and that’s just the start! I can see new technologies like this also being hugely advantageous to designers who can leverage these programmes to streamline their design processes and allow the creation of even more immersive spaces onboard.’
Future leadership
Finally, of course we have to take a look at what leadership means. Through the nominations we receive, we learn what good leadership means to the peers and colleagues of our Future Leaders. But we want to hand our nominees the mic too. What is their leadership philosophy and how do they embody that in their careers?
For Harriet, her focus is on communication and collaboration. She said, ‘Good leadership in this industry means inspiring a shared vision and fostering collaboration to innovate and deliver exceptional experiences for our guests.’ Liz explored how a team grows in confidence when a leader bears the ultimate responsibility for the team’s progression. She said, ‘I think good leadership means listening, seeing the best in people, shielding others from blame or worry and being the decision maker on big, innovative matters.’
You can find out more about the Future Leader programme and this year’s Future Leaders here. Attend CSI at Miami Beach Convention Center and meet many of the Future Leaders. Or, look out for more interviews, articles and brand Q&As here and over at CSI+.
Want more of this?
Check out the Cruise Ship Interiors (CSI) Design Expo Americas blog for more design insights and the latest industry updates. CSI Design Expo Americas is the world’s only exhibition and conference exclusively dedicated to connecting the buyers and suppliers of the cruise design industry. The next event will be taking place on 3 – 4 June 2025 alongside Hotel & Resort Design South and Cruise Xperience Innovation Summit at the Miami Beach Convention Center.