Designing with Purpose: In Conversation with Rachel Allen
Note: Our fireside chat’s are an open, informal conversation that brings together industry leaders and emerging talent to share insights, personal journeys, and lived experiences. At United in Design, our fireside chats create a space for honest dialogue, mentorship, and inspiration—helping to bridge the gap between aspiration and access, and driving forward our mission to build a fairer, more inclusive design industry.
March 27th, 2025 - We are incredibly grateful to Rachel Allen Interiors for opening their doors to interns from United in Design’s Career Pathway Programme, welcoming them for the first rotation of our year-long internship journey. As a mission-driven partner deeply aligned with our purpose, Rachel Allen continues to lead with impact, and generosity.
Beyond offering valuable work experience, Rachel also took part in our monthly UiD Community Fireside Chat, where she spoke with a group of young aspiring creatives from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds. Drawing from her own professional path, she shared insights on maintaining integrity in a fast-paced, trend-led industry, and offered frank reflections on navigating the Interior Design Industry after completing a degree in Law, many young people face cultural dilemmas when hoping to pursue a creativity career path within such communities .
During the conversation, Rachel helped open up powerful discussions around these challenges. She created a space where our interns felt safe and encouraged to voice their fears, share their challenges, and engage in truly honest, open dialogue. With care she held the room and invited a conversation that was both personal and universal — a rare kind of exchange in our industry felt by all who attended.
“It sparked the kind of raw, unfiltered conversation we don’t often have the space for,” noted one participant.
The conversation didn’t shy away from tough topics — the lack of visible success stories from minority backgrounds, the weight of family expectations, and the difficulty of navigating a creative path in spaces where belonging still isn’t guaranteed. Yet, within this candid dialogue. One of our interns, Caceli, (from cohort 5) reflected beautifully on the moment and his time interning at Rachel Allen Interiors, sharing how his experience through United in Design has broadened his perspective and deepened his confidence in forging his own creative future.
“Seeing the impact of our Career Pathway Internship firsthand has been truly inspiring. This journey has been more than just work experience—it’s been a game-changer, opening doors that once felt out of reach. But we can’t stop here. To create real, lasting change in our industry, we need to do more, reach further, and ensure opportunities like this are accessible to even more aspiring talents.”
We thank Rachel Allen for her unwavering support and powerful example. This is what true allyship looks like — creating opportunity, amplifying unheard voices, and helping reshape the future of design.
