Portland Design’s Managing Director, Ibrahim Ibrahim joins Concilio’s Account Director Siddo Dwyer to discuss human-centred placeshaping and future-ready retail.
In the latest episode of Concilio’s Better Places Podcast, Account Director Siddo Dwyer sits down with Ibrahim Ibrahim, Managing Director of Portland Design and one of the UK’s leading voices on human-centred placeshaping and future-ready retail, to explore how rapid change is rewriting the rules of design and development.
Key points discussed:
- The evolution of Portland from retail design agency to global strategic consultancy
- The importance of connection, experience, and belonging in successful places
- Community-led placemaking and its role in shaping neighbourhoods
- Reimagining passenger and visitor experiences in transport hubs
- Insights from Future-Ready Retail and Ibrahim’s upcoming book
Ibrahim shares how his background in engineering and industrial design has informed his approach to placemaking, blending technical rigour with creative vision. He reflects on projects from Elephant & Castle to King’s Cross, and international airport transformations, explaining how design can drive human connection and business value. The conversation highlights why future-ready places are measured not just in footfall, but in emotional resonance, and why collaboration between designers, developers, and communities is critical to creating thriving, meaningful destinations.
Don’t miss this conversation – listen now!
