The Design Diaries
-Anne T. Rogers

Date 25 August 2021

In an age where experience culture is on the rise, Anne T. Rogers’ work is ever more prescient.

The founder of art and innovation consultancy Culture A, Rogers curates collections and experiences for a range of clients from hotels to luxury retail and residential. Her work focusses on “art as visual storytelling, and visual storytelling is a key component to experience design,” she says. “Looking at art encourages discussion, individual interpretation, and personal connection. How many other consumer goods spark such freedom of expression?”

For Inhabit Southwick Street, a London sanctuary with a commitment to wellness, Rogers and her team did a deep dive into research around wellness, urban oasis, color psychology, and nature in the capital. The thoughtful artwork selected blends naturally in the metropolis’ first mindful hotel. We had a brief chat with this innovator who loves experimenting with AI-generated art.

Can you tell us a bit about your creative process?

I strategize an art experience from the mindset of a curator and a UX researcher. How do people want to engage with art? This is as true for art consultancy with clients building private collections, as it is in my work to place art in hotels, property developments, and retail stores. I develop criteria and curatorial themes for each project to help organize my sourcing. Then I research, do studio visits, scour auctions, and present art options according to the client brief. I also focus on installation management, as how well the art ultimately looks in the space depends on a lot of factors such as lighting or hanging equipment.

Do you see yourself as a dreamer or a realist?

Dreamer. I grew up on a beautiful farm in Kentucky where my imagination developed from a place of safety and space. I try to keep that sense of freedom—sometimes it makes me restless, but mostly it keeps me flexible to change and opportunity.

What was your vision for Inhabit Hotel?

I wanted guests to engage in a multidisciplinary art experience that celebrated Inhabit’s mission, London sensibility, and Scandinavian style. I developed ideas based on research around wellness, color psychology, and biophilia, creating curatorial themes to match the brand’s vision

Do you have any recent cultural discoveries that you would like to share?

Mexican artist Gabriel Rosas Aléman’s form and figure paintings and French artist Camille Rousseau’s abstract flora/fauna paintings, one of which will feature in the second London property from Inhabit Hotels.

You work with a wide range of clients. Are there any through lines that run through your work?

Experience and visual storytelling are connecting themes throughout my work. I aim to source and install artwork that goes beyond the decorative and sparks deeper engagement for whoever experiences it.

When do you feel most productive?

Around 10:30 AM. By this time, I’ve gone out for a short walk, had a coffee, answered early emails, and figured out the day’s workflow.

What are your dreams for the future?

Design a home for my past, present, and future art collection.

Who is/are your sustainability hero/es?

For interior design: Harth, Carl Hansen & Son, and Goldfinger. For fashion: Caterina Occhio, founder and CEO of SeeMe. For finance: Olga Miler, founder of Smartpurse.

What have you changed in your life in the past year to be more sustainable?

On the whole, my lifestyle has become more sustainable since living in Amsterdam. The Netherlands emphasizes eco-friendly and circular economy measures, so when you integrate into the culture, you naturally adopt many aspects of the lifestyle: cycling, power via wind energy, recycled packaging, etc. In the past year, my sourcing and production approach has been more sustainable. For the new opening from Inhabit Hotels, I looked for eco-friendly artists using natural or reusable materials. These included UK-based makers Knottinger, Smile Plastics, and Freya Bramble Carter.

What do you think is the future of travel? 

Slow and considered travel. Longer, less rushed trips. I think tourists will want their holidays to be more personal: how to get the most out of the culture, the food, the experience outside the clichés.