From Vision to Reality: The Bell&Swift Story

We started Bell&Swift with a shared belief: interior design should be meaningful, collaborative, and rooted in the real needs of the people using the space.

For us—Dawn and Craig—it was about stepping away from the firm systems of our previous roles and returning to a more personal, hands-on approach. One where the designer is instrumental in building a bespoke solution to suit our clients’ needs and is deeply embedded in every stage of the project from concept to completion, where each space tells the right story.

After years in the industry, we found ourselves increasingly removed from projects we were supposed to be shaping. That disconnect sparked a big decision—to leave behind the corporate structures and build something that felt more intuitive and impactful. So, exactly a year before the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything, we launched Bell&Swift.

At a time when much of the world was standing still, we were just getting started—driven by ambition and a shared desire to do things differently.


Where It All Began

Launching a new business at any time is a bold move, but who knew what was to come so early on. The world in a moment of pause, we found ourselves leading the large-scale refurbishment of an iconic hotel in our home city, The 322-bedroom Hilton Glasgow. The scale was enormous, but our longstanding industry relationships opened doors. We grew through trust, collaboration, and ambition —values we continue to hold close today.

That first project laid the foundations of what Bell&Swift would become: a studio capable of strategic thinking, acting quickly, and staying grounded in its values. From there, we evolved at pace—always with purpose and never at the expense of quality or authenticity.

A Studio That Works With Purpose

From day one, Bell&Swift has been about more than interiors—it’s about people. Whether we’re designing a hotel, workspace or communal setting, our focus is creating spaces with relevant story, soul and function. We go beyond surface-level style to fully understand our clients requirements and consider how a space flows, feels, and operates.

Our process is user-led and narrative-driven. We take time to understand our client’s values, challenges and goals before anything is drawn. That brief anchors every decision—especially on the large-scale refurbishments we’re known for.

What sets us apart is our attention to nuance and quality. Our approach is flexible, adaptive, and always bespoke. We don’t deliver a fixed concept and move on—we collaborate closely, align vision with practicality, and adapt as the project evolves.

Growth Without Compromise

Today, we’re a ten-person studio and proud to be a preferred interior design partner for international hotel groups including Hilton, Marriott, IHG and Accor. As well as the huge achievement of leading the refurbishment of Hilton Glasgow, another pivotal moment for our Glasgow team was the recent transformation of Marriott Glasgow—a 303-bed refurbishment. 2 features of Glasgow City skyline. One of our proudest—and most exciting—projects.

With studios in both Glasgow and London, our team has delivered standout work across the UK including Escape Silverstone which was awarded highly commended by The Brit List in 2024, Hilton Leeds (another direct appointment with Hilton Worldwide), Mount Royal Edinburgh and Fremantle Bar & Kitchen at Crowne Plaza London Docklands which was described as setting a new standard for hospitality design by our client, to name a few. We’re also currently working another high-profile appointment in London that we’re not able to share publicly—yet!

You can explore more of our diverse portfolio of hotel and hospitality design projects here.

Despite our growth, we’ve resisted the temptation to scale too fast or lose the personal touch. We remain actively involved in the creative direction of every project, but our studio is built on shared ownership and trust. Everyone in the team is encouraged to contribute across all stages of a project—whether that’s attending site visits, presenting to clients, or taking part in project workshops.

We believe the best design comes from empowered people—so we prioritise autonomy, team spirit and open, honest communication. No big egos. Just shared ambition and a willingness to work together towards something impactful.

What’s Next?

Looking ahead, we’re focused on thoughtful growth. With several bids currently in progress throughout the UK and Europe—including Italy—we’re targeting large-scale, branded refurbishment projects that allow us to bring our bespoke, adaptable people-first approach to new regions and sectors.

We plan to stay around our current size, allowing us to maintain our personal approach, our agility, strong communication, and a truly collaborative creative process. For us, it’s about building something that lasts—not just in reputation, but in culture. A studio where values like authenticity, creativity and ambition aren’t just words—they’re how we work, every day.

Advice to New Business Owners

Our advice to anyone starting out? Define your values early—and stay close to them. That sense of clarity has helped us navigate the highs and lows of business with focus and integrity.

In an industry that can be fast-paced and trend-led, our commitment to authenticity, collaboration, and user-centred design is what continues to set us apart. Whether it's reimagining a city-centre hotel or refining a co-working space, we approach every project with an open mind grounded in our vast industry experience, care and curiosity.

From two people with a bold idea to a design studio with international reach, Bell&Swift is proof of what can happen when you lead with purpose, stay flexible, and never lose sight of the story.

Stay tuned—this is just the beginning.