From Setbacks to Success: Ste Taylor’s Journey to Head of Design at Turley

Career setbacks can feel final in the moment, but in architecture and urban design they can also push people towards better-fitting roles and more useful expertise.

Stephen Drew speaks with Ste Taylor, Head of Design at Turley, about moving from architecture into urban design, dealing with redundancy, building confidence and working with design codes at a time when housing quality is under pressure.

The conversation covers:

• How Ste moved from architecture into urban design
• What redundancy and imposter syndrome taught him about career resilience
• Why design codes matter for housing, planning and public quality
• How Turley approaches design, planning and development advice
• What AI and policy changes could mean for the future of urban design

Read the episode on Architecture Social: Ste Taylor's Journey to Head of Design at Turley

Watch on YouTube: Ste Taylor at Turley

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Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and countdown
• 01:28 Meet Ste Taylor, Head of Design at Turley
• 01:54 Ste's journey into architecture
• 02:49 Overcoming imposter syndrome
• 06:21 Moving from architecture into urban design
• 13:31 Career challenges and redundancy
• 19:15 Joining Turley and career growth
• 21:19 Turley projects and design work
• 26:47 Understanding design coding
• 28:44 The role of the Office for Place
• 29:07 Design codes in the UK
• 30:37 Personal reflections on design coding
• 31:58 Government policy and design quality
• 33:35 Optimism for the future
• 36:36 AI in architecture and planning
• 44:40 Career reflections
• 50:08 Final thoughts and contact details

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• (00:00) - Introduction and Countdown
• (01:28) - Meet Stephen Taylor: Head of Design at Turley
• (01:54) - Stephen's Journey into Architecture
• (02:49) - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
• (06:21) - Transition from Architecture to Urban Design
• (13:31) - Navigating Career Challenges and Redundancy
• (19:15) - Joining Turley and Career Growth
• (21:19) - Showcasing Turley's Projects
• (26:47) - Understanding Design Coding
• (28:26) - Understanding Design Coding
• (28:44) - The Role of the Office of Place
• (29:07) - The Evolution of Design Codes in the UK
• (30:37) - Personal Reflections on Design Coding
• (31:58) - The Impact of Government Policies on Design
• (33:35) - Optimism for the Future
• (36:36) - The Role of AI in Architecture
• (44:40) - Personal Career Reflections
• (50:08) - Final Thoughts and Contact Information