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Designing for the Needs You Can’t Predict: Reflections from the Property Week Awards and the Future of PBSA Innovation

Designing for the Needs You Can’t Predict: Reflections from the Property Week Awards and the Future of PBSA Innovation

| Martina Pardo | Serviced Accommodations
This article was originally published in Property Week’s Student Accommodation supplement, December 2025. Innovation is one of those sector words that can mean everything or nothing, depending on ho…
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The Evolution of PBSA interior design - Part 3

The Evolution of PBSA interior design - Part 3

| A Designer at Heart Team | Serviced Accommodations
Flexible, user focused spaces, sustainability, welness, smart tech, brand and aestetich longevity, alongside a focus on creating spaces that forest a sense of community and inclusivity, are the heart…
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Seven Years of A Designer at Heart: What We've Learned

Seven Years of A Designer at Heart: What We've Learned

| Martina Pardo | News & Lifestyle
This month we celebrate seven years since registering A Designer at Heart as a limited company. If someone had told me in 2018 where this would take me, I would have found it hard to believe. Back th…
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The evolution of PBSA interiors - Part 2

The evolution of PBSA interiors - Part 2

| A Designer at Heart Team | Serviced Accommodations
PBSA interiors have matured from basic, colourful corridors to well-thought-out, hospitality-inspired environments. Today’s student-focused spaces balance privacy, community, wellness, and brand iden…
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The Evolution of PBSA interior design - Part 1

The Evolution of PBSA interior design - Part 1

| A Designer at Heart Team | Serviced Accommodations
Over the next few months we’ll be diving into the fascinating history of PBSA interior design and exploring key design principles shaping the next generation of interiors. PBSA interior design has t…
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How to Brief Your Interior Designer: A Complete Guide

How to Brief Your Interior Designer: A Complete Guide

| A Designer at Heart Team | Interior Design Tips
Creating the perfect interior design for your project starts with a clear, detailed brief. Whether you’re working on a new build, refurbishment, or anything in between, a well-thought-out brief helps…
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Thoughtfully Rolling Out Brand Guidelines in Interior Design

Thoughtfully Rolling Out Brand Guidelines in Interior Design

| A Designer at Heart Team | Interior Design Tips
At A Designer at Heart, we often work with clients who already have a clear interior design guideline in place. Whether it’s for a brand-new development or a refurbishment project, our role is to tak…
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Designing Flexible Interiors for Different Groups of Residents

Designing Flexible Interiors for Different Groups of Residents

| A Designer at Heart Team | Interior Design Tips
The gap between different types of residents, like students and young professionals, is narrowing. This shift presents a unique challenge for designers—creating spaces that work for both groups, each…
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The Psychology of Productivity: Designing Spaces to Cultivate Focus

The Psychology of Productivity: Designing Spaces to Cultivate Focus

| A Designer at Heart Team | Interior Design Tips
Let’s be honest – staying focused these days isn’t always easy. With distractions around every corner, it’s no surprise that concentration can be hard to come by. For students, the right environment…
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Designing PBSA for Long-Term Living: Creating Spaces That Evolve with Students

Designing PBSA for Long-Term Living: Creating Spaces That Evolve with Students

| A Designer at Heart Team | Serviced Accommodations
Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) has traditionally been designed with a short-term mindset, assuming students are only around for a year. However, the reality is that many students stay for…
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MARTINA’S COLUMN ON ITALIANBARK

MARTINA'S STORY

I am just a girl obsessed with Interior Architecture. When I was a baby I used to start all my games setting up the right interior. My Barbie dolls have never been homeless! As a kid I would sneak into my dad and grandad’s office just to stare in admiration at their drawings.

Inspired by my grandad…
I got a Master’s Degree in Building Engineering. I soon realised though that I wanted to do something more creative in my life. Therefore, I moved to Milan, Italian design capital and got a second Master’s Degree in Interior Design at the Politecnico University. After that, I only chose to work for small and medium companies. A sleeves rolled up attitude was required in order to take more responsibilities and grow. And I’ve learned from the best.

I gained experience…
…working in Milan, Beijing and London. As I discovered different cultures and lifestyles I applied this international approach to my work as a result. Now, thanks to these experiences, I design projects worldwide.