the team

• 18 years interior architectural design experience

• Unique Skills : hand sketch design - space planning, elevation, detail, 3D spacial studies

• Style : contemporary and classical design

• Role : concept design to documentation lead (hospitality, luxury residential)

• Skill : detail design lead (hospitality, luxury residential)

• Specialisation : internal & external core interior design team co-ordination

• Passion : efficient & personable team management, exceptional design delivery with beautiful, fully considered accompanying documentation

• Consultant Co-ordination - architecture, structural engineer, MEP, lighting, FLS, audio visual, signage, landscaping, IT, security

Current Projects :

Director : Darren Sharland Ltd. ( Porto, Portugal )

December 2017 - Present

present private contracts : micro hotel for US based development company with their first international property located in cozumel, mexico. private projects : designing affordable furniture range in partnership with local architect for local production and EU distribution.

joint venture with m atelier ( dubai / Porto ) : February 2020 - Present

present terms : Director of Design for Double Tree by Hilton in Saudi Arabia. Partnership for further 5 Star Luxury Hotels in Negotiation.

Consulting to L'Avventura & Associates (Hong Kong / Guangzhou ) : March 2016 - Present

present terms : luxury mansion new build - vancouver, canada : fixed project contract fee with 6 months concept to construction program from his locations in porto, portugal

Consulting to CHADA ( Sydney ) : July 2018 - March 2019

terms : concept to tender documentation package for three F&B outlets within the new swissotel jinan, china. Initial involvement in the new st regis, melbourne.

Skills :

• concept story - narrative or stylistic

• concept presentation preparation

• design development

• 3D render coordination

• detail design packages

• team management - internal design and outsourced design

• project programming

• resource management

• design consultant coordination

• site coordination

• approvals and substitutions

History :

[CHADA] / [CHA] sydney, australia : july 2013 – august 2015

role : senior project designer and team manager

boutique hospitality design practice specialising in high-end hotel refurbishments & new-builds in australia and within the greater asia region. senior project designer and manager for hotel projects at [CHADA] and specialisation in food and beverage design under the [CHA] brand.

the role included the following design & management responsibilities :

• concept narrative & mood design accompanied by mood presentation

• following approval, concept design package including space planning, 3D hand sketches, blushed key elevations, key ff&e selections, initial material boards

• following approval, design development to schematic design package including rendered CAD layouts & elevations, key details, photo-realistic 3D visualisations, furniture selections, material selections and accompanying sample control boards.

• following approval, fully detailed tender documentation package including specialist consultant coordinated inputs

• furniture, finishes & equipment package : concept and documentation design oversight with workload undertaken by ff&e specialist

• regular key design team coordination meetings at various locations throughout asia or by teleconference

• design presentation : client, operator design team & hotel operator regional management

• contractor and manufacturer co-ordination including shop drawing and material approvals

• general project administration

Projects at [CHADA] :

> intercontinental hotel refurbishment : dhaka , bangladesh : under construction - food & beverage design & hotel design / co-ordination lead

> intercontinental hotel refurbishment (with woods bagot) : perth , australia : design underway - hotel design & co-ordination lead

> westin hotel new build : china : on hold - early hotel concept and guestroom design to 3D visual stage

> toronga zoo eco lodge new build : sydney , australia : design underway - early concept and spaceplanning 

HBA (hirsch bedner associates) melbourne, australia : november 2010 - july 2013

role : senior project designer and team manager – ( 8 internal staff plus various remote visualization & documentation teams )

the worlds largest international exclusively hospitality design practice with a combined portfolio of 22 offices globally, undertaking high-end hotel and luxury show villa development projects.

the role at HBA and project deliverables were similar to the role at [CHADA], however there was a greater focus on staff and resources management within the project in the context of the broader company. supported by talented and highly specialised designers and administrators, darren developed his free-hand design skills whilst guiding a team to a number of successful outcomes. it is at HBA where darren learned the value of a robust team of specialists, a formula for casual productive management and the importance of a strong conceptual vision.

projects at HBA :

> luxury collection the grand mansion (with pei partnership architects) new build : nanjing , china : complete - design lead and project management

> shangri-la palm rereat new build : bangalore , india : opening 2018 - general concept design, planning and mockup room design

> hengli international hotel  new build : suqian , china : complete - food and beverage only, concept to construction

> luxury show villa's & sales office new build : suzhou , china : complete - villa and sales office design lead

> luxury private residence new build : ningbo , china : complete - classical interior architectural design 

GA design group london, uk : august 2005 – october 2010

role : senior designer & documentation manager

a leading international luxury hotel design practice with offices in london, budapest, kuala lumpur & shanghai, specialising in both city hotels and retreat resorts. their clients include W hotels, hyatt, intercontinental, hilton, sheraton, shangri-la, atlantis and numerous smaller luxury boutique brands. GA design group is lead by australian born architect terry mcginnity.

key skills gained:

- effective team teamwork
- extensive autocad skill utilization and numerous design aid softwares in autodesk and creative suite for both design development and detailing to tender / construction package level
- team lead (4-5 people)
- inspired by creative director terry mcginnity and his timeless yet current design vision

projects at GA group :

> intercontinental dubai festival city new build : dubai , united arab emirates : complete - guestroom design & documentation lead

> park hyatt new build (with fosters and partners) : mumbai , india : on hold - master planning, space planning and mockup room design

> corinthia flagship hotel : london , united kingdom : complete - guestroom cad designer

> ramses hilton refurbishment : cairo , egypt : complete - guestroom cad design

Experience Cut Sheet :