Michael Kohn, Founding Director

Michael initially founded Slider Studio in order to exploit creative design possibilities using advanced computing, to improve the process of design through and to increase access to and transparency of design decisions. Since starting the company in 2005 Michael has since expanded Slider’s vision to embrace the concept of democratic design and has led on development of a range of tools which can be applied throughout the design lifecycle. Michael’s leadership has expanded the practice’s tool development, funded through a portfolio of commercial and collaborative research projects. Michael has most recently focused on the development and commercialisation of StickyWorld, a generically useful and globally scalable web platform designed to help you share your exact point of view on visual material. Michael now leads on all built environment and education focused business development for StickyWorld.

Previously Michael worked as a Director at Edward Cullinan Architects from 1998-2004, leading on educational projects, master planning and public realm, and also large residential developments. With numerous competition wins for concept housing projects, including the Ideal Home Show ‘Concept House 2000’, Michael’s architectural career has balanced visionary future thinking with practical hands on construction and design management experience. Since leaving mainstream practice Michael has since extended his skill set to embrace innovation management, technology development and commercialisation skills.

Michael sits on the advisory board of the Modern Built Environment Knowledge Transfer Network and RIBA Building Futures advisory panel.

Renee Puusepp, Managing Director

Renee worked as an architect in Estonia before coming to UK in 2005 to complete a MSc in Computing and Design at University of East London. Renee takes charge of studio operations, co-ordinating various development efforts across different projects and personally leading on 3D web services and 3D integration in StickyRooms. Renee has developed a number of computational tools to date, including the HIM toolkit as part of sitecapacity.com and DoX software for envelope generation. Renee is completing a PhD in advanced agent modelling and intelligent design systems for organisation of space, and he heads up our long term research strategy, also monitoring the ArchIVE project.

Chris McDonald

Chris currently leads the programming effort on Slider’s key technologies including YouCanPlan3D and StickyWorld. He is an excellent engineer and has a First Class MSc degree in Computer Science from Queen Mary, University of London. Over the last 3 years Chris has developed extensive expertise in 3D environments and multi user applications. Chris started work with Slider before he qualified, collaborating in his final year on implementing several computational design research ideas into Java applications. His thirst for new programming knowledge is only equalled by his enthusiasm for rock drumming. Chris blogs at www.opencoder.co.uk

Songtao Zhao

Songtao supports Chris in the development of YouCanPlan3D and takes the lead in the UI and mark up functionality of our StickyRooms, the real time design review tool in StickyWorld. Songtao also shares in the maintenance of Slider’s IT systems. Songtao came to the UK from China to further his studies in 2001, graduating from University of Bradford in 2004 with an MSc degree in Software Engineering. Previously Songtao worked as a lecturer in College of Technology London and several other businesses, supporting in house software development and database maintenance.

Monika Love

Monika is our lead designer and manages all project delivery of our web development services. Working closely with the StickyWorld team on UI, interactivity and user experience, Monika is a skilled multi-media designer, responsible for all our related services brands, logos and web development. Trained as an interior architect in Estonia, Monika worked on prestigious interior projects through all stages of design prior to completing a master studies in The Netherlands and then moving to the UK. Monika remains interested in a conceptual underlying ’social architecture of design’ – the why, where and how design comes into being. She tackles this and musings through her own blog

Willem Van der Merwe

Will is a software engineer, and over the last two years has proven himself as an all round office utility man. A keen games programming enthusiast, and competent handyman, Will came to the UK from South Africa in 2007 to further his studies. As a certified Microsoft engineer Will secured part time work with us whilst completing his degree, and paired with Renee on development of our sitecapacity.com software. Will now delivers PHP and JavaScript development services as part of the SliderWeb team and further supports the PHP development of StickyWorld. Will also teams up with Songtao to look after Slider’s internal IT systems.

Imogen Humphris

Imogen leads the education and community engagement initiatives of the practice. While studying at the Mackintosh School of Architecture, Imogen jointly ran Architecture sans Frontieres Glasgow, fostering opportunities for students to engage in live projects involving residents in the regeneration of their own neighborhoods, creatively tackling some of the city’s own socioeconomic issues. Upon graduating, she joined Slider Studio to amplify our participatory engagement methods and develop strategies of uniting traditional hands on workshops with the long term and far reaching benefits of digital tools. Imogen explores the social value of architecture as a design process and continues to be a keen illustrator.