Sound of Life: Curious Creators Series

As part of Sound of Life’s Curious Creators series, Sybarite Co-Founder Simon Mitchell joined Henrietta Thompson to explore the relationship between sound, creativity and design — and how musical influences have helped shape the studio’s approach since its beginnings.

For Simon Mitchell and Torquil McIntosh, difference has always been a creative catalyst. Their contrasting musical tastes became an early reflection of a wider design philosophy: ideas become stronger through dialogue, tension and the meeting of opposing perspectives. Rather than seeking a singular point of view, Sybarite embraces the unexpected possibilities that emerge when different ways of thinking are brought together.

Simon describes the design process through a musical analogy — individual ideas providing different layers, structure establishing the underlying rhythm, and collaboration bringing everything together. It reflects a culture where authorship is secondary to the strength of the idea and where creative exchange is fundamental to the outcome.

Sound, in this sense, extends beyond inspiration. It becomes a way of thinking about atmosphere, emotion and experience — principles that continue to inform Sybarite’s approach to creating environments that engage people on multiple levels. The conversation offers an insight into a practice shaped not by either/or thinking, but by the possibilities found somewhere in between.