Ella Doran is a multi-disciplinary, award-winning designer with a rich background in creating distinctive product designs and fostering creative collaborations. Her work spans interiors, textiles, products, and bespoke commissions, seamlessly blending functionality with sustainability and visual appeal.
For over 25 years, Ella has led her own design company, collaborating with a wide array of British and international brands, retailers, institutions, and manufacturers. Her impressive client list includes Paloma Picasso, Tate Enterprises, the Royal Society of Arts, the V&A, Habitat, John Lewis, Portmeirion, Twenty-twenty-one, SCP, Camira, and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
Ella was a designer-in-residence during the RSA’s Great Recovery Project, a pioneering initiative focused on circular design. In 2019, she presented her first solo exhibition at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, . She currently teaches at the Royal College of Art, where she is an associate leader on the MA Interior Design program’s superMATTER platform.
Her business has evolved from a stock-holding and wholesale model to a made-to-measure, project-based approach. Ella works closely with private clients and architects, delivering bespoke interior solutions—from colour and material consultancy to large and small-scale design projects. She is committed to the provenance of the materials she uses, finding new value in those considered waste by one client and transforming them into treasures for another.
In addition to her studio practice, she leads a variety of hands-on, participatory workshops that invite people into the world of making. From her popular playful design-your-own tray workshops, to collage, and tapestry weaving sessions, to name just a few. Her events emphasize creativity, craftsmanship, and community. These gatherings offer an accessible entry point into design, empowering attendees to explore materials, colour, and form in a supportive, collaborative environment.
If you’d like to discuss a creative commission or collaboration, we invite you to start the conversation here.