Explore the creative, technical and commercial intricacies of hospitality design. Learn how to translate a client’s vision and business identity into a space that supports operations and delivers a considered guest experience.
Watch the Introduction >
About the Course
Hospitality design presents a distinct set of challenges and opportunities for designers accustomed to residential work. Alongside aesthetics and comfort, every decision must consider the venue’s brand, food and beverage offering, service model and commercial objectives.
The excitement lies in working with a client to bring an entire hospitality concept to life. The interior becomes part of a broader identity, connected to everything from the menu and staff uniforms to the music, lighting and style of service. Throughout the process, designers must consider two audiences: the operator running the business and the guest experiencing the space.
In this masterclass, Samantha Eades shares the principles and practical knowledge behind her approach to hospitality design. Across eight lessons, including a filmed field trip to Melbourne’s Grill Americano, Samantha explores how concept, technical precision, materiality and operational planning combine to create successful venues.
Designed for designers entering hospitality or broadening their existing knowledge, this course offers insight into the details that influence how a venue functions, how it feels and why guests return.
In this class, you'll learn how to:
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Interpret a hospitality brief in relation to the client, brand and target guest
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Balance creative ambition with operational and commercial requirements
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Apply practical principles for seating, ergonomics and circulation
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Specify materials for atmosphere, durability and maintenance
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Connect interiors, branding and sensory details into a cohesive
customer experience
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Understand the additional considerations involved in international projects
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Explore the role of wellbeing, technology and human connection in hospitality design
Course Content
The masterclass comprises eight lessons. Watch them in sequence to build your understanding, then revisit individual topics as a reference for your own projects.
LESSON 1
What Makes A Good Hospitality Designer?
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Understand how the food and beverage concept, client’s objectives and target guest inform the design brief. Explore narrative, human behaviour and the creation of distinct experiences within a venue, alongside the importance of establishing budgets and timelines early.
LESSON 4
A Workable Space
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Explore the operational planning behind an efficient venue. Consider the relationship between front-of-house and back-of-house, service routes, food and drinks passes, dish returns, storage and wayfinding, with attention to the quality of every guest’s seat.
LESSON 7
Designing Internationally
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Examine the research, local relationships and communication processes required for international work. Learn about navigating cultural differences, material availability, measurement systems, approvals and distance, with practical insights from the Black Fox Coffee project in New York.
LESSON 2
Technical Details
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Examine the dimensions and planning decisions that directly affect comfort and service. Samantha covers seating and table heights, bar overhangs, circulation, waiter stations and the importance of testing details beyond the drawing.
LESSON 5
The Customer Experience
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Understand how interiors, branding, service and sensory details contribute to a coherent venue identity. Including insights from Holly Lucas, this lesson considers the customer journey before arrival, during the visit and after departure, with examples from Hawker Hall and GoGo Bar.
LESSON 8
The Future of Hospitality
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Explore how wellbeing, biophilic design, technology and changing expectations influence hospitality spaces. Consider the importance of human connection and distinctive dining experiences in giving guests a reason to gather and return.
LESSON 3
Materiality
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Learn how materials communicate a concept and shape the atmosphere while meeting the demands of commercial use. Consider durability, maintenance, climate and budget, including where to invest in feature elements and where economical alternatives can work effectively.
LESSON 6
Field Trip : Grill Americano
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Join Samantha on a filmed tour of Grill Americano to see the masterclass principles applied in a completed venue. Explore its material palette, seating, lighting, operational joinery and service flow, and how these elements support the restaurant’s concept and dining experience.
INCLUSIONS
Downloads & Course Notes
Downloadable course notes with lesson summaries and technical reference tables are included, along with a Masterclass Principles Checklist to support your future projects.
Inclusions
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Eight online video lessons with Samantha Eades
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Filmed field trip to Grill Americano
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Guest insights from Holly Lucas (The Lucas Group)
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Downloadable course notes with lesson summaries and technical reference tables
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Masterclass Principles Checklist to support future projects
Duration
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Self paced
Cost
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AU$350 for the single course
How It Works
The masterclass is delivered through a series of online video lessons, supported by downloadable course notes.
Work through the lessons in order, taking time to review the examples and consider how the principles apply to your projects.
The filmed field trip provides an opportunity to see the relationship between concept, detailing and operations within a completed restaurant.
Use the accompanying notes to revisit key ideas, refer to the technical guidance and review your approach using the Masterclass Principles Checklist.
What to expect from a
TDC DesignLab Course
Learn at your own pace
Our easy to watch videos are accessible to you 24/7, so you can work your learning into your schedule
Learn from a successful Design Professional
Our course content comes from real world experience spanning a design career of more than 25 years. Founding director Andrew Mitchell is a practicing interior designer, with an extensive portfolio of awarded projects.
Get front row seats
DesignLab courses are presented to you in easy to watch, crystal clear video.
Your Coach - Samantha Eades
Co-founder & Principal,
Mitchell & Eades
Samantha Eades has more than two decades of experience designing hospitality, residential and lifestyle environments across Australia and internationally. Her work spans projects from Melbourne to New York, combining creative direction with an understanding of the commercial and operational demands of hospitality.
At Mitchell & Eades, Samantha helps guide creative direction, business strategy and client relationships. Her approach brings together concept development, technical detail and a sensitivity to how people experience a space through touch, sound, lighting and atmosphere.
With a particular passion for food, design and travel, Samantha approaches hospitality from the perspectives of both operator and guest. In this masterclass, she shares practical knowledge and project insights to help designers understand the decisions behind a cohesive, functional and memorable venue.
TESTIMONIALS
"Thank you so much for your online courses, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Your insights, coaching and encouragement have inspired me and given me new energy for my business.
A long list of superlatives springs to mind when I think of Andrew, The Design Coach. By far the standout word for me is generous. Andrew, no wonder you have done so well in business and will continue to do so.
Your generosity in sharing your knowledge and empowering other designers is so apparent. It's this generosity that makes you so human - a key attribute for a great Interior Designer as ultimately it's all about people in their spaces."
- Caroline Roberts, Cover Design Studio
“I was very impressed with TDC’s DesignLab online course content. It was a great opportunity to learn more about managing and improving my architectural practice.
Andrew’s advice and guidance is so relevant, as it's based on his wisdom as a well-established and experienced designer, backed up with real design scenarios, examples and tools.
I highly recommend the DesignLab obline courses to any designer or architect who is looking to improve how they practice, communicate with clients and deliver their projects. A wonderful and worthwhile experience all round.”
- Michelle Walker, MWA
Who is this suitable for?
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Members of the TDC community
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Interior Designers, Architects, Interior Architects, Interior Decorators and Stylists
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Design professionals who have established business practices and are looking to refine their processes and learn new skills
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New business owners, students and graduates looking to set up solid systems from the outset
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Members of the design community ready to commit to a powerful new way of working!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share the content with team members? | The purchase price of the course is for one user only. |
Can I download the videos? | No, the videos need to be watched via the TDC website. |
Do I need internet to watch the videos? | Yes, you will require a strong internet connection to watch the videos. If you are having trouble with the videos running smoothly (if they keep cutting out or buffering) it’s most likely due to poor internet connection. Seek out a more reliable internet connection to ensure better streaming of video content. |
Are there subtitles? | Check your own device settings for subtitles. Our TDC courses don’t yet offer the option of subtitles. |
Are there any tests or assignments? | There’s no homework, tests or assignments! |
When can I get started? | We will send you an invitation to join the course within 24 hours of signing up. |
Can I replay the course once I’ve finished? | You can access the course for 12 months after purchase, and you can replay modules during that time. |
How do I access the course once I’ve paid? | The course is accessible via The Design Coach website in the Members section.Refer to the initial email that you will receive upon signing up. |
Can I view the course on my mobile? | Yes, you can view the videos on your mobile or tablet. However, we recommend you use a desktop computer to ensure you can view the details of the Case Studies effectively. |
How long is each course? | The courses vary in duration - there is the video watching component, however you can take as long as you like to watch these individual classes within the course. We recommend scheduling time in your calendar, free from distractions, to get the course completed and get the most from your purchase. |
What do I do if I have a question about the content? | We offer supplementary coaching sessions at a discounted rate. These can be purchased after you sign up to the courses. |
How do I watch the content? | You can use any modern web browser on your Mac or PC - Chrome, Safari, Firefox etc. |