James Clarke

Designer, working in educational environments

Greater Oxford Area

About

Passionate about the impact that environments have on teaching and learning, my goal always is to create educational spaces that students want to go to, that teachers want to work in, and that ultimately contribute to schools being a more positive experience than they are for many. Professor Stephen Heppell, with whom I have collaborated on the design of the Heppell Bench described me as combining "the experience to inform with the humility to listen". And like Henry Ford, I believe that "if you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got", using this approach to question the status quo in an attempt always to do things better.

Experience

  • Consultant at Metric Education
    Jul 2025 - Present · 1 yr

    Working with this highly successful family-owned and run furniture dealership to build and enhance their offer to independent schools and other education institutions within the Home Counties and London.

  • Divisional Director at Learniture
    Oct 2017 - Present · 8 yrs 9 mos

    Managing the Learniture collection for Spaceoasis - a value proposition for next generation learning spaces

  • Lead Education Consultant at Spaceoasis Ltd
    Jan 2014 - Jul 2025 · 11 yrs 7 mos

    Leading on all education projects for Spaceoasis including advice on marketing, product development and routes to market

  • Editor at Learning Spaces Magazine
    Oct 2016 - May 2019 · 2 yrs 8 mos

    Editing Learning Spaces Magazine on behalf of Imaginative Minds Group. Learning Spaces is the official publication of the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) distributed to c5,000 members worldwide. http://www.teachingtimes.com/publications/learning-spaces.htm

  • Consultant at The Classroom Design Company
    Apr 2013 - Jan 2014 · 10 mos