About Design West
Design West brings together the best expertise from across the built and natural environment sectors. Independent and not-for-profit we work collaboratively with the development sector and decision-makers to shape better places.
Design West has bases in Bristol and Exeter, providing design review, policy support, consultancy and training across the South West.
Design Network
As part of the Design Network – the national body for design excellence – we support local authorities, public bodies, politicians and developers to delivery great places across England. The Network is the national delivery body for design review, deliverig more than 500 reviews each year.
National Design Review Charter
The National Design Review Charter was published in Spring 2025. The Charter sets out the principles, scope and governance of the design review process, ensuring that design review operates with transparency, consistency, independence and excellence across England.
Meet The Team
Julie Tanner
julie.tanner@designwest.org.ukHead of Planning & Design
Julie Tanner BSc, DipTP MRTPI manages the Design Review Service for the South West & is based near Exeter.
Julie is a chartered Town Planner with a background in economic development. She combines a passion for architecture & urban design with a specialism in placemaking, & believes a design-led method will support better quality places through the planning system. Julie is an active RTPI Regional Activities Board Member for the South West & is a member of the High Street Task Force.
Julie specialises in working with large-scale new communities, infrastructure & public realm projects as well as individual buildings of strategic importance & aims to support efforts to ensure planners can be braver & bolder in shaping future places.Pippa Goldfinger
pippa.goldfinger@designwest.org.ukHead of Design
Pippa Goldfinger BEng, MSc, programmes our monthly public talks & manages the Design Review Service for Bristol, B&NES, North Somerset & Wiltshire.
Pippa is passionate about shaping better places for people. She originally graduated in Civil Engineering with Architecture & enjoys working alongside architects & other built environment professionals creating exhibitions & events which illuminate the work that they do.
With a background in urbanism & an MSc in Urban Planning, Pippa is interested in bringing forward best practice in planning & urban design through harnessing professional design skills & combining them with innovative community engagement. She is a member of the Academy of Urbanism & previously served as a Town Councillor & Mayor of the award-winning Frome Town Council. In 2022 Pippa was made an Honorary Fellow of the RIBA in recognition of her contribution to Architecture.
Favourite building: The awe-inspiring interior of the Pantheon in Rome (concrete can last for ever!) but also the beautiful domestic design of my grandparents’ house 2 Willow Road.Mariana Aguiar
mariana.aguiar@designwest.org.ukDesign Officer
Mariana, BA(Hons) MArch PGCert, joined Design West in 2023 and manages the Design Review Service for Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.
She grew up in Madeira, Portugal, and in 2009 she moved to the UK to study architecture. She first volunteered at Design West (then The Architecture Centre) in 2017, while working for a small architecture firm in Bristol. In her previous roles, she developed residential schemes in Bristol and London. She is passionate about placemaking, good design and sustainability, and loves mid-century and brutalist architecture.
Mariana also enjoys discovering new places to eat in Bristol (the food scene is amazing!) and wandering around the countryside.Alexis Baird
alexis.baird@designwest.org.ukDesign Officer
Alexis joined Design West in February 2025 and helps to organise the Design Review Service for Wiltshire and Bath & North East Somerset.
Approaching urbanism from a multidisciplinary background, Alexis first studied an MEng in Civil Engineering before pursuing his interest in placemaking and sustainable development with an MSc in City Planning.
Alexis is passionate about masterplanning and designing places for people and planet, particularly the cities we live in and mitigating the impacts of our changing climate. Alexis is a chartered Town Planner, Young Urbanist member of the Academy of Urbanism, and the Vice Chair of the Bristol Young Planners Committee.Jo Widdecombe
jo.widdecombe@designwest.org.ukPlanning and Design Associate
Jo has been working with Design West since 2022, supporting Design Review across Cornwall, Plymouth, Torbay, Exeter and Dorset.
A Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI) with over 20 years’ experience across local government, consultancy, and third sector, Jo is skilled at leading place-based engagement, shaping strategic planning policy, and raising design standards. She is deeply committed to peer-led learning, capacity building, and supporting local authorities to innovate and deliver resilient, inclusive places.
Testimonials
Sarah Jenkinson, Regeneration Manager – Bristol City CouncilThe BCC regen team have found the Design West panel invaluable as a critical friend casting a fresh eye on complex frameworks and masterplans. The multi-disciplinary team combine professional expertise with sound local knowledge. The panel is always well selected to cover the specialisms required for the framework under scrutiny.
Seb Loyn, Planning & Development Director – YTL DevelopmentsThe Design Review process was invaluable. It has helped ensure that Brabazon will offer the space, connectivity and opportunity for the next generation to continue to shape the future from North Bristol