Team Focus: Katherine Larner
Tell us about yourself and your role at Core?
Hi I’m Katherine, northern lady, loves brews and gravy, very rarely seen without tall heels, even in snow (much to the amusement of my colleagues). My role at Core is to bring projects to life, mainly in the 3rd dimension.
How did you first get involved in the industry and what led you to Core?
Straight out the starting blocks after graduating from university, I joined the fast-paced world of point of sale, designing temporary shop displays, shop windows and exhibition stands. This left me wanting to leave a more permanent footprint on the world and luckily for me I found the Core team. I get lots of surprised faces when I tell people what I do and it’s always a great talking point. Who doesn’t love a museum?
What would you say you most enjoy about working at Core?
Every project is a new challenge and needs a unique solution. It’s a rare opportunity to leave a lasting impression on visitors from different walks of life.
Highlights or favourite projects from your time at Core?
I love seeing a project come together right at the end, after months (sometimes years) of preparation, hard work and determination from everyone involved. At that moment there is joy and relief and a real sense of accomplishment. It’s difficult to choose a favourite project, bit like choosing a favourite child… best kept a secret.
What does a typical day’s work look like for you?
Brew. Every day must start with a fresh brew. It focuses the mind and sets me up for a full day of creativity. It’s become a ritual which I keep religiously, as anyone in the office will tell you! After that, every day is different. I can be right in the thick of a project, developing designs, attending on-site meeting with clients and surveying spaces, or getting up close and personal with museum collections and stories.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to fill my spare time with friends and family, preferably somewhere hot if I have the option, and attempting to live a healthy lifestyle.
What would be your ultimate historical time travel destination and why?
Before starting work on the design of the Thackray Medical Museum in Leeds, I probably would have said Victorian times, but learning more about diseases from that time has sort of dulled the appeal.
What projects are you working on at the moment?
My time is currently shared between Derby Silk Mill Museum of Making, Thackray Medical Museum, Newton’s Place museum, and Archive: Wigan and Leigh, plus few newbies that we are keeping under our hats for now!