Diane Thorsen

Driven by design excellence and creative responses to a clients’ brief, Diane Thorsen is Principal Design Director and one of the founders of the Perkins + Will Studio in Dubai. Her extensive experience spanning 20 years and leadership ability has resulted in an award-winning design studio of thought leaders. A graduate of the Faculty of Art Design and Architecture, University of Johannesburg, South Africa, Diane has focused on creating quality design from the inside out. Her international work brought her to the Middle East in 2008 where she embraced the regions’ nuances and responded with sensitivity to appropriate design solutions. Most notably her designs for international workplace, hospitality and mixed-use developments display attention to detail, a love of local art and quality of craftsmanship. Her award winning work and design approach, informed by sustainability and holistic, innovative project delivery and user-centric design and research is aligned with the principles of Perkins+Will as a sustainability driven company.