The 50 Masters of Design 2026

Simone Carter is the Design Director at HTS Interiors, with over 30 years of experience across architecture, interior design, and project management. Her career spans Australasia, Europe, the UK, and the Middle East, working across hospitality, luxury residential, and workplace projects, including award-winning hospitality environments and high-profile workplace projects for global organisations.

While her background is broad, her focus has always been on interiors and the experience of space. Early on, she developed a strong interest in how people connect with their environment, something that continues to shape the way she approaches every project.

Her work is grounded in simplicity and clarity. She’s not interested in over-designing or following trends, but in creating spaces that feel considered, authentic, and timeless. Across her portfolio from hotels and high-end residences to workplace environments, there’s a consistent focus on how a space functions and how it makes people feel.

Throughout her career, Simone has held senior leadership roles across leading international design studios, contributing to projects that have received industry recognition and publication. She works across the full lifecycle of design, ensuring that the original vision is carried through and realised in the built outcome.

As a leader, Simone is collaborative and straightforward. She values strong working relationships and believes the best outcomes come from open dialogue and shared ownership. Now leading the design direction at HTS Interiors, she continues to shape a design-led approach within an integrated model, bringing together creativity, technical thinking, and delivery to create spaces that are both purposeful and enduring.

For me, design isn’t about making something look good for the sake of it. It’s about understanding what a space needs to do and resolving it in a way that feels natural and effortless. The best spaces aren’t overworked, they’re clear, balanced, and make sense.

I’m always thinking about how people will actually use a space, how it will feel over time, and whether it will still hold up in five or ten years. It’s a balance between function and emotion, but also restraint knowing when to stop is just as important as knowing what to add.