JANINE KARIYAWASAM
Head of Design

“I don’t believe in design for the sake of design. Great design is about solving problems.” 

Janine Kariyawasam is involved in every stage of the design process, from onboarding clients to final documentation. Her team leadership and commitment to the client experience is a big part of what makes Air “Air”.

As a founding leader at Air, Janine helped shape the company’s culture, including its open-door policy that welcomes all ideas. She often encourages younger architects and designers to “question everything” as the key to discovering something new.

Janine approaches her work with a designer’s eye and a strategist’s mindset. Her passion for project strategy, honed through years of experience and currently pursuing an MBA, drives her to connect business objectives with innovative design solutions. She thrives on uncovering how a company or brand operates and aligning this understanding with the design process to solve problems for her clients in meaningful, impactful ways. For Janine, strategy and design are inseparable — a partnership that elevates her work to deliver spaces that not only function beautifully but also advance her clients’ goals.

Janine has worked as a designer for 11 years in Melbourne, London and New York. She has a special passion for hotels, restaurants and hospitality spaces where she can create unforgettable experiences for people. Her work has been recognised by the Frame Awards and other leading organisations.