We are a team of designers, writers and technologists working with associates from science, health and education. 

Cathrin trained as an architect at TU Darmstadt, Germany, before moving to the UK in 2006. She spent 12 years at Universal Design Studio, where she developed a strong design methodology and a keen interest in strategy. As Head of Design Research, Cathrin led projects for a range of cultural and commercial clients including the Barbican, and spearheaded self-initiated public engagement installations that marry scientific observations with cultural relevance (On Repeat, LDF 2017; On Loop, NYC x Design 2019). She later established and grew the interior architecture team at Piercy&Co, delivering headquarter projects for clients including publishing house Faber and music start-up ROLI.

Alongside her work with Design Science, Cathrin continues to lead Studio MiCat, the practice she co-founded with Michael Garnett in 2016. Their work uses design to break down and illustrate complex processes, connections and thought models, as a means to engage a wide audience and catalyse debate around issues of our time. Their ’Non-Pavilion’ installation at the V&A during LDF 2019 explored the idea of economic ‘degrowth’ in the context of the design world, while ’Brawn and Bread’ in New Hampshire deconstructed the production of the humble loaf of bread into a series of gym exercises.

Cathrin combines strategic thinking with design clarity and enjoys translating observation into meaningful interactions. She regularly speaks at design events and recently lectured at the Glasgow School of Art on ’Research to Practice’.