Interview: The unstoppable Henrietta Thompson

Henrietta possesses a mind that constantly buzzes with ideas, so it’s natural that she’s always got her hands in a plethora of pots. This past spring, she and her husband Ed formally launched their consultancy, Naked on the Piano, where they help brands tell their stories and find their voice via bespoke editorial and publishing projects, brand and content strategy, copywriting, events and exhibitions. The duo also run the Vintage Photo Lab, where they digitize peoples’ timeworn photographs in order to preserve memories – and again, tell their stories. As Editor at Large of Wallpaper*, Henrietta serves as a kind of brand ambassador, representing the magazine at various talks and events as well as contributing to all facets of the brand. She also writes a monthly column in British Airways’ in-flight mag Business Life as well as Telegraph Luxury (she recently filed her 120th column there); with both, she’s able to share her well-researched musings about the future of design. 2016 looks to be busy for Henrietta in quite a different way, though, as she’s about to have her first child at literally any moment – and it’s a girl! To close out the year, we took the opportunity to ask the mum-to-be about her work, international adventures and incoming little one: 

Naked on the Piano is an extension of what I’ve been doing for a really long time, which is telling stories. Specifically, it’s helping brands or institutions or whoever to tell their stories, whether that’s through their own written communications, publishing ventures, or even exhibitions and festivals. Most of our work is in the luxury sector which is something I write about a lot in my journalism, so, design and craftsmanship are central to everything. We work with brands we love. We’re really lucky in that sense.

Although I’ve been doing brand work for years, since we “formally” launched NOTP this spring we have grown the business by over 75%, which is really exciting. It seems there’s a real need for what we’re doing. The kinds of projects we’re now doing are very varied but always there’s this storytelling and vision element at the core. 

Some projects we have on the table include leading the creative direction of a new social enterprise and workspace hub in west London; a print magazine for a major international design brand; new content platforms and campaigns for some brands and institutions we really believe in – big and small; and countless launches, too. Our clients vary from governments and consulates and global hotel groups and fashion brands to flower festivals, startups in developing countries, architecture firms and urban developers. No project is the same as the last, and that’s a good thing I think.

I’ve always been really passionate about magazine publishing. I love magazines, whether that’s printed or digital. I think it’s really about presenting information or stories in a way that is exciting and accessible – so many brands today want content for content’s sake, but unless it’s going to be worth reading and inspiring then it’s not worth doing in my opinion. I’m really lucky to be working within the design industry where there’s so much incredible, inspiring talent. To be in conversation with these people on a regular basis, I can’t think of a better job.

It’s quite a special magazine in that, traditionally, magazines are kind of the same month to month and Wallpaper* is the only magazine I’ve ever worked for which is consistently different month to month. There’s always something new going on. It’s so much more than a magazine now, it’s a brand in its own right. 

Travel in the first half of the year was actually pretty full on – maybe I subconsciously realised I might be nesting soon! From January to September I was lucky enough to visit Switzerland, Greece, China, Italy, the US, Spain, Austria, as well as countless trips to France and Belgium as we have so many clients there, and all over the UK too. I do love traveling, whether for the global design fairs or to review hotels or for client meetings. Definitely one of the best things about having set up business with my husband Ed is that we can now often make trips together, which is so much more fun.

Back in March I was in Shanghai with my biggest project to date. As lead curator for the GREAT Festival of Creativity, I was working with Number 10 and UKTI and this was the end result of a hell of a lot of work over the previous eight months. It was a phenomenal trip, both personally and professionally, as I got to meet and work with so many fantastic and inspiring people, representing the best of both British and Chinese creativity and business (and royalty!). Working with a fantastic team, I was responsible for the speaker programme and for helping to shape the scope of the event. We had 120 speakers over three days as well as amazing entertainment and extra-curricular events. It was all a little bit mind-blowing, actually. 

In May I made my first foray into teaching! I was asked to run a weeklong course at the Toulouse Business School teaching MA students about sustainable luxury. It was fun, but I think I learned more than they did through the whole process – not least that teaching is hard … One result of the whole thing is that I’m now planning a brand new book on the same topic, and it also all links into a new (hopefully annual) conference taking place in the Swiss Alps from September 2016. 

It’s Ed’s company really, but I am getting more involved – I guess it’s inevitable! It’s a very simple premise - digitising old and archive photographs in a way that is very service driven and 100% trustworthy. And, again, helping people tell their stories through those photographs can be so rewarding. It’s a really lovely business to be involved in. We’ve just branched out into scanning kids’ drawings, sketchbooks and scrapbooks too – and customers vary from Maureen in Luton who wants her old wedding pics immortalized, to major television and news networks looking to save space and clear out their archives of secret scoops and scandals. It’s never boring, put it that way!

I guess I’m really excited to see how it works out, because I don’t have that traditional work/life scenario. There’s a huge amount going on, but there’s also perhaps more flexibility than a lot of people have. I think we’re both looking forward to seeing how we can work it without driving ourselves completely crazy. And there’ll be a new little assistant on the team! I’m just really looking forward to meeting her at the moment; I want to know what she’s going to be like. 

Yeah, for sure, I guess that happens. There’s some really lovely stuff. I’m quite glad that we’re starting a family now, when there’s so much more and better design around than ever before. Who knows, maybe next year will be the year of the mumpreneur. 

I love the Norwegian brand Stokke; we’re completely addicted to all of their stuff already. I have a history with Norwegian design, so that feels appropriate. And then there’s so many small creative businesses and and designers doing lovely things in terms of prints and posters, beanbags, pom poms, teddy bears and stuff that’s quite unexpected. There’s a lovely little shop called Molly & Meg not far from us which is really cute. I’ve been blown away by some of the stylish mums on Instagram as well, thinking, ‘Is that really possible, is it real?’ We’ve read some stuff and have got loads of friends with babies, and I know the human race has done this forever and it’s not an extraordinary thing, but at the same time it’s a whole new world for us.

There’s that, but at the same time business is just going really quickly. We’ve got some of our biggest clients that have all just signed up in the last week. That’s really exciting, but also doing it all at the same time might be a little challenging – but we’re going to try.

nakedonthepiano.com; 

wallpaper.com; 

vintagephotolab.com.

1 and 2. We've been really lucky to be able to work with AMAN resorts this year on their rebrand and tone of voice – it's a challenge for one of the best hospitality offerings in the world to get across how great they really are without resorting to cliches. Everyone says they're the best, but AMAN properties are something else. Obviously we had to go and try out the experience... all in the name of research! 3. We've been working with Tom Dixon this year on their tone of voice and copy, and also launched a new pilot magazine called Tomorrow. Watch this space for what happens next! 4. Visiting makers and artisans is one of my most favourite things. This photo was from the opening of London Craft Week, and shows Bespoke tailors Henry Poole demonstrating the rare art of livery tailoring, exploring methods that date back more than two centuries. 5. This photo is from the amazing HQ and workshops of Lobmeyr crystal in Vienna – where they have made crystalware and chandeliers for centuries – and are now collaborating with brilliant contemporary designers too. Just gorgeous. 6. Also in Vienna, behind the scenes at Mischer Traxler's studio as they plotted their incredible installation for the London Design Festival. Another husband and wife creative team! There seem to be more and more of them these days... 7. This is one of the many huge spaces in the London Museum in Shanghai, which we filled with creative genii for the GREAT Festival of Creativity. Amazing space. Freezing cold, but amazing... 8. Just one of the millions of snaps from the Milan Salone del Mobile this year, this is from Lee Broom's brilliant Department Store – easily one of the best installations – but there were so many.