The creative director of Hè Hè Design explains how psychology and design intersect, and how a passion for interior design allowed her to reconnect with her Dutch heritage.
Erin Fairmaid may be an interior designer and the creative director of Hè Hè Design today, but as a child, she never aspired to a career in a creative field. “Despite being very creative, I was always very science-based in my studies and went straight into studying a bachelor of science, sure that I would be working in the healthcare sector in some capacity,” says Erin. “To be perfectly honest, I had no real knowledge or awareness of the interior design industry until my mid-20s, and I'm actually glad I found this in the later stages of my life.”
Erin Fairmaid
The early years
Growing up, Erin was surrounded by makers and tinkers. Her grandfather was a woodturner and her father is an industrious man with masterful hands, and her earliest memories of engaging with design are shaped by these relationships. “Some of my fondest memories as a child are spending weekends in the shed making things out of timber, woodturning or wood carving with my dad and grandpa, siblings and cousins,” says Erin. “I would always be crafting and creating things, be it jewellery, drawing, painting, or making imaginary houses amongst the trees in the garden.”
However, it wasn’t long until Erin found that her studies weren’t aligning with her career aspirations or providing career satisfaction and discovered an appreciation for interior design while searching for inspiration for her own home. “I decided it was time to completely change things up. I did a few short courses to see if interior design was something I wanted to pursue formally, and found that I had a natural untapped ability with design,” says Erin. “I love designing spaces and knowing that I have a direct impact on how a person or family interacts with their home on a daily basis – it’s the most satisfying part of my work; shaping the spaces my clients live, love and make memories in.”
Williamstown Project by Hè Hè Design | Photography by Kate Hansen
Starting a business
Armed with a bachelor of science, majoring in psychology, and a diploma of interior design and decoration, Erin launched her own design firm, Hè Hè Design (pronounced hey-hey), in 2018. The name is important to Erin on both a personal and professional level. ‘Hè Hè’ is a Dutch expression for a ‘sigh of relief’ often associated with putting one’s feet up at the end of a long day. “I love that it holds my Dutch heritage near and that it’s exactly the expression of what I hope to achieve with my designs – a space where people feel connected, comforted, relaxed and can retreat after a long day.”
Initially, Erin took on small freelance projects to launch Hè Hè Design while working part-time as a paralegal at a law firm, which allowed her to find her feet within the industry and establish connections. Erin made the switch to full-time interior design in 2021 and has become known for her signature use of colour in joinery, tiles, carpet and window furnishings.
“My background in psychology is an edge not often considered in the design industry,” says Erin. “So much of design and the livability of a space comes down to the individual's unique perspective and experience, and being able to tie these two industries together is crucial for developing a living environment that reflects the client's needs, wants and personality.”
For Erin, the most rewarding aspect of working in interior design is how it has allowed her to connect with her Dutch heritage. A trip to Amsterdam in 2016 exposed Erin to Dutch architecture, and staying with relatives provided insight into how Dutch culture influences the design and functionality of the home. “In the Netherlands, due to housing and population density, it’s common for families and individuals to stay in their homes for a long time. Typical home designs are townhouses, with multiple storeys that become less practical as they age,” says Erin. “As a result, the lower levels of their homes become the main living levels and take priority over time. It’s these elements, in particular the smaller, multipurpose spaces and forward planning, that really speak to me as a designer.”
At the core of Erin’s design ethos are a fondness for being with family and the strong traditions of her Dutch culture. “To this end, I love learning about the intricacies of my clients, and whether they have their own family traditions so that these can become a point of learning and understanding, and ultimately feature as part of the design process,” says Erin.
