Ian King’s thirty-year career at Ideaworks, from hand-drawn plans to luxury technology. A story of innovation, growth, and collaboration.

Where it all started

In 1993, during the economic downturn, Ian King set out to find an industrial placement for the third year of his Industrial Design degree at Brunel University. Without the luxury of search engines, Ian ventured to Ashford Library to scour local business listings.

Among the many dot matrix printouts, he discovered a brochure titled “Ashford, an Investment Opportunity” that mentioned a small company called Sound Ideas. Little did he know that this discovery would mark the beginning of a remarkable thirty-year career at Ideaworks.

Ian joined Sound Ideas in the spring of 1993 as an Intern. He spent six months meticulously hand-drawing floor plans on tracing paper. It was a hands-on, analogue world of FM radios, cassette tapes, and tube televisions. Technology was simpler, but the foundations of innovation were already being laid.

The 90’s – the start of the boom

After completing his degree, Ian returned to the company in September 1994 as a CAD Technician. Under the direction of Founder Kevin Andrews, Ian worked on preparing layouts and schematics for prestigious London projects. At the time, most of their work could be pinpointed on just a few pages of the London A-Z: Eaton Square, Chester Square, and Wilton Crescent. With no real home networking or usable internet, the focus was on audio-visual solutions and lighting controls. As a result, these were designed using basic CAD and word-processing tools.

By 1997, Ian had become a Project Manager, gaining experience on major projects. Consequently, he took on significant responsibilities, leading complex initiatives that shaped his career. One of his first was converting Inverforth House in Hampstead from an old hospital into nine luxury residences.

As London house prices soared, so too did the demand for more sophisticated home technology. Projects started to include new distributed audio and video systems. This shift required greater design complexity, and as a result, new cable numbering systems were adopted. Furthermore, some of these systems still persist in legacy installations today.

The late 1990s also saw the company evolve in size and ambition. Outgrowing its small industrial unit in Wye, the team moved to a larger office in Faversham. Ian’s role expanded in 2000 to Senior Designer as the scale and complexity of projects grew in tandem with emerging digital technologies.

The arrival of the Internet and the Internet of Things (IoT) brought both opportunity and new challenges, requiring deeper expertise and more robust engineering. What was once a consumable part of the specification, network hardware, became a critical and permanent component of their solutions.

The 00’s – Entering the World of SuperYachts

In 2009, Ideaworks began to extend its expertise beyond luxury homes into the world of superyachts. Specifically, an existing client accustomed to seamless technology across their properties requested the same experience on their yacht. This led to Ideaworks delivering a tailored marine technology solution. This area remains a core part of their business today.

An enduring investment in people underpinned the company’s growth. In addition, Ian reflects on the dynamic enthusiasm of key individuals who have driven Ideaworks forward. As technology evolved and projects grew more complex, Ideaworks remained committed to professional development. Despite changing client expectations, the company continues to foster a collaborative environment.

A significant milestone came with the opening of an additional design office on Lorenzo Street in King’s Cross, where Ian led the team for five formative years. It was a time of camaraderie and collective progress, echoing the bustling energy that now defines the company’s current Aftercare Hub at The Arches, Lambeth North. In the post-COVID world, Ian notes that the office has regained its buzz, with a renewed focus on delivering extraordinary projects through teamwork.

Today, we are One Team

Today, Ideaworks operates with a “One Team” philosophy. Larger and more complex projects demand closer collaboration across departments and geographies. The company now has skilled support teams that enhance creativity and ensure consistent engineering. Their streamlined delivery processes lead to better outcomes for clients. This unified approach emphasises collective expertise while preserving individual voices and ideas.

Ian King, now an associate, marks thirty years of an innovative journey at Ideaworks, embodying the company’s evolution over the years. Indeed, it has grown from a small, analogue-focused business into a global leader in luxury technology solutions. Through dedication, adaptability, and a commitment to innovation, Ian’s story is a testament to the enduring spirit of Ideaworks. It reflects the company’s core values and pursuit of excellence.

We are always looking for motivated, bright people to join Ideaworks. Learn more about life at Ideaworks and all our current vacancies at the Ideaworks Family site.