Estate agent David Highland has cultivated a collaborative design partnership with interior architecture studio STUDIOJOS, led by creative director Joss Knight, to enhance the function, presentation, and value of his property portfolio while maintaining each space’s original design intent.
The relationship began two years ago with the fitout of an investment apartment in Point Piper, Sydney, targeting the executive luxury rental market. Highland sought an interiors approach that balanced liveability with commercial appeal, focusing on improved spatial planning, integrated storage, bespoke joinery, and a timeless material palette suited to the market. Recognising the constraints of apartment renovations—including limited space and building regulations—Highland prioritized discipline and efficiency in design.
This initial collaboration has since expanded to include Highland’s beachfront family home in Cronulla, a Gold Coast apartment within Sammut’s Coast complex, and Ruby House, Highland’s forthcoming 300 square metre commercial headquarters in Double Bay. Across these projects, Knight has acted as the primary design contact, supported by STUDIOJOS’s broader team managing documentation, material selection, scheduling, procurement, and construction coordination.
Highland emphasizes Knight’s ability to go beyond the brief, not only listening but challenging initial requests to uncover opportunities that elevate the final outcome. “He listens to what I’m asking for, but he doesn’t stop there,” Highland said. “He challenges the brief, identifies opportunities I may not have seen, and comes back with solutions that often take the project somewhere better.”
Knight attributes their productive dialogue to Highland’s decisiveness and instinct for what works both commercially and personally. “David can explain what he wants to achieve, sometimes without necessarily knowing what the design solution might be, and I can usually understand where he is coming from and translate that into something tangible,” Knight explained.
Rather than pursuing a specific stylistic “look,” the pair develop shared reference points based on proportion, materiality, quality, and longevity. This approach, supported by their growing history of collaboration, creates a shorthand that streamlines subsequent projects by reducing the need to revisit foundational concepts.
The nature of each project has shaped the design focus. For example, the Cronulla home involved input from Highland’s family, concentrating on everyday living needs, entertainment, privacy, and personal lifestyle. Conversely, Ruby House required a workplace design that reflects the values of Highland’s business and serves over 40 staff and clients. Highland described the goal as creating a space that communicates the company’s identity and priorities.
Knight also noted a broader market trend towards bespoke design elements such as custom joinery, furniture, and stone finishes, which can provide a competitive edge and foster an emotional connection with users. He observed a growing design literacy among clients who distinguish thoroughly considered environments from those merely styled to fleeting trends.
Highland sees design as an investment that yields returns through presenting “resolved” properties, where prospective buyers perceive well-planned, ready-to-inhabit spaces rather than envisioning costly modifications. This holistic approach underpins Highland’s philosophy of adding value beyond mere aesthetic appeal.