Meet Shay Lam, Studio Leader in Workplace, Asset Strategy, and Hospitality. Shay will collaborate with firm leadership to establish NELSON as a stronghold in the New York and tri-state area.

 


Q: Professionally, what is one thing you want to be remembered for?

“Small, but mighty.”

 

Q: What’s something people don’t know about you that they would be surprised to find out?

A. I’ve been in multiple music videos. My first was a Kula Shaker (yeah, who?) music video in 2000. While finishing my M.A. at St. Martins in London, a casting agent came over and asked me if I wanted to be in a music video for 150 quids (150 British pounds). I was one of 20 in the video, it took all day, and I ended up appearing in the video for one second, drinking a pint.

P.S. They put salt in alcohol on the set so you can’t really drink it.

B. What this tells you is that I am much older than I look (M.A. in 2000). So now I’ve told you two things people are surprised to find out.

 

Q: What is a quote or mantra you live by?

 “No detail is small.” To me it represents that everything is important—small wins like dry socks in a storm and small defeats like coming down the stairs just in time to watch your train doors close. Choose to recognize them as you please, but no detail is small. 

 
Q: What is an underrated food that you think deserves more hype?

Pigs in a Blanket. You’re basically making flakey croissants (which by itself is a challenge), rolling them over mini hot dogs (hoping that they aren’t soggy when they’re baked), then dipping them in a creamy, rich mustard. French, German, with Southeast Asian influences create a cultural gourmet marvel.
 

“As Studio Leader of Workplace, Asset Strategy & Hospitality, I look forward to working with the talented NELSON team to push the boundaries of design.” – Shay Lam