Michelle Ogundehin

Former Editor-In-Chief of Elle Decoration UK, Founder of MO: Studio, Co-Presenter of Grand Designs: House of the Year & Author of Amazon Best-Seller ‘Happy Inside’

Michelle Ogundehin’s Biography:

Michelle Ogundehin is a writer, author, brand consultant and television presenter, widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading voices on interiors, design and wellbeing. Combining creative expertise with commercial insight, Michelle is best known for transforming ELLE Decoration UK during her 13-year tenure as Editor-in-Chief, where she led the publication to record revenues and its highest-ever circulation. She is also a familiar face on television, having co-presented five series of Kevin McCloud’s Grand Designs: House of the Year and served as head judge on BBC One’s Interior Design Masters alongside Alan Carr. As a speaker, Michelle explores the powerful relationship between design, wellbeing, creativity and future lifestyle trends, inspiring audiences across business, design and consumer sectors.

Michelle began her publishing career at Tate magazine under the mentorship of Tim Marlow before being headhunted by ELLE Decoration. Rising through the editorial ranks, she became Features Director before being appointed Editor-in-Chief in 2004. Alongside her publishing success, she founded MO: Studio in 2002, a consultancy that has advised leading international brands including IKEA, Microsoft, Geberit, De’Longhi, Magnet, Silentnight, Affordable Art Fair, Arteriors and Calligaris. Her influence has also extended into academia and cultural institutions, serving as a Trustee of the Victoria & Albert Museum, a member of the Board of Trustees for the Design Museum and, from 2021, Visiting Professor of Architecture at the Manchester School of Architecture.

An award-winning editor, Michelle has received multiple Consumer Lifestyle Magazine of the Year accolades alongside the prestigious Consumer Editor of the Year title. In 2011, she won Specialist Consumer Magazine of the Year and was named Editor of the Year. Her expertise has appeared across publications including Vogue, The Financial Times: How to Spend It, Dezeen, Living, Femail, Harrods, Waitrose Weekend and the John Lewis Home magazine. She is also the Amazon bestselling author of ‘Happy Inside: How to Harness the Power of Home for Health and Happiness’, which cemented her reputation as an authority on the connection between interiors and wellbeing.

Named the ‘Interiors Guru’ by The Sunday Times, Michelle has become one of Britain’s most respected commentators on design, style and modern living. Her television appearances also include The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, BBC Four’s Bauhaus documentary and Channel 4’s Inside Out Homes. Whether addressing leadership teams, creative professionals or consumer audiences, Michelle combines industry expertise with engaging storytelling and practical insight, helping organisations understand how thoughtful design influences innovation, productivity, wellbeing and the way people live and work.

Why Hire Michelle Ogundehin?

Michelle Ogundehin delivers thought-provoking keynote presentations that blend design expertise with practical insights into wellbeing, creativity and changing consumer behaviour. Drawing upon decades of editorial leadership, consultancy experience and television broadcasting, she offers audiences valuable perspectives on innovation, branding, future trends and the psychology of home. Having spoken across industry conferences, cultural institutions and design events, Michelle’s engaging, evidence-led style resonates with business leaders, architects, designers and organisations seeking to understand how environments shape performance, health, creativity and everyday life.

Michelle Ogundehin’s Career Highlights:

Here are some of the key milestones that define Michelle Ogundehin’s remarkable career:

• 2021 – Appointed Visiting Professor of Architecture at the Manchester School of Architecture, recognising her influence on contemporary design.
• 2020 – Published the Amazon bestselling book ‘Happy Inside: How to Harness the Power of Home for Health and Happiness’.
• 2010s – Co-presented five series of Grand Designs: House of the Year and became head judge on BBC One’s Interior Design Masters.
• 2011 – Won Specialist Consumer Magazine of the Year and was named Editor of the Year.
• 2009 – Appointed Ambassador for Diversity in Public Appointments by the Government Equalities Office.
• 2008 – Became a Trustee of the Victoria & Albert Museum, contributing to one of the world’s leading museums of art and design.
• 2004 – Appointed Editor-in-Chief of ELLE Decoration UK, leading the magazine to record commercial and editorial success.
• 2002 – Founded MO: Studio, providing strategic consultancy to leading global brands across design, interiors and lifestyle.
• 1997 – Promoted to Features Director at ELLE Decoration, helping shape one of Britain’s most influential interiors publications.