Michelle Ogundehin

Ogundehin was born in Manchester and grew up in London, United Kingdom. She studied architecture at the Bartlett School of Architecture graduating in 1989 with a Bachelors and a further Diploma in Architecture in 1993.^[2][3] Michelle moved to Brighton, after visiting for a weekend break,^[4] and has been recognised for her influence by being included in the Powerlist of influential African or African Caribbean Britons on a number of occasions, including in the Top 10 in 2007 and 2008.^[5][6]

In 1997, Ogundehin began working at ELLE Decoration UK, a publication dedicated to interior design, and was appointed Editor-in-Chief in 2004,^[7] for which at the 2011 PPAAwards, ELLE Decoration was awarded Specialist Consumer Magazine of the Year and Michelle was Highly Commended as Editor of the Year.^[8] In 2002, Ogundehin established her own creative consultancy, MO:Studio. From 2008 to 2015 she became a Trustee for the Victoria & Albert Museum^[9][10] and was made an Ambassador for Diversity in Public Appointments by the Government Equalities Office the following year.^[11]

Ogundehin has also regularly written for publications such as the Financial Times^[12] and The Observer,^[13] and in 2017 she stepped down from her role at ELLE Decorations after 13 years.^[14]

In addition to her written work, Ogundehin has worked on a number of television shows including presenting alongside Kevin McCloud on Grand Designs: House of the Year awarding homes across the UK for their architectural merit,^[15] been a guest judge on The Great Interior Design Challenge,^[16] and in 2019 began presenting as Head Judge on Interior Design Masters in which amateur interior designers compete to win a commercial contract.^[17][18]

Ogundehin's first book, Happy Inside: How to Harness the Power of Home for Health and Happiness, was published in 2020.^[1]

^[19][20]