Willoughby Brow grew up and studied in London, which gave him access to a variety of arts and culture. He credits being able to see such a diverse range of media and exhibitions as the inspiration for his polymathic approach to design. He started his studio practice when he was 15 years old and went on to attain a BA in Theatre and Performance Design from Wimbledon College of Arts. His working practice is fuelled by investigation: since he was a small boy, Willoughby has acquired an array of interests and skills which over time have allowed him to build a creative toolkit from which to source a bespoke approach to each project he encounters. He is preoccupied with the question: ‘What’s the best way of doing this?’ and compelled to understand how the great animators worked, how monumental sculptors trained, or even what heroic painters ate for breakfast. Working in theatre allows Willoughby to use lateral and logical thinking, and he believes that it is important as a designer to balance academic rigour with creative impulse - automatism with constraints.