Welcome to Life works By Design
What if your life, your values, and your impact were fully aligned?
We partner with leaders, founders, and communities who are ready to build what truly matters — and build it well.
Life Works by Design combines world-class design thinking with transformational coaching to help you clarify your vision, design sustainable solutions, and bring them to life with integrity and intelligence.
Personal alignment » Practical strategy » Lasting change
We are a holistic design and coaching company that combines award-winning international design expertise with certified coaching experience. Our unique offering empowers individuals, leaders, and communities to turn their ideas and visions into clear and tangible realities.
Our ultimate goal is to create more sustainable solutions to human and environmental challenges
“The actions we each take today can change tomorrow”
WHAT WE DO
Design to Make a Difference
“I knew where I’d been, but not sure where we were going. Now I know where we’re going and am not sure where we have been!”
“Others have tried to fit me/what I do, into their model. You’re ability to see the holistic aspects of who I am and what I bring has made all the difference in my ability to move forward towards my own real goals. This means I haven’t lost motivation moving towards them each day-cos they’re mine!”
This project not only created a film, it launched the edible school project after Hurricane Katrina.
- Feeding the Kids of Katrina Participant
I would like to thank all those that took time out and shared their very personal ex- periences on film as part of this important initiative. Minority groups are often called, ‘hard to reach’. I don't believe they are hard to reach. I believe the NHS can be hard to reach and we can do better.
- NHS Strategic Commissioner
“This is a clever solution to a real consumer need.”
- National Sales Manager
“This has got to be in the top five of the thousands of inventions we’ve seen. We’re investing in it personally.”
- Inventor/Founders
“Nicola has a rare combination of experience, expertise, and innovation. She has real - world experience building things, and it shows.”
- Innovation Director, Fortune 500 company
“I love its remarkable versatility and ease of use. The modular design allows me to dream up and bring to life an array of unique structures without the need for specialized tools or expertise.”
- Head of international licensing and product development
“Designers use creative tools to address a vast range of challenges”
Tim Brown, CEO IDEO
NICOLA RUDGE
I am the founder and lead practitioner of Lifeworks by Design, bringing together a unique blend of design and life experience. I help individuals, organisations and communities turn vision into reality — using a unique blend of design thinking and coaching.
With over 30 years’ experience in design, healthcare, wellbeing and community-led change, my work supports people to find clarity, align with what matters most, and create sustainable, meaningful outcomes — whether that’s a physical space or product, a life transition or a new way of working.
At the heart of my approach is a simple belief:
when clarity and alignment come first, change becomes easier, more effective and more achievable.
Co-creating transformational opportunities using design and coaching tools
Mary Matthiesen
As an Asset-Based Community Development Facilitator, Speaker and Convener, Mary brings decades of experience helping women, leaders, organizations, and community groups navigate change with the end in mind. She is the co-founder and lead facilitator of Life Works by Design.
Her expert facilitation creates the conditions so that what matters most can be named. Guarded positions soften. Connection deepens. Aligned action becomes possible.
Whether leading social change initiatives, experiential workshops, or keynotes, she guides individuals and teams to engage in key conversations, foster meaningful partnerships, and enhance compassion and care for a life, an organisation, or a community.