Richard Van Riel

Layout Designer

Richard works on layouts and space planning for our library installations. He began influencing Opening the Book as our historic buildings adviser while he was working as a museum curator and exhibition designer but was soon deeply involved in wider library space planning. Understanding Opening the Book’s research into customer behaviour and successful positioning of displays led to the invention of our unique propeller shapes which have revolutionised library design.

In his spare time, Richard is a junk-shop fiend, a fossil collector and an enthusiastic cook, as testified by all our staff and any customers lucky enough to experience his recipes!