Stephen Smalley

As Director at Design ID Stephen brings over two decades of experience in structural and civil engineering, working across commercial, education, industrial and high‑rise projects in the UK and overseas. He is known for combining strong technical understanding with a practical, construction‑led mindset shaped early in his career with contractor RG Carter. This grounding gives him a clear sense of buildability, sequencing and risk, helping teams make better decisions from the earliest project stages.

Stephen’s experience spans both in traditional and modern methods of construction, including steel, concrete, timber and load‑bearing masonry systems. Throughout his career, he has worked with leading architects, engineers and international design teams, contributing to projects that range from large, complex developments to highly bespoke schemes. He believes deeply in a collaborative design process, one where each discipline engages openly and where the final outcome carries a legacy the whole team can be proud of.

Sustainability is central to Stephen’s engineering philosophy. He has worked extensively with low‑carbon and “zero‑carbon” materials, and is particularly passionate about lean, efficient design. Over the years, he has developed tools and benchmarking methods to help teams minimise material use, manage embodied carbon and balance cost, programme and environmental impact through every project stage.

As a Director, Stephen helps guide the technical direction of the practice, supports project teams across multiple sectors and champions a culture of open communication, curiosity and thoughtful engineering. He plays an active role in mentoring early‑career engineers and encouraging a balanced approach to innovation, practicality and long‑term sustainability.

Stephen has always been committed to contributing to the wider profession. He has delivered talks to industry bodies including ICE, IStructE and the Concrete Society, lectures at Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University, and previously supported specialist technical groups during his time with Ramboll (Whitbybird). Earlier in his career, he was runner‑up in the Institution of Structural Engineers’ Young Structural Engineer of the Year award.