5 Minutes With Mandy Simpson
Co-founder of Simpson & Partners on quiet luxury, designing EV chargers that belong, and why she still sketches every curve by hand.
Q: Mandy, you’ve called the Freestanding Home Series EV Charger the “unsung hero” of your collection. Why? It solves a problem that’s surprisingly common. People want to charge their EVs but don’t have a wall nearby. Most solutions are clunky, black lollypop-style stands that feel like an afterthought. We wanted to create something that felt intentional. Elegant. A piece of outdoor furniture that just happens to be incredibly smart inside.
Q: You’ve been in podcasts describing it as “quiet luxury.” What does that mean to you? It’s about discretion. Our customers don’t want their charger to dominate their space, they simply want it to look nice. For me I think it’s about it blending in and to feel calm and considered. The Freestanding Home Series doesn’t shout. It just is. Slim, powerful, and beautifully understated. That’s always been part of our design philosophy. When you can surround yourself with things that you like, that's a nice feeling. And your home is private. It’s almost like privacy is our last luxury these days.
Q: Tell us about the design process. Where did it begin? David and I sketched the first version one evening at home. We debated every detail, the radius of the curves, how the vertical signature lines would run down the front, how the logo would sit. It wasn’t just about aesthetics; it was about how the charger attaches, how it’s engineered, how it lasts. There’s a million decisions you make and toss away before you land on something that feels right.
I was in the factory the other day and saw three colours in a row and they just caught my eye. When that happens, you know you’ve done something right.
Q: You released a limited-edition Rose Gold version last Valentine’s Day. What inspired that? Honestly, it was a bit of a fun thing. Rose Gold is soft, romantic, and completely unexpected in the world of EV charging. One customer installed it in their landscaped garden and it looked stunning. That’s the kind of joy I want our products to bring—surprise, delight, and beauty in the everyday.
I always want to add a red to the collection, but red is a really tricky colour to nail. This pink shade has a secret amount of finely crushed oyster shells in it’s a formula which gives it a gorgeous masculine lustre. Lazy RAL colours just can’t compete. Even the guys in the office like it.
Q: You come from a fashion and product design background. How does that influence your work now? Massively. I spent years in kidswear design, where you learn to balance form, function, and emotion. Clothes can make you feel good. I’ve always cared about how things are made, how long they last, and whether they bring joy. Fast fashion taught me what not to do. With Simpson & Partners, I wanted to create products that feel timeless. That don’t end up in landfill. That look good, work brilliantly, and feel like they belong in your life.
Q: Final question, what’s next for you and the brand? I'll continue to refine the customer and installer journey, making it seamless from ordering a colour card to getting your final installation. And we’re investing in PR and reputation building, because I believe in organic growth and long-term trust. But really, it’s about staying true to our mission: creating sustainable, design-led products that people genuinely love to live with.
