TWENTYONE06 is a Dubai-based integrated, multidisciplinary design and branding agency founded in 2018. Shepley and his talented team strive for innovation and originality in everything they do, with a strong focus on hospitality and commercial design. Shepley is a passionate storyteller who enjoys the creative process while also delivering commercially successful projects.

Govind Shepley, the founder and creative director of TwentyOne06, began his career as a designer in the incredible urban landscape of Central London, working for several award-winning agencies. Inspired by global design, he decided to travel and gain international experience after a few years, living and working in Belgium and Barcelona before settling in the GCC.

Shepley took the risk to pursue his passion and set up his own design agency in Dubai after 10 years of international expertise with some of the world’s leading design agencies. ‘TwentyOne06’ focusses on hospitality-related projects. Twentyone06 began in the F&B/hospitality sector and has since expanded into many other industries, including commercial spaces (offices), education, and public space. Finding success in these sectors because he approaches them from two perspectives, always keeping in mind that these are, first and foremost, businesses, and understanding that in today’s market, everything requires the influence of hospitality within the design, whether it’s an office, nursery, or reception area.

Shepley has been building TwentyOne06 for the past three years, assisting his clients with his knowledge, creativity, and business acumen. His clients have been able to grow and operate successfully as a result of this. His passion for helping businesses grow through design has been a driving force in the projects completed by twentyone06, and he has been able to bring on more and more prominent brands and businesses to the agency.

Over the last two years, Shepley has re-invested sufficient profits back into the agency to fuel TwentyOne06’s growth, and has focussed on building a strong team by investing in more efficient equipment, one-on-one mentoring time, streamlining internal processes, and securing a bright new and convenient office space to work from. The goal has never been to create the largest company, but rather a true company that has intrinsic value and can give something back to the industry, the region, and beyond. For the time being, the focus is on building a self-sufficient team that is aligned with his vision, core values, and ethics, providing existing and new businesses with the tools they need to thrive and grow, and creating a design agency that can inspire a new generation of young designers. The most important resource for a designer now is information, market research, and real hard data to help deliver the most amazing experience for our end user.

Shepley’s most valuable skill is gathering and providing the data required for clients to make informed decisions. Every design contains elements of emotion and passion, but in order to create something that is commercially viable, he requires all of his designers to conduct research so that when they present to clients, they can offer an in-depth and data-driven design that takes into account the viability of the project—making the process incredibly thoughtful for the clients. He has regularly provided clients, contractors, and designers with free trend reports and information pack- ages. So that everyone is aware of the collective decisions we make. Shepley says: “Without information for a foundation, we are designing blind.

Over the past two years, Shepley has moved Twentlyone06 into several new commercial sectors bringing the same approach to these designs. These are corporate spaces, educational spaces, and retail spaces. He has also been accepted as a member of the Entrepreneur’s organisation, this has really helped him to cement a new and improved thought process as Twentyone06 not just as a design agency but as a business that’s providing a valuable service and a space for his team to grow and thrive. Entrepreneur’s organisation has also encouraged him to devote time to developing and implementing a new core value for Twentyone06, ‘Creating meaningful experiences throughout the journey.

Some of his latest projects have been with high profile chefs and brands, such as Reif Othman ex chef of Zuma creating three new concepts; Hoe Lee Kow – a modern twist on Ko- rean BBQ ; Tero – a unique live dining experience for only 12 people, hidden away with in a live restaurant; Jebel Jais Mountain’s welcome centre; and CLAW BBQ – a new flagship store with in Dubai.