Representation within the Reach community is about seeing upper limb difference in every industry and avenue, from sports arenas to creative spaces; it doesn’t need to be talked about or explained. Some things are innately challenging no matter who you are and ULD isn’t always the motivation. Emma Carvell put herself forward to be on the 6th series of the BBC show ‘Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr’ after a facing a tough year dealing with a cancer diagnosis, not to prove she could do it despite her limb difference. We caught up with Emma to find out how she found herself on the show and where her creativity has taken her.
Quick-fire questions…
- Describe yourself in three words.
- Tenacious, creative, ambitious
- A place that inspires you?
- Italy
- Best piece of advice you’ve been given?
- Eyes open, mouth shut
- Someone from history or present you’d love to have a cuppa with?
- Vivienne Westwood
- What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you?
- That I’m one of six siblings
[I would describe myself as] tenacious, creative, ambitious!
Emma, thanks for joining us for this summer 2025 issue of Within Reach. Let’s start with a bit of an introduction… Where are you from and have you ever been a member of Reach?
I grew up in a very remote part of Wales and I never saw anyone with a limb difference unless it was in hospital. And I’ve never been a member of Reach.
Earlier this year you starred in series 6 of the BBC show – Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr (IDM), what inspired you to apply and what was it like walking onto that set for the first time?
I wanted to do something out of the ordinary for me I’d had a rotten year the previous year so I just thought, “why not?” – I never dreamed I’d get on the show!
What part of the competition pushed you the most creatively, and how did you find the show’s pace and pressure?
The whole process pushes you but I suppose the moments that pushed me creatively the most was designing my own wallpaper and sourcing found objects to turn into other more useful objects.
You talk briefly in the show about wanting to show what you can do as a person with a limb difference? As a Reach adult I understand that feeling, a need to prove yourself – is that something you think you have carried through life in your work and/or personal life?
I’ve never felt that I’ve carried it so to speak but ‘can’t’ is my least favourite word. If I want it bad enough ‘I can!’, I think I’m also ‘done’ with trying to prove myself. My eight-year-old self would be very proud of me!! I’ve worked for IKEA, Habitat, Elle Decoration, been on Interior Design Masters, Travelled, have Loved teaching but most importantly I’ve had three beautiful children.
Is there a particular moment or design you’re most proud of from your time on IDM?
In all honesty it was so gruelling; the driving, designing, sourcing. I did it completely on my own. I am hugely proud of how tough I knew I had to be (especially after dealing with cancer the previous year) and I did it! The moment that swallows wallpaper went up though, that gave me a huge surge of pride.
As an Art & Textiles teacher, how do you think your lived experience has shaped the way you approach design?
I used to say to my pupils that ‘a deadline is a deadline’ and that softening on that is not negotiable. So as a designer you have to be ‘on it’ otherwise you are letting someone else in the process down. Your work must be authentic to you and well thought out. Theres nothing worse than something going out and you suddenly hate or question the design.
Growing up with an upper limb difference, how did that shape your relationship with creativity and self-expression?
I didn’t think about it at all. I grew up on the side of a mountain, my parents met at Art college, we had a kiln, printing facilities, all the art materials you could wish for so I just got stuck in. Throwing pots on a potter’s wheel was my favourite.
What advice would you give to young limb different creatives watching you on the show?
You CAN do it!!
You can catch up on all episodes of the series 6 of Interior Design Masters on BBC iPlayer here.
Shared from Within Reach Magazine Summer 2025. Read it now!