OLI CROSSLEY
DESIGNER
Oli is a London-based designer and developer with a background in architecture. He has designed over a hundred homes with award-winning work featured in publications internationally.
A curiosity for adventure and a deep appreciation for the natural world are integral to his approach to creativity. These influences, combined with his professional background, led to the founding of STUDIO WAKE: a design practice creating unique and meaningful projects across a range of disciplines with a focus on personal story-telling.
Oli’s respect for conservation was shaped through hands-on involvement with Wild Tomorrow. Spending a year living and working at their Ukuwela Nature Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, he contributed to the renovation of the Wild Tomorrow Conservation Centre and the construction of accommodation for future volunteers and donors. Immersed in the realities of wildlife protection, habitat restoration, and long-term conservation thinking, he gained a deeper understanding of Wild Tomorrow’s purpose.
The landscape, the people, and the mission left a lasting impression—both personally and creatively:
“I fell in love with KwaZulu-Natal. Living in the bush and contributing to Wild Tomorrow’s mission profoundly shifted my sense of purpose. Combining meaningful work with the challenge of a new lifestyle, surrounded by nature, unlocked a deeper level of creativity for me.
“I feel compelled to take what I’ve learned forward — reconnecting people with nature through Wild Tomorrow’s story. When we understand the story of something, we care more deeply about its future.”
As an ambassador for Wild Tomorrow, Oliver supports their conservation efforts by amplifying their mission, fostering understanding, and encouraging others to see re-wilding not as an obligation, but as a shared privilege.