Head honcho and driver of Nudge Group – Shankari Raj, known as Shanks wants to challenge traditional approaches to architecture head-on, focusing on community led, sustainable design processes. She takes the approach of hiring people on a job by job basis as she believes each project needs to be embedded in place. Her office is filled with creatives working in a range of sectors who she collaborates with, from digital campaigns to building walk about robots. She is a visiting lecturer and external examiner at Architecture schools across the country: Cardiff, Newcastle, Sheffield, and Bath University. She has been an ongoing judge for the Architectural Journal and WAN awards.

Her work has frequently been used as case studies for future application across the country. She is regularly invited to speak at lectures and panels including the Design Council, Architecture Centre and Glass House. Alongside other design and strategy projects, she brought together Common Capital, Cardiff University and Pop Up Bristol to collaborate on a research project for The London Legacy Development Corporation, investigating how to successfully deliver Meanwhile Use Spaces in the current economic climate.

Her practice Nudge is a versatile architecture practice with a strong reputation for designing and delivering spaces that enable people to innovate, be bold, work, muse and reflect. Nudge is behind a growing portfolio of award-winning spaces in the UK and beyond. Recent projects include, The GreenWay project, OVO Energy headquarters, Old Market Assembly, Engine Shed, Bristol and Temple Studios.