Security Check:
Our New Yorker in London is Nour Diab Yunes, an interaction designer at service design consultancy Fjord (part of Accenture Interactive), where her role involves understanding customer expectations and industry/branding trends to inform the design of service focused digital experiences.

She is also deeply passionate about the intersection between art, science and technology where design can contribute not only aesthetically or within its field of practice (i.e mobile design), but can also contribute to various layers of daily life, such as to the evolution of behaviour practices, whether social or environmental.

What’s your historical London and New York connection?
My sister had been living in London long before I decided to move to New York. So, London was always under my radar. After 10 years living in the Big Apple, it felt very much like home, but I needed a new challenge and I found myself leaving what had become home to me. London is still mysterious and little foreign, but it is so rich and unpredictably sophisticated and exciting!

Describe your experience in London as a New Yorker.
Although it can be difficult to ignore the lousy weather, London is a blend of sophistication, authenticity and beauty all in one place. Part of adapting to a new city is having to pace down to the city’s natural rhythm, which after living in New York can be challenging to do. However, I was surprised by the diversity of languages and the abundance of creativity found in London. It’s a very exciting place to me at the moment.

How can New York and London better engage with each other?
For me, it’s all about sub-cultural dialogs between nations. Art is the most powerful form of expression. Art represents culture and its through the many art forms in which society manifests itself (music, painting, dance, technology, architecture, fashion, etc) that powerful cities like London and New York engage with one another. Practices, like meet-ups, conferences, forums, talks, workshops, etc, all of these sub-cultural practices and knowledge-sharing platforms allow closer industry knits between London and New York.

Favorite NYC secret spot:
Satsko Sake Bar – in East Village, is my absolute favorite spot in NYC. It’s open every day from 5pm till 2am. Go with close friends, it’s small and very cosy. Eat: gyoza, dumplings, grilled squid, miso soup, Korean beef, chicken curry. (Yes I love it so much I’m listing the menu). Oh and don’t forget to try the Sake bomb.

Favourite London secret spot:
Banana Cabaret Comedy Club – at The Bedford. These comedians are hilarious! Prepare for a night of laughter.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? 

New York for the moment. That city has an energy unlike any other city I’ve lived in and it just makes you want to discover and explore all that it has to offer. I love the thrill!

In flight entertainment: 

• What’s playing in your headphones right now? Happy Endings by Faul and Netzwerk (Falls like rain) by Klangkarussell. 
• And what are you currently reading? The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday.