Love the Process
Seeing a completed project is always rewarding, but one must love the process to remain in the industry. I truly believe the small daily decisions, the off-the-cuff conversation with a colleague, and embracing real life project restraints make the end result successful. I love the process and deeply value being involved in all the phases of a project. I believe that continuous, active involvement in a project as it grows and changes is one of the things that makes me a better designer - I have earned a deep appreciation and understanding of how space evolves and I understand the interconnected nature of every decision made along the way.
Possibility
Oftentimes before there is a project, there is only an idea. Being able to convey the essence of an idea efficiently and effectively in order to secure the deal is the only thing that matters at this stage, and I get a lot of satisfaction out of making impactful, easy ways to understand big ideas.
STORYTELLING
Without a good story, a project is just space planning and finishes. A good story breathes life into the project, sets the tone, helps drive all the decisions, and ultimately elevates the design from everyday to exceptional.
PlanNING
Every project has its challenges and constraints which need to be fully explored and understood before anything else can move forward; good planning up front allows for design challenges to become an integral part of the design story rather than a blight, and helps mitigate surprises later.
EXPLORE
Design direction can be explored in a number of ways; sometimes it comes down to knowing what kind of media best suits the spirit of the project and proceeding accordingly. Being open to exploring different methods of idea-generation has granted me flexibility and a broad understanding of what is possible.
Visualize
We as humans experience space in three dimensions; it only makes sense that we design this way as well. The ability to quickly model and explore spatial relationships, detailing, and even finish selections has proven invaluable not only to my own understanding of space, but as a tool to help others understand it as well.
Details
Thoughtful detailing is what elevates great design. From highly specific door schedules to intricate custom millwork construction, everything has a transition, an interaction, or a unique condition that requires consideration and helps write the story - details bring a project to life.
Follow Through
A project’s ultimate success can be heavily determined by the level of cooperation and communication that is fostered with the team responsible for building it. I have found that openness, responsiveness, and availability are key to building this relationship. Site visits, submittal review, and regularly scheduled meetings keep information flowing and the project moving.