Our Design Philosophy & process

what is design?

Design is a process of solving problems and making decisions. Good designs should form a connection to its surroundings and with the people using them. A successful design must solve problems, provide exceptional functionality and be natural to use. A good design must also provide users with the desired experience and achieve a beautiful aesthetic guided by the principles of design: Harmony, proportion, scale, balance, rhythm, emphasis and hierarchy.

design strategy

Good designs do not happen by chance. The process begins by gathering, compiling, researching and verifying the information necessary to understand the problem and the users of the space. We seek to understand the users, lifestyle & function, relationships, space & activity requirements, environmental & ecological factors, psychological & sociological considerations, economic & budget factors, building codes & restrictions, historical & cultural considerations, community needs and finally design style preferences.

design concept

We design the experience first and the details follow. How should the space function and feel? What experience should people have in the space? How should this space connect to its surroundings? We answer these questions through analyzing our research gathered in our strategy phase. Using this process, we ensure that our design concept is well founded and curated specifically for your project.

Intent

The design concept becomes our holy grail for the project which our design solutions will be based upon. Every choice made throughout the design process should be intentional and connect with the throughly researched and developed concept. We design with intent not by chance.

Design solutions & Development

From the design concept we develop concrete solutions which transforms our concept into reality. First on paper, this phase includes the creation of design drawings in order to convey our solutions to the client. These solutions use many elements of design to achieve a desirable solution: space, shape, form, texture, pattern, line, light and color. There are many details analyzed to form our design solution. “The details and not the details. They make the design” (Charles Eames)

Execution

Next we transform the design solutions into reality. This phase includes important project management skills that are essential for a smooth installation. We work with our trusted trades people for their craftsmanship and implementation of the design. Behind the scenes of the construction site we are also coordinating schedules, ordering, deliveries, inspecting materials and resolving unforeseen issues.

enjoying

There are many steps in the design process and many decisions to be made. It gets messy before it gets pretty. The best step is when the “pretty” arrives and you see the transformation of your space. The last step is to start enjoying it!