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Posts tagged ‘junior designer’

Dec 17

Holiday Gift Guide 2019, Designer Edition

It’s not too late to find holiday gifts for the most special people (and pets) in your life! Arciform Junior Designer Sarah Pilcher shares some of her favorite local sources and finds below:

For the pets in your life – Lovingly handmade in Portland and sold on Etsy, Blue Collar Paws has all you could ever need to deck out your pets as thoroughly as you’ve decked the halls! They can outfit dogs and cats with reversible bandannas, turtleneck scarves, bow ties, leashes and more! Thoughtfully selected fabrics make these unique, cozy gifts for furry friends. Each design is well-constructed, like their classic bandannas, reinforced with a snap so it doesn’t fall off if your pet gets a little rowdy. 

For your one of a kind friend – Look no further than Red Fox Vintage on SE Woodstock. With unique antique furniture and home goods to that pair of bell bottoms you should probably just buy for yourself, Red Fox Vintage has something for everyone! Locally-made jewelry, a killer record selection and fun seasonal items like vintage Christmas decorations hide among the many curated stalls that adorn this easy-to-get-lost-in space. Make an afternoon of it!

For the food lover – Providore Fine Foods is a mecca of handcrafted, local and global groceries located on NE Sandy Blvd. They have everything from  chocolates and organic wines to unique condiments and small-batch coffee beans. The perfect place to pick up gifts for food lovers or out-of-town loved ones, you can easily fill a stocking with one-of-a-kind treats. Don’t forget to grab lunch for yourself at their extensive deli counter!

For the nature lover who works Downtown – What would be more relaxing than escaping the office to eat lunch in the Lan Su Chinese Garden every day? Give the gift of no-more-sad-desk lunches! An annual membership to the garden gets you one year of admission with a guest, a 10% discount at their tranquil tea house, access to member-only events and more. Arguably the most beautiful and serene place Downtown, the Chinese Garden will not disappoint.

For your crafty friend – Artist & Craftsman Supply is heaven on earth for anyone who loves to create! With locations in both N and SE Portland, this employee-owned store can provide any artist with all the tools they need. Pick up specific supplies or a gift card, if you’d prefer to let your friend choose their own creative destiny.

For your outdoorsy friend that always asks you to go camping with them – You’ve never seen a store quite like this one. Located on NE Alberta, Cord carries the most beautiful version of all the things you’d need to survive in the wild. From knives and axes to waterproof speakers and rainproof paper. You’ll be able to find an elegantly-crafted gift for your campfire-starting friend!

For your favorite book worm – If you want to do something a bit more original than tucking a giftcard from that well-loved city of books into an envelope, look no further than Portland’s newest (and most adorably smallest) bookshop, Melville Books! Carrying used, new, and rare books, this pint sized shop, nestled in a garden pathway on NE Alberta, is a treat. If your friend has a favorite book that inspired and shaped their life, pop in or give this shop a call… there’s a good chance they’ll have a first-edition copy of it.

Here’s wishing you all the best this Holiday Season!

Jun 9

Meet Junior Designer Tara Keefner

Tara Keefner

Tara is one of three new Junior Designers, she joins us from Portland Community College’s Residential Architectural Design and Drafting program. With an Associate’s Degree of General Studies, she is finishing her Associate’s Degree of Applied Science, as well as a one-year NKBA-accredited Kitchen and Bath Design Certificate. Prior to Arciform, Tara primarily worked in retail and customer service. Most recently, she was able to gain some experience in the field through a local design start-up at which she worked as a freelance drafter. Her primary duties were Revit drafting and office management, and regularly worked through design issues and complications with the owner. Their primary concentration was a residential development in Sweet Home, but also had several remodel projects coming in.

When did you know you wanted to be an architectural designer? Tell us how you got inspired to do this work.

I have had an interest in architecture since childhood. I was fortunate enough to spend some time in Europe during my Freshman and Sophomore years of high school, as my father worked for a German-based company at the time. During those years, I was fully immersed in – and enamored with – the rich culture and history of the villages and cities that I visited throughout Europe.

It was through this experience that my love of architecture was born. Upon returning to the States, however, I was pulled away from this passion for various reasons. It took five years and a cross-country move for me to rediscover my passion for architecture and design. It was then that I began attending classes at PCC, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

Describe one of your favorite design projects. What were the challenges? What were some of the features that made it memorable?

I have not yet had the opportunity to work on a built project. However, one of my favorite design experiences through school was the Residential Design Studio. This studio was the first opportunity to create an entire project from its inception all the way through to a Construction Document set. It was my first exposure to what the process is like from start to finish, and resulted in a portfolio piece of which I am quite proud.

Tell us what you consider the hallmarks of a well-designed project. How do you know when something is “right?”

I am very passionate about blending form and function. I value efficiency in design very highly, so for me a project doesn’t feel quite “right” if there are redundancies or unnecessary elements present. I tend to design functionality first, and then add decorative and finishing elements once I am sure that the design works at its most basic level. This has caused me a lot of headaches, but has also forced me to really think about what I want my design to accomplish before spending too much time on something that may not work.

What’s your working style? How do you like to work with a client?

I tend to be a bit of a loner, however I greatly appreciate and value having a team of people I can approach with questions or issues when they do arise. My position with Arciform is my first opportunity to really work in a team atmosphere and with real projects, so I have not yet had the opportunity to determine my way of working with a client. I’m looking forward to figuring that out as I grow here.

What are the top 3 things on your “bucket list?”

In no particular order:

  1. Travel the world. I have wanted to return to Europe since the moment I left, and there is so much more I want to see.

  2. Design and build my dream home. Preferably multiple homes, actually; one in the city, one in the countryside, one on the beach.

  3. Go skydiving/base jumping/bungee jumping at least once. I’ve just always wanted to experience something like that.

    Explore the Arciform Project Galleries | About Arciform | Schedule a Design Consultation

May 20

Meet Junior Designer Anna Foltz

anna f

Anna is one of our newest Junior Designers. She studied fine arts for two years at Pratt Institute, in New York City, before deciding to relocate to the West Coast, where she earned my BFA Interior Design at the Art Institute of Portland, with a minor in Sustainability. Prior to Arciform, she worked in sales and production at Pratt and Larson Tile and most recently, did design and renovation coordination for a senior living community.

Read on to find out what inspires Anna…

 

When did you know you wanted to be an architectural designer? Tell us how you got inspired to do this work.

After several years working in the service industry, I started noticing how small details could really affect the functionality/dysfunctionality of a space. Around this time I was trying to decide on a career move that would build on my creativity and fine arts background, while serving a functional purpose. I chose architectural design because it holds the possibility to create beauty in the world, while improving the quality of people’s everyday lives and paying respect to the built and natural environments.

Describe one of your favorite design projects. What were the challenges? What were some of the features that made it memorable?

I was on a team of designers that was selected to remodel the Green Room (where musicians hang out back stage) at the Doug Fir Lounge. The challenge was to create a multi-functional space out of a 400 sq. ft. cement hole. If that weren’t challenge enough, we were assigned to embody the look and branding of the establishment on a $2000 budget, while meshing the personalities of five strong-willed designers! In order to stay on budget, we did some out-of-the box thinking to re-purpose unconventional materials, including bike tubes that were woven into upholstery and wood pallets used as room dividers. The result was a fun and funky rock ‘n’ roll lair that serves as a memorable place which traveling musicians can’t wait to come back to.

Tell us what you consider the hallmarks of a well-designed project. How do you know when something is “right?”

This answer is likely a boring one, but I really just believe something is “right” when there is harmonious marriage of form and function. It’s a wonderful thing to have a space that fills the user with a sense of delight in its beauty. More wonderful still, is when the same space efficiently supports the functions for which it was intended.

What’s your working style? How do you like to work with a client?

Whether it’s picking out paint colors or doing a full gut/remodel, I try to make each client feel as if they are my one and only. I think open communication is key, with an emphasis on listening and asking the right questions.

What are the top 3 things on your “bucket list?”

  1. Take a helicopter ride over Denali National Park
  2. Win a salsa competition
  3. Go to Burning Man under a false identity

Explore the Arciform Project Galleries | About Arciform | Schedule a Design Consultation

May 19

Meet Junior Designer Bianca McKelvy

bianca m

Bianca is one of three new Junior Designers. She joins us straight from the Portland Community College Architectural Design and Drafting program.

When did you know you wanted to be an architectural designer? Tell us how you got inspired to do this work.

When I was growing up my parent’s loved going to open houses on Sunday afternoons. They would throw us kids into the car and drag us to house after house. It became a traditional thing for us to do as a family. My siblings and I would always fight over who would have the bigger bedroom in each house we went to.

When my parents finally decided to just build a new house they involved me in a lot of the design decisions. I fell in love with the entire process and knew then that I wanted to design homes for a living.

Describe one of your favorite design projects. What were the challenges? What were some of the features that made it memorable?

Unfortunately, I haven’t been a part of any “real” design projects, but school has definitely provided me with some challenging design assignments. My favorite one was from my Space Planning studio. The challenge was to convert an existing two story garage into a home for a young newlywed couple. They had lots of different needs that all had to fit into the existing footprint of the small garage. In the end I was able to create a space that not only fit all of the different programming required but also had a nice open floor plan that I believe would have been a very comfortable space for my hypothetical couple.

Tell us what you consider the hallmarks of a well-designed project. How do you know when something is “right?”

I believe that a well-designed project should have an equal balance of several things. It should be a beautiful and functional space that meets and exceeds all of the client’s needs. Good design is not necessarily trendy, but instead it is timeless and made to last a life time. Finally a good design should keep sustainability and energy efficiency in mind. When you have a good balance of these things you are headed in the “right” direction.

What’s your working style? How do you like to work with a client?

I’ve always believed that communication is one of the key drivers to any successful project. So that means listening to everything that a client wants and needs, then combining that with my expertise for a healthy working relationship and a client that is happy with the entire process and the end result.

What are the top 3 things on your “bucket list?”

  1. One of these days I’d like to buy a ticket to a random country and have at least a week to explore a new culture.
  2. I have a lot of siblings, five brothers and one sister. We have never been in the same place at the same time so getting us all together for a trip to Disney would be a dream come true.
  3. I could keep going with this list but I think that running a full marathon in Paris, France would be amazing!

Explore the Arciform Project Galleries | About Arciform | Schedule a Design Consultation