Category: Officemates

Each of our clients have different functional and aesthetic wants and needs for their office space, which is where our Design department comes in.  We spoke to our newest addition to the Design team, Lauren, about what she adds to the process. 

Lauren – Tell us a bit about your background in design and how you came to work with Artisan.

Lauren: Before I pursued design in college, I was very interested in fine arts and art history. I became fascinated with the endless possibilities and mediums we have developed over the years to describe art today. I took art programs such as 2D printing and painting at Syracuse University and an Interior Design program at the New York School of Interior Design to determine the right path for me. I knew I wanted to be creative, but in what way? How can I change the idea of visual art and give it a purpose? 

After learning Interior Design at the New York School of Interior Design, I knew that design was the direction I wanted to go. I knew Syracuse University offered Environmental & Interior Design as a major. I adored that the curriculum concentrated on all Environmental aspects in design, not just sustainable design. To them, “environmental” meant working with the world around you. We interacted with local communities and designed based on their needs. We were also taught to understand how the human body interacts in a space to adhere to WELL building standards. 

As graduation was approaching, I was looking to work immediately. I applied to every job I could find until I came across Artisan. I loved how the design completely aligned with the aesthetic of many projects I worked on at Syracuse. I noticed that Artisan strayed away from the basic structure of the typical office space and offered a “resi-mercial” feel to their spaces. I firmly believe that any office you design should feel natural, bright, and energetic. I pushed for that design in my projects, and I knew this was where I should be!

What does your role as Junior Designer entail at Artisan on a day-to-day basis?

Lauren:  I work closely with Dani and Katie to help make their design process smoother. I work on preparatory design elevations, floorplans, and I aid in furniture and material tracking. I am also learning to keep track of the construction punch list to ensure our projects are where they need to be to make our clients happy in their new space. This first-hand experience puts me front and center with the construction and design team to ensure everything stays organized and where it needs to be.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned at Artisan thus far and what excites you about the future of Artisan?

Lauren: Artisan has taught me to be aware of the details needed to create a successful design. From the programming phase to the end of construction, all stages are essential to making the client happy and making the design process easier for everyone. To bring the beautiful ideas we create to life, we as designers must put together a detailed plan of action where we break everything down for our client to make their new office custom-designed to their needs. I am learning that all the elevations, furniture, and floorplans we create are put together with great attention to detail to ensure we all come out with something beautiful!

Want to learn more about how Artisan can create a space that suits your needs? Click here to take our 5 minute quiz and get started today.

Finding, designing, and building out office space are equally important and necessary – but it’s the furnishings that pull all of those things together in the end, and can make or break the space. 

Katie – Tell us a bit about your experience in the industry and how you came to work with Artisan.

KL: My background is in interior design with a focus on branded environments. I’ve worked for amazing companies during my career, such as Casper and Herman Miller – helping them create beautiful spaces that best represented their brands. My time at HM in particular really helped build my foundation for great furniture design and a keen knowledge of some of the best workplace products in the industry. After creating spaces and designing custom pieces of all kinds, I wanted to hone in on furniture. Artisan gives me the opportunity to focus on sourcing and curating beautiful furniture, but also building my design skills by creating custom pieces for our clients and sourcing great local fabricators to bring them to life. 

What is your favorite part about procuring furniture?

KL: My favorite part would have to be discovering new designers and brands bringing innovative and unique products to the market – it keeps us at Artisan inspired and excited! It’s the most fun going to showroom visits with clients and seeing their faces light up with excitement to see pieces in real life and test them in person. 

You also help to create custom furniture for certain clients of ours.  How does that differ from choosing ready-made pieces? 

KL: When we design custom pieces for our clients, we have more freedom to create what we want, exactly how we want it. With custom furniture, we always approach it with the lens of solving for the clients needs while ensuring the piece still works with our aesthetic direction. We have more control over the materials, finish, and details so each piece is unique for our clients. 

Want to learn more about how Artisan can create a space that suits your needs? Click here to take our 5 minute quiz and get started today.

How do you describe Project Management?

It’s a complex discipline that requires a broad set of skills. Generally, the PM team helps the client to establish goals for the project, creates and maintains the project budget, and develops and drives the project schedule. 

And the role of the Project Manager?

The PM typically acts as a ‘coach’, responsible for developing a plan and strategy for the project, while the ‘players’ (architects, engineers, designers, and contractors) execute on that vision. Their role often extends to the management of the project team and day-to-day activities. The PM will interact with multiple disciplines throughout the project lifecycle. They must be efficient and forward-thinking in every stage of the project. 

Why do we need it?

It is very often the most overlooked component of a project. Put simply, PMs are responsible for the success of a construction project. The Project Manager is accountable for the outcome of each discipline’s roles and responsibilities. Was the project on time? Was it on budget? Were the goals of quality and workmanship met?

A construction project typically involves dozens of people, all experts in their specific field. A Project Manager is no different. They bring objective skills and technical expertise with the sole purpose of representing the best interests of a project and their client. Tenants are often asked to make decisions without having all the information they need to give an educated answer. A PM makes sure all information is presented in a clear and concise manner (what is the budget impact?, what is the schedule impact?, what is the deadline to make this decision?).

How would you qualify the value of PM?

A PM is often a Tenant’s greatest resource. Their expertise and understanding of both design and construction can save their client time and money. 

Bandwidth – Many Tenants do not have an in-house PM team. Having a PM allows Tenants to focus on their business and reduces the stress and disruption of daily life that a full scale construction project comes with.

Cost Reduction – From the early planning and pre-construction phases through closeout, the PM will offer input on decisions that impact costs, making sure each dollar spent is used efficiently and goes towards meeting the project goals.

Time Reduction – The PM is responsible for establishing, monitoring, and meeting all critical project milestones. They have a bird’s-eye view of the entire project that can help identify how delays in site selection, lease negotiations, design, and procurement may impact completion. 

Give us an idea of your expertise and experience.

I’ve been a Project Manager for over 12 years, working as both a Tenant Representative during my time at Jones Lang LaSalle and as an in-house PM for Owner/Developers at SL Green Realty Corp and WeWork. As a result, I’ve been fortunate to work on commercial office fitouts, building redevelopments, and assets repositioning projects. I’ve managed budgets upwards of $225MM and created schedules for projects spanning nearly two years. My expertise is in commercial interiors (office space), where I’ve spent most of my career. I love partnering with clients in the very early stages of a project to help create a vision, establish project goals, and then bring that vision to life.

Take a glimpse into the future of Project Management, what do you see?

The hybrid model is becoming more and more common, requiring companies to evaluate their real estate portfolio and needs. A Project Manager can be instrumental in that effort by helping companies to understand their needs and plan for a changing future. As companies explore digital options in the Metaverse, they will need PMs just as they do in the physical world. In this role, a PM serves as the point person, coordinating across a multi-functional team inclusive of real estate professionals, designers, programmers, and more. 

Thanks for sharing, Tucker! We look forward to seeing the future of Project Management at Artisan.

Want to learn more about how Artisan creates spaces that suit your needs? Click here to take our 5 minute quiz and get started today.