Deep Dive With Reed Duggan
At A43 Architecture we are passionate about good design. Our greatest asset lies in the minds behind each project. In our team features, we dive a little deeper into what drives our team members and how they infuse each design with creativity and innovation. This month, we are thrilled to feature A43 Architecture Project Manager, Reed Duggan.
What inspired you to become an interior designer, and what keeps you passionate about your work?
I don’t often find the paths we take in life can be traced back to one specific moment, but in this case, I can certainly point to one instance that really inspired my professional trajectory.
Growing up, I spent every summer working for the family business. My dad and his brothers each ran their own general contracting business, where each brother specialized in slightly different sectors of the industry. They would take turns teaching me different trades - the idea was to give me a broad understanding of construction. At that time, I thought that I would go on to be a general contractor like everyone else in my family.
One day my uncle Greg, who primarily focused on historic preservation, tasked his crew and myself with the disassembly and salvage of an out-of-commission cotton press from the 1920’s. I can still picture the tin clad building, tucked back into a grove of oak trees off highway 494, covered in kudzu vines. We took our lunch break inside the remnants of the building. I can vividly remember it being noticeably cooler inside the building, and how the light filtered in through the foliage and iron trusses. It was a strong contrast to the unrelenting Louisiana heat and humidity outside. We sat eating our lunches, with our legs dangling over the pit where cotton was gathered and pressed into bales by the giant screw that still hung over our heads. Someone casually mentioned how it would be cool to stick a table into this roughly 8’ x 8’ pit and turn it into a repurposed dining space…and all of a sudden, it was like I had been struck by lightning. Amidst the rust and rot of this decaying structure I began looking around visualizing how one could repurpose the entirety of the space. It was exhilarating. It was the first time I had ever really considered design as a career path. Once that idea took hold, there was no going back. The same thrill I got from fantasizing about repurposed agricultural buildings with a small group of construction workers is the same thrill I get as a designer today. I remain passionate about design because I truly believe it’s the most fun you can have while working.
2. What do you believe are the most important aspects of creating a successful collaboration between an architect and a client?
A successful design collaboration is a lot like any other relationship: all parties have to be committed to open communication and trust.
I think it’s important to remember that the whole reason design is even a profession is because it’s hard to create something new that doesn’t exist. What that means for our clients is that the thing we spend the most time talking with them about, their project, is totally imaginary for most of the design process. Our clients must trust us, because the proof that we know what we’re doing doesn’t show up until the end of construction.
Everyone must be on the same page. Both the client and designer must be upfront about their ideas, goals, needs, expectations, and budgets. We always say we don’t design space in a vacuum. Spaces are for people, and people have needs, goals, and budgets. It’s one of the ways that architecture and design are distinguished from art. Design must have a purpose or solve a problem.
If a client isn’t being upfront about what they want, or how much they want to spend, then it’s all but impossible for designers to effectively address their needs. Conversely, if we as designers aren’t transparent about how much something is going to cost, how it will function, or even how long it might take us to design a client’s project, it can lead to distrust in our abilities and process. The only way for us to get from a concept sketch to a completed project is honest communication and a little faith.
3. What do you believe sets your architectural style apart from others in the field?
Style is such a personal preference; I feel like so much of our style comes directly from our clients. I’d say the thing that sets us apart from others is our design process and our ability to really hone in on what our clients’ needs and desires are and edit the big ideas down into a central concept.
4. How do you handle criticism or differing opinions during the design process, and how do you maintain the integrity of your vision?
Criticism is one of the cornerstones of our field. From the first day of design school, you start learning to deal with criticism, first from professors, then your boss, clients, contractors, and governing bodies. The journey of learning how to respond and navigate differing opinions never really stops. It can be difficult at times - we put our heart and souls into design, and it’s almost as if you leave a little piece of yourself in each drawing. I think we do a really good job of cultivating a culture that’s conducive to discourse. We’re in the business of creating new and exciting things, so there has to be some tension. If everyone in the room is always in agreement it’s impossible to innovate.
Having a dynamic design process like ours is key to helping ourselves and our clients communicate opinions. We try to tie everything to a design concept, then the discussion can be about how we’re addressing the concept and less about personal feelings. Not to say that personal feelings aren’t important, specifically in residential design…it can be among the most important things. As an example, we never want to dictate how a client is going to use their bathroom vanity. Instead, we want to listen and design a concept around their needs. There’s sort of an ebb and flow between personal preferences and a design concept. Design concepts give us a framework to build the discussion around.
Reed was born and raised in the piney hills of northern Louisiana. After graduating from Louisiana Tech University in 2015 with a BA in Interior Design, he was drawn to the rugged mountains of the Northern Rockies. See Reed’s full bio here. Curious about working with Reed? Schedule a call today: (307) 249- 8650.