In the past, the “programming” or understanding portion of an academic project is quickly neglected in favor of premature design efforts. There is little to no responsibility to a theoretical client’s well-being, and the project fundamentally suffers. Instead, we listen. We invest in a connection to the client and their needs from day one. A consistent dialogue which motivates a mindful approach to solving the problem and the quest for design excellence.

Ultimately, the purpose of our discussions and meetings is to stimulate our clients’ imagination; trigger their intuition and knowledge. From there, we act as interpreters. The program begins to manifest itself, always susceptible to new information and insights that may improve the design. The studio’s outlook is complementary, not competitive. design + make combines the strengths of students through positive teamwork, so as to achieve goals no single person could have done alone. This type of synergistic relationship distinguishes our design process as a way to yield results quickly and clearly. Week after week our ideas are established and refined...then articulated, criticized and refined again. Everyone participates, everyone learns. The collective mind and soul of the project becomes almost corporeal. But before it can do this—with the client’s trust and resources in our hands—we must exceed their expectations.