Design begins with an idea…
Designers can have an impulse to start designing before they understand the challenges of a project. Design starts with deep research working with the client to define success.
Sandra Strand’s MBA and years working as a designer and strategic consultant - including her work at HOK Consulting - developed the left-brained, logical skills to dig into the data with clients, define their goals, and determine how to measure results. Only after we can articulate these can the design process begin.
Design begins with…a BIG idea.
With the problem clearly defined, the big idea naturally evolves. This idea may be inspired by things like architecture or a diagonal line running through the building, the corporate culture, or values like green design. When the idea is right, it is easily incorporated into the planning, interior architecture, finishes, and furniture which coalesce to reinforce the design concept.
Effective project management is also key. Besides overseeing the design team, we typically lead the project team, ensuring all members understand the budget, schedule, and goals, and are equipped to bring all of these elements together.
Sandra Strand is an innovative interior design specialist with strong marketing and leadership skills.
In her work for major architecture firms on complex and geographically diverse projects in China and the US, she has been recognized for both her design talent and her ability to lead a project team through all phases of large complex projects.
As a child, Sandra dreamed of being an interior designer and experiencing the world. In pursuing those dreams, she has lived in eight major cities: Houston, Denver, Dallas, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Washington DC; and worked for four of Interior Design Magazine’s Top 10 design firms: AECOM (Ellerbe Becket), Gensler, HOK, and Perkins-Will. Her inclination toward adventure led to opportunities to work in six countries, including the US, Indonesia, China, Singapore, India, and Japan.
In 2009, Sandra launched her consulting practice in China, providing services to American and European corporations looking to maintain their global standards in Asia. Her work also involved creating world-class, mission-critical control rooms for Chinese corporations.
While working in Hong Kong and Shanghai, she was the catalyst for starting interior design practices at major firms.
She honed her design talents by working with three of Interior Design Magazine’s Hall of Fame Interior Designers — Neville Lewis, Andre Staffelbach, and Art Gensler.
“What motivates me is knowing that the projects are better for the fact that I was part of the team…”
— Sandra Strand