MICHAELA THOMPSON
LEVEL II DESIGNER, 4 YRS EXPERIENCE
In my portfolio, you will find a personal selection of projects that I have had the opportunity to design while working with highly collaborative cross-disciplinary teams at an Architectural Design Firm. The varying scopes and styles of each project showcase my versatility as a designer and vision for creating functional yet engaging spaces.
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MY DESIGN PROCESS
HOTEL DEL CORONADO SHORE HOUSE
THE WIGWAM RESORT
THE SKIRVIN HOTEL
HEALTH WILDCATTERS HEADQUARTERS
CONTACT INFORMATION
To cultivate a thorough design direction, I begin by researching the environment, culture, and clientele demographic of a project to determine how the design can be inspired by contextual elements. I then extract unique and opportunistic value from those elements to curate a fresh new story that captures our client’s desires for the project.
The goal of this phase is to bolster the conceptual design with elements such as material palettes, FF&E selections, and project-specific ideas for each program within scope. This is where I start to bring the story to life by defining the means necessary to achieve the overall design.
In order to advance the design, I incorporate all of the previously selected design elements into activated spatial plans for each program. My goal is to create spaces that are user-centric and engaging at a functional and aesthetic level. Often times, when diving deeper into the minute details, I am met with opportunities to problem solve through design. I typically take a circumspective approach, so that I am able to resolve as much as possible on the front end for a seamless process going forward and carefully choreographed results.
To ensure that a design is executed as planned, it is crucial that the design intent is well documented for all third parties to comprehensively understand. Whether the task is writing specifications for custom FF&E or creating a drawing set, I always aim to be meticulous and concise, so that critical details do not get lost in translation.
The client for the Shore House at the Del challenged our design team to create a condo hotel that provided guest engagement with understated luxury on one of the most spectacular and renowned properties on the West Coast.
After researching the hotel’s rich 130-year history, the existing resort, and the quaint town of Coronado Island, our design team crafted a project narrative highlighting the relaxed yet luxurious beach town culture. Emphasis was placed on the client’s vision to create a California beach house with modern amenities, all the while paying homage to its historic charm and understated luxury.
The context and culture of the hotel highlighted guest wellness as a top priority, where design inspiration had a residential quality to match an active healthy lifestyle with the ease of coastal comfort. Creating spaces that promoted relaxation, ease, and connectivity to nature were essential for this beachside property.
Our team focused on a user-centric approach for owners and guests by utilizing cross-disciplinary collaboration, prototypes, and the integration of modern technology. By utilizing Innovative design techniques, we were able to address the functionality, usability, and overall user experience, in order to create an immersive and engaging environment for future generations to come.
There is a deep connection between the Shore House and its remarkable location. Upon arrival at the seaside hotel, guests immediately decompress as the breeze blows through the open-air lobby and the sound of the ocean is heard in the distance.
Outdoor lounge areas with fire elements encourage friends and family to linger and forge cherished memories. Elements of the Victorian Era and California flora combine to divide spaces and add privacy between the Villas and the Pool creating the perfect balance of the past with the present.
In order to create harmonious experiences with understated luxury, our design team connected in a true collaborative effort. Hands-on and interactive presentationswith finishes, FF&E, fabrics, renderings, and plans fostered collaboration between the client and design team. This gave the client a chance to envision the concepts and experience some of the tangible design elements firsthand.
Through materiality, lighting, and connections to nature, our team created highly immersive spaces that promote comfort, relaxation, and stress reduction. By incorporating natural materials, such as stone, wood, and natural fibers in every aspect of the design, our team successfully produced a tranquil environment with a lower carbon footprint.
Natural stone counter tops and fireplace cladding were installed throughout. Custom, hand-scraped oak floors in each villa were produced in San Diego and contribute to sustainability by reducing the carbon emissions from shipping and supporting local businesses. The implementation of both natural and dimmable artificial lighting was key in adding depth to spaces and allowing guests to experience different moods throughout the day. A cohesive union between lush landscaping and mindfully framed oceanfront views was cultivated for guests to experience a California casual ambiance that relaxes the senses.
The client’s vision for the Shore House at The Del was brought to life through intentional design that marks a milestone for the iconic resort and location.
The scope of this project involves the renovation of 331 casitas spread across the 440-acre Wigwam Resort property. Our design team began by researching the resort located in Litchfield Park, Arizona to better understand its unique history over nearly a century since it first opened in 1929. The goal of the renovation was to restore what the property once offered in its prime: a blend of historic elegance, southwestern charm, and modern luxury in the heart of the desert.
We cultivated a design that would celebrate the resort’s rich history while creating spaces that are inviting, cozy, and reflective of the surrounding desert landscape. The concept centers around blending subtle rustic charm with contemporary comforts that make for a nostalgic and homey atmosphere. We incorporated design elements inspired by the natural beauty and serenity of the desert surroundings to create a harmonious and calming environment within each casita.
Our design team utilized warm earth tones such as sandy beige, terracotta, and deep browns with accents of blue and orange to evoke the hues of the desert skyline. We integrated natural materials such as wood, stone, rattan, and woven textiles to create a tactile and organic feel, and incorporated textures that mimic the rugged yet serene desert environment.
A thoughtful selection of custom furnishings was implemented, including a mix of vintage and contemporary style pieces such as armchairs with leather strap detailing and stone top desks with a beautiful wood turned leg. We opted for unique light fixtures with a rustic chic character, such as table lamps with a ceramic base and etched detail, that offer warm, ambient light to create a residential feel. Abstract artwork inspired by the local desert flora and fauna can be found throughout.
Each design choice contributed to the vision of returning the resort to a tranquil and elevated desert retreat experience. By embracing the natural beauty of its surroundings and honoring the resort’s storied past, the design makes for a rejuvenating and memorable experience for guests seeking a cozy homeaway-from-home in the heart of the desert.
The scope of this project involves the renovation of all existing guestroom and public space areas of the Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City, OK. Our design team began by researching the 113-year-old hotel to gather all insight into its rich history that could play a role in inspiring a new design that would breathe life into its interiors while paying homage to its heritage. We challenged ourselves to maintain and highlight the historic elements of the hotel while modernizing its amenities and aesthetics.
The goal was to create a modern yet timeless aesthetic that appeals to contemporary guests while preserving the allure and character of the building’s history. The design concept revolves around blending the old-world charm of the hotel with a sophisticated yet subtle Art Deco style typical of the time period in which the hotel originally opened its doors. Our approach involved using a refined color palette, rich materials, and geometric patterns synonymous with the Art Deco era. By introducing these elements, we cultivated a fresh new look that compliments the existing architecture and ambiance of the hotel.
With a total of 225 guestrooms, 3 ballrooms, 6 meeting rooms, 1 lobby, 1 bar lounge, and a handful of prefunction and corridor transition spaces, we created unique designs for each program that would be tied together cohesively through carefully coordinated fabrics and finishes. The design utilizes a palette of rich jewel tones such as emerald green, sapphire blue, and ruby red, accented with metallic finishes in brushed gold and antiqued brass to evoke a sense of luxury and opulence. We incorporated lush materials such as velvet, satin, polished marble, and lacquered wood to enhance the tactile and visual experience of the spaces.
Our design team chose to implement custom FF&E and millwork designs with streamlined forms, curved silhouettes, and geometric patterns. This includes statement pieces like curved velvet sofas, lighting fixtures with intricate detailing and crystal accents, and area rugs and carpet containing bold patterns throughout. Each program was designed to have a well-balanced blend of vintage and contemporary style furnishings.
With an enhanced user experience in mind, we created spaces that will maintain an elevated ambiance while catering to the modern traveler in a way that is inviting yet functional and will stand the test of time.
For this project, our design team worked directly with CEO & Co-founder of Health Wildcatters [a nationally top ranked healthcare accelerator and investment fund] to design a new-build office space to be their headquarters. With a reputation for fostering innovation and forward-thinking initiatives, Health Wildcatters was in need of a space that embodies a modern aesthetic while promoting a high energy, collaborative work environment. It was our goal to achieve this through minimalistic and user-centric design elements.
Through mindful spatial planning, we created a dynamic and adaptable workspace that supports Health Wildcatters’ mission of bringing innovators together to collaborate and share their work in a small- or large-scale setting. The layout of the floorplan was optimized to provide users with a variety of flexible workspace options for the purpose of facilitating seamless workflows, encouraging interaction amongst startup groups, and catering to the individual needs of each startup based on what they require for growth and success. We ensured clear circulation paths and strategic placement of amenities to promote engagement and networking.
Our design team utilized a calm color scheme of whites, greys, and warm neutrals, as seen in the finishes such as polished quartz countertops, woodlook panel acoustic systems, and polished concrete flooring throughout the space, to make for a clean and contemporary backdrop. A thoughtful selection of running line FF&E and upholstery fabrics added subtle pops of color to each program. One of the client’s requests was for the space to have an “instagrammable focal point.” We brought this to fruition by implementing a customizable LED-light feature hallway that framed an inset digital screen for the purpose of displaying graphics of the owner’s choosing. As for the dimmable overhead lighting throughout the rest of the space, we tasked a lighting consultant with providing lighting calculations before implementing them into our own drawings to ensure adequate footcandles per room.
Due to budgetary constraints and a quick project timeline, our design team was challenged to make prudent decisions regarding the effective allocation of resources and sourcing of local products. Ultimately, we were able to achieve the client’s desired outcome for their office to be a versatile work environment tailored to the needs of its ever-evolving users.
