Defining Moment | Design Blog Post

I’m going to show you a project which was a definitive fork in the road. The client pushed my limits of creativity, patience and empowerment. Nothing was the same after this and set me on the path of making my own way in the Design profession.

The project was for an Ad agency in Baltimore; Doner. To land the project, we had to do a two-part competition, which we won. The design I did was impossible to build, but I didn’t tell anyone. The point was to wow the client and worry about the details later, plus it was something they were never going to build anyway.

The client told us to go all out, to push ourselves to the limit, to reinvent the ad agency. He wanted their clients to come to the office and feel they were walking in to a creative environment. He wanted the creative teams of the agency to stop meeting in offices and work in team areas, so we worked with the idea of Caves and Commons. We made offices purposefully small so people wouldn’t cram in there and made generous spaces where teams could congregate to work on projects.

Just to be clear and not ruffle anyone’s feathers, I designed the original portion of the project while I was an Associate at KressCox Associates PC and then designed an expansion while I was a Principal at Forma Design. You will find these projects on their websites.

Here’s one of the plans. The colors represent different zones within the space.

Commercial floor plan for Doner Advertising in Baltimore, MD , created by architect Ernesto Santalla while at KressCox Associates.

Umpteen years later I still think it’s a great looking graphic.

Lobby of the W.E. Doner advertising agency, designed by architect Ernesto Santalla while at KressCox associates in Washington, DC.

The reception’s main feature is the view of the Baltimore Harbor, which inspired shapes, materials and the overall aesthetic of the space. This project was published in Interior Design. It was a way of saying “I’ve arrived.”

Conference room of W.E. Doner advertising agency with custom table, designed by architect Ernesto Santalla while at KressCox associates

A view of the main presentation room, which came to be known as the “Shark Tank,” a long time before the show of the same name. In face, well before reality shows. I designed the table for the space.

The outside of the Shark Tank. It got it’s nickname not only because of the dealings in the advertising world, but it’s proximity to the Baltimore Aquarium across the street.

Commercial presentation area with custom designed furniture at W.E. Doner advertising agency in Baltimore, MD, designed by Washington, DC architect Ernesto Santalla while at KressCox associates.

Another Presentation Room with an open area. We had a great time designing this space, including custom designed furniture.

Office area of W.E. Doner advertising agency in Baltimore, MD, designed by architect Ernesto Santalla while at KressCox associates

One of the support areas, surrounded by offices. The dropped ceiling is used for more direct lighting of the area. It casts a “shadow” on the ceiling above, which is painted a dark color and obscures mechanical equipment. The shape is again reflected in the carpet pattern. The one thing that gives the age of this space away is the computer. [grin]

Commercial editing room at Baltimore advertising agency W.E.Doner, designed by Washington, DC architect, Ernesto Santalla while at KressCox associates

One of the Common Areas. The technology is grossly outdated, but the space remains Oh-So-Cool.

Thanks for reading.

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