Justin Stone, IIDA

qualifications

Education:
Michigan State University; School of Planning, Design, and Construction
B.A., Interior Design 

  • Programming Research/Document Creation
  • Construction Document Formulation
  • ADA Compliance/Strong focus in Universal Design
  • FF&E Specification Research/Formatting


Work Experience:

Via Design, Inc
Interior Designer / Project Manager (2016-2021)

  • Coordination with client through all phases of the design process
  • Perform all phases of the design from initial space analysis through post occupancy evaluation; Including planning, drafting of construction documents, design development, finish & furniture selection and specification
  • Responsible for project budgeting of all furniture and interior products
  • Coordinate with all outside trades, including GC's, mechanical/electrical/plumbing/finish contractors
  • Managed projects for clients in remote locations (not local)
  • Prepare furniture, reflected ceiling plans, finish schedules, detail drawings, elevations and 3D models
  • Prepare project proposals, negotiate contracts and fees, coordinate bidding process
  • Ensure projects conform to approved contract details
  • Clearly and concisely communicate with both internal team members and consultants throughout project duration regarding design concept, design execution, and implementation
Enwork
Architectural & Design Community Liaison (2014-2015)
  • Served as liaison between furniture dealership and Architectural & Design community
  • Traveled the country to promote brand awareness in the A&D community, focusing on company's product offering and custom production capabilities
  • Trained national sales representatives to be familiar with company's new and extensive product offering
  • Worked showroom sales floor during NeoCon, providing tours for conference attendees as well as support for national salesforce of Manufacturer representatives
  • Worked with Vice President of Sales to identify key markets, identify new opportunities worth pursuing, actively searched for new project RFPs 
Senior Interior Designer (2013-2015)
  • Audit, review, and revise electronic & print catalogs for national deployment
  • Audit, review, and revise electronic furniture symbols utilized across a variety of furniture specifying software
  • Designed company's first NeoCon showroom inside Chicago's Merchandise Mart
  • Worked the showroom sales floor during NeoCon providing tours for conference attendees as well as support for national salesforce of Manufacturer representatives
  • Participated in prospective staff interviews and assisted decision making process for new design team selections
  • Mentored and trained new design team members 
  • Trained new national manufacturer sales representatives
Interior Designer (2011-2013)
  • Maintained a database of custom designed product solutions
  • Provided customer support and feedback to designers/dealerships utilizing product offering
  • Performed Spec Checks for customers, as well as audit/review orders for accuracy
  • Developed and fostered business relationships with key accounts across the nation by providing outstanding customer service
  • Worked with multiple OEM suppliers to generate creative solutions and custom quotations for domestic & International clients using CAP 20-20, AutoCAD, and Microsoft Suite
Designer Interiors

Interior Design Assistant (2008-2010)

  • Assist owner with reinventing her existing business model (of staging builders' homes) to an individual client focus with a retail environment intended to consolidate excessive existing inventory
  • Responsible for leading sales floor with personal consultations, suggestive selling, and generating custom furniture quotations
  • Managed design library and fostered relationships with vendors representing over 150 accounts
  • Delivered and installed furniture, artwork, custom drapery at clients' homes
  • Organized existing inventory
  • Created marketing and advertising pieces to foster growth of new business model

Visual Merchandiser (2009-2010)

  • Developed design concepts, selected product offering to feature, and establish new retail presence
  • Created innovative and dynamic visual displays with limited design budget. Regularly assessed sales performance from specific vignettes and adjusted as needed to showcase new products and highlight underperforming merchandise 
Skills and Proficiencies:
  • Project Management
  • Client presentations
  • Sales presentations
  • Time management 
  • Customer Service
  • Thorough working knowledge of ADA, state and local building codes
  • Architectural drafting: computer and hand
  • 3D modeling and digital rendering
  • Computer Skills: 20-20 CAP Studio, AutoCAD, Revit, Visual Impression, CET Designer, Adobe Photoshop, SketchUp, Microsoft Office
References:
  • Available upon request
new construction corporate headquarters

new construction corporate headquarters

This workplace project involved creating a new facility to house the growing company. Tasked to create the new home of their corporate offices, we determined the new building would be approximately 30,000 square feet featuring a large open office layout on the main level, two kitchenette spaces, gym facilities with locker rooms/showers, roof access with golf tee patio, an employee lounge, and large flexible space for dining and group training. The site was selected for its views of Rogue River and adjacency to nature. We were asked to reinforce a connection to nature, by providing employees access to natural light and views of the outdoors with oversized windows and skylights throughout the space. The design intent was also to pay homage to the type of work the company does, which includes power line servicing (among others). Exposed wood timbers, typically used as power poles, were integrated as design elements into the interior space. The carpet installation in the open office environment was designed to emulate the dynamic feeling of electricity/energy. Other interior finishes were chosen for reference to nature. We worked closely with Custer, Inc. to create the ideal furniture configurations to foster a productive work environment, developing a “menu” of options individual staff could select from to create their bespoke workstation configuration. We were also responsible for creating custom workstations that incorporated oversized drawing review areas, height adjustability, and shared meeting spaces. 

luxury retail store refresh

luxury retail store refresh

The clothing retailer, located in Breton Village Mall, was looking to update their existing 13,000 square foot space to coincide with the upcoming renovation to the entire Breton Village Mall complex as well as remediate some water damage issues. The client wanted the entry to the space to be more inviting. We developed a custom wall finish for the large concave entry wall with a local artisan, as well as additional custom wall finishes for cash wrap cabinetry and adjacent cash wrap niche walls. All flooring in the space was updated, including refinished bamboo floor and new carpet throughout. Existing bathrooms were updated with new finishes. All fitting rooms received updated flooring and wall finishes as well. Additionally, we created a new, large fitting room for the client’s VIP patrons featuring a three-panel mirror, displays for featuring curated clothing selections and refreshment station. Assistance was also provided to the client for updating/refinishing existing furniture pieces and obtaining new ones.

corporate office renovation

corporate office renovation

This client was looking to create a space to house their marketing team and select upper management members. The 3,300 square foot space needed to foster creativity and interaction between team members. The design included a kitchenette space, a conference room, private offices, and informal meeting areas for impromptu interactions. We incorporated corporate colors into the proposed design package, as well as paying homage to their automotive background through developing a carpet installation pattern made to emulate vehicle tire treads. Warm wood tones were pulled throughout the space and incorporated into wall treatments as well as a trellis at the space entry. We exposed the ceiling deck and sprayed with fire-rated intumescent spray foam insulation in their corporate color. Selected furnishings conveyed a modern, European aesthetic while remaining playful through finish selections.

service center / municipal office

service center / municipal office

The client needed to update their existing, aged municipal building. This included a 680 square feet addition to the existing 18,000 square foot structure to accommodate growth. The project needed to incorporate open workstations, a customer service counter, dedicated conference room which would also serve as space to hold community board meetings, multiple kitchenettes/break room spaces, smaller touchdown conference spaces, and private offices. The clients requested the design aesthetic reference the close Lake Michigan shore, therefore the color scheme developed pulled nods to the water, sand, beach grass and nautical vibe.

corporate office renovation

corporate office renovation

This goal of this project was to renovate the client’s existing building to better handle their expanding workforce. This was the first phase of a three-phase project to totally renovate the entire building. Phase one included the creation of an open office area, converting an existing garage/storage space into a kitchenette and break room, utilizing previously unused upper level into additional private offices and informal meeting spaces, and refreshing the exterior of the building. We were tasked to make space improvements on a very limited budget, so creative design solutions were integral to successful completion.

manufacturer's technology laboratory

manufacturer's technology laboratory

This project was to repurpose 1,250 square feet of existing, underutilized space in the manufacturer’s facility. The intended use of the space was for customer and internal meetings, accommodating 1-20 users. The design needed to be an acoustically controlled environment, separated from manufacturing floor, where users can utilize a variety of presentation mediums to present their unique designs to their clients. The space needed to be flexible in nature, fostering a variety of presentation methods, able to highlight newly developed products to clients, and serve as temporary workspace as needed all while maintaining access to the outdoors and adjacent patio. Functional areas in the design include a hospitality bar, finish material library/storage, tack board presentation walls, video monitor presentation displays and a product storage closet. The finishes needed to reflect the inviting and energetic nature of the space, while still highlighting the cutting-edge nature of the work being created by the client’s design team.
east grand rapids residential kitchen & dining renovation

east grand rapids residential kitchen & dining renovation

This client wanted to update their kitchen and dining area. The original layout was not conducive to their day-to-day lifestyle and desire to entertain. Together we developed an open-concept kitchen and dining space that would be beautiful and functional. The design called for the elimination of some walls, the expansion on existing window openings, and the creation of new access to the backyard. The newly design spaced was flooded with natural light from the inclusion of 16’ of new windows and doors. Unique design elements were integrated like a sculptural exhaust hood over their new, gracious 48” gourmet cooktop range and oven. A work island provided additional prep space as well as dining and entertaining seating that was previously lacking. Finishes selected were neutral, intended to blend with the rest of their home with striking cabinetry finishes adding a visual pop of interest.

neocon showroom

neocon showroom

This project was a complete redesign of a 2200 sq ft showroom in Merchandise Mart (Chicago, IL). The design intent was to have walls and flooring become "backdrops" drawing focus to the furniture pieces in the space. Almost all furniture pieces were intentionally manufactured in white. The previous acoustic properties of the showroom were not ideal; thus planked carpet tiles, acoustic wall art panels, company/logo signage, and other wall treatments were selected to absorb sound. In addition to providing all the Interior Design services (color palate selection, FF&E selections, space planning, etc.) I was also responsible for creating two furniture pieces which are intended to be rolled into companies standard product offering.
retail showroom / design studio

retail showroom / design studio

I was tasked with assisting the company owner with transitioning her business model from a model home staging service to a public, retail space where she could liquidate existing inventory as well as provide design services and custom pieces for residential client's home's. Once the consensus was made to move from warehouse/storage spaces to a design studio/store front, the new 2000 sq ft studio was laterally a blank slate I was to design. With little to no budget allocated, I was required to create a retail layout that highlighted unique items, showcase an ever changing inventory, while also incorporating a functional office space for (3-4) employees.

product design

product design

Prior to the beginning of Neocon 2015 (the largest commercial interiors show in North America, taking place at The Merchandise Mart in Chicago) Enwork's product development team was tasked to come up with concepts for some additional, supplementary pieces to display in their showroom space for the design show. I became the principal designer for two of these designs. The first piece desired was a soft-seating unit. I went to the drawing board, began sketching, and developed the concept for Pixley Soft Seating. This piece was organic in design and emulated the shape of the company logo. it is intended for collaborative, teleconferencing, and brief meetings between 2-5 users. My design intent was to incorporate power/data access to users as well as an integrated stadium shelf. My design concept was the "winning" piece and was thus manufactured to be presented at Neocon 2015! The second piece was not specifically requested to be created for the show. I was however so inspired by the unique LED backlit conference table design, being placed front and center in the space, I felt an off-the-shelf light fixture would not suffice. Therefore I came up with the concept for the Luminesse light fixture. This architectural light fixture was created in a hand painted wood veneer, proportions relate directly to the table light details below, and I incorporated the same LED backlit diffusion process also used on the table below.

Interests

Interests

Here are a collection of items/projects I enjoy doing to fill my spare time. Refinishing and rehab projects are great ways to express my creative nature. These are just a couple examples of how I love to take forgotten pieces and bring out their inner "diamond". Photography is another outlet to fulfill my creative needs. Throughout the years, I have consistently found inspiration from my natural and manmade surroundings. Whether its the way sunlight is cast upon a structure or how intricate the growth of a plant's flower appear; there is beauty to be found in all around us. The field of Interior Design has helped hone my ability to recognize design principles (scale, balance, proportion, etc.) present in everyday items which prove to be pleasing to the eye. Here are a brief collection of photographs I have taken that highlight these skills.