Choose your path to learn more at the ASID Gather Showcase.
“Life is divided into three terms - that which was, which is, and which will be. Let us learn from the past to profit by the present, and from the present, to live better in the future. ”
— William Wordsworth
Dell
UltraSharp 27 USB-C Hub Monitor - U2722DE
Dell
Pod Tent
Dell
Verlay Table
Dell
Flex Active Frames
Container Store
Benjamin Moore
Caroline Geys is a Belgian-born artist and designers residing in Los Angeles, California swaying between the commercial and fine art worlds. She founded Caroline Geys Design Studio in 2017 and collaborates with various types of large and small brands and clients in the private and public sectors with a heavy focus on murals, paintings, and digital art. Her colorful site-specific work is predominantly abstract and inspired by Op art, movement, topography, architecture, nostalgia, and patterns.
Mural Client Highlights:
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, ROW DTLA in Association with Preen Inc and Atlas Development (*2019 Hospitality Design Magazine Winner in Select Service Public Space Category), Dunn Edwards Paints for WestEdge Design Fair, LA Design Festival, and Modernism Week Palm Springs, Reebok West Hollywood and Santa Monica Collectives, Modernism Museum Palm Springs, Arts District Brewing Company
Wescover
Caroline Geys is a Belgian-born artist and designers residing in Los Angeles, California swaying between the commercial and fine art worlds. She founded Caroline Geys Design Studio in 2017 and collaborates with various types of large and small brands and clients in the private and public sectors with a heavy focus on murals, paintings, and digital art. Her colorful site-specific work is predominantly abstract and inspired by Op art, movement, topography, architecture, nostalgia, and patterns.
Mural Client Highlights:
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, ROW DTLA in Association with Preen Inc and Atlas Development (*2019 Hospitality Design Magazine Winner in Select Service Public Space Category), Dunn Edwards Paints for WestEdge Design Fair, LA Design Festival, and Modernism Week Palm Springs, Reebok West Hollywood and Santa Monica Collectives, Modernism Museum Palm Springs, Arts District Brewing Company
Elan Evans has been creating bespoke painted finishes for over 20 years. As the world of wallpaper began to expand, she knew she wanted to create wall coverings that would capture everything she loved about hand-painted finishes and combine that with some of the advantages of an applied paper. Great painted finishes are often built up with blended transparent layers, new ways of working and new materials got her thinking about different ways of creating a dimensional finish, i.e. making the layers physical, out of torn and cut paper.
Then, as the design world was turning towards geometric patterns the question arose, how to incorporate the precision of a computer-generated pattern with the warm and rhythm of hand painting? The answer for Elan turned out to be die cutting machines, which cut the hand-painted material in remarkably precise patterns that could then be pasted together in double and triple layers. In 2016, in addition to providing services in graining, gilding, metallic finishes, stenciling, and hand painting, she introduced STRATA Wall Coverings. This line of products are composed of two/three layers of unique papers: backgrounds and overlays. The combination results in a striking, multi-dimensional product that is highly customizable - any background can be combined with any overlay for a custom look.
As always, products and techniques continue to evolve. Building patterns require an understanding of how to break them apart, and she became intrigued with ideas of constructing and deconstructing patterns, of having an organized pattern change organically across the wall, and of using the leftover cut pieces to add to and alter the effect. Elan is thinking beyond the confines of wallpaper being a mere covering for a wall, and instead creating walls that stand alone as art in their own right.
The flexibility of her painted finishes allows her to customize colors and techniques for a product line with hundreds of possible combinations all painted by hand and cut in panels in her Cotati studio. A taste of some of her work can be found in her online portfolio here: http://elanevans.com/portfolio/
San Francisco-based artist Kelly Tunstall works in acrylic, collage, spray paint, pencil, pen and ink, gold leaf and some secret sauce.
She frequently works together with her husband Ferris and primarily creates figurative art that tells a story with a movie aesthetic and characters that are full of inspiration, imagination, and vibrant life. These stories aim to reflect the viewer's inner conversation and create a happy feeling.
Her experimental yet classically grounded works live somewhat comfortably in a space between graphic expression, stylized representation, surrealism, and sketch. Her use of patina as an aging element and calligraphic drawing methods lend further depth to her story-filled worlds.
Kelly works closely with clients to come up with specific ideas for commissioned pieces. She calls it "a very personal process," resulting in a highly unique piece tailored to it's setting and intended to stoke the viewer's imagination. The simplicity of the messages is enhanced by the underlying vitality and complex layering within the work. In her portraits, Tunstall renders stylized female figures and their adaptations to environment: nests built of painted boards held together by drawn nails or far-off planets. The physical form and its accompanying exterior become a mirror for internal thought processes and turmoil.
Hooker Furnishings
Knowlege Share
The why and how behind our designs
WELL Features
The why and how behind our designs
The Research!
The why and how behind our designs
World Health Organization Labels Burnout “Syndrome”
A Closer Look at Leather Alternatives
who we are
Cara Rude ASID, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP
Principal Interior Designer
Melissa Pribyl ASID, CDT, WELL AP
Associate Principal Interior Designer
Casey Kee
Rockstar Interior Designer
Cara Rude is the Director of Interior Design and a firm principal at MCG Explore Design. She is passionate
about design that embraces the human experience and fosters regenerative lifestyles through healthy
materials and biophilic design principles.
As the daughter of a carpenter, Cara saw from an early age how concepts and ideas take shape,
influencing the world around us. Even today, the smell of sawdust brings back a sense of excitement.
Turning her passion for design into a career, Cara discovered that her true satisfaction came from seeing
the positive impact her work could have on others. This spurred a commitment to sustainability,
inclusivity, and health.
A strong advocate for the profession, Cara has worked to promote Interior Designer registration and
public awareness since 2016 and has served for three years on the ASID Alaska Chapter Government
Affairs Committee. She is a past president of the ASID Alaska Chapter and was selected as ‘One to
Watch’ by ASID National in 2018. She is accredited by the International Well Building Institute and works
to promote sustainability in Hospitality Design through NEWH Green Voice and as Sustainability Chair
for the NEWH NW Chapter.
When she is not at work, Cara is a busy mom and an avid artist. She loves painting and dancing, which
allow her to explore space, volume, and color in different ways. When it is time to recharge, she enjoys
getting back to nature with family to explore the great outdoors.
Melissa Pribyl is an associate principal at MCG Explore Design. Growing up in Alaska Melissa is inspired by all that nature offers, and the power of ‘place’. Implementing sustainable practices and a drive to increase wellness in the interior space, she seeks to enhance the way in which the interior environment interacts with its people. She also understands the impact culture plays in the design process.
Melissa was once gifted a pad of sticky notes from a mentor that read; “I never say no to volunteering.” Oh, the truth behind those words! Melissa believes that volunteering not only allows one to give back to their community, but it also allows a true connection to form. Melissa is no stranger to ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) and has been involved with the society since her days at Northern Arizona University. Upon becoming a professional, she jumped at the opportunity to serve on the board, and remained there for a decade, supporting all positions, and filling in where needed. Selected as a “Ones to Watch Scholar” award winner in 2018, she embraced the opportunity to grow and spread her wings professionally. She mentions frequently how the program has impacted her life in ways that cannot be expressed in words, only warmth and gratitude.
Through her journey she has not only gained friends that turned into bridesmaids, mentors that turned into employers, but a deep passion and a love for Interior Design. When she is off the clock, Melissa seeks out new adventures with her husband Paul and their two, four-legged fur-babies. When stuck inside, Melissa paints, and has been having fun with mixed media art pieces.
Casey Kee is an Interior Designer that specializes in conceptual rendering and BIM technology. She has an impressive list of accomplishments and a wide variety of experience given her relatively young career. Growing up in a military family provided Casey with a diverse and colorful worldview that continues to influence her work. Her passion for interior design came from of an early interest in psychology and a desire to understand how the built environment impacts our human experience. This ability to empathize with her clients allows her to better understand different perspectives and provide solutions that are custom fit to individual needs.
Casey is a strong advocate for her profession and was recently selected as “One to Watch” by her local ASID chapter. She credits ASID with providing her with professional connections that encourage involvement and education outside of the normal work environment
In her personal life, Casey is an avid writer and a recently published author. She enjoys spending time with her husband Alex and their dog Korra, but sometimes struggles to turn off her “designer brain” in new spaces – which can be both fun and frustrating when traveling. She is widely considered “a good friend to have in the zombie apocalypse,” with a wide variety of useful and offbeat skills, including marksmanship, campfire building, and a near encyclopedic knowledge of wild flora.
Ashley Killian is an Interior Designer and FF&E Specialist with a very particular set of skills. Her previous
experience in the dealership/manufacturing side of the industry gives her a detailed understanding of
fabrication, durability, materials, and logistics. As a designer, she leverages that knowledge to provide a
streamlined process for her clients that is more responsive and less prone to costly errors. Ashley has
delivered a wide variety of challenging projects, from commercial to federal and educational to
residential. She has been actively involved in ASID for many years and is the current President Elect for
the Alaska chapter ASID.
Inspired by a love for both art and dance at young age, Ashley enjoys teaming with extraordinary people
and building off each other’s strengths to find creative inspiration. She learned the value of clear
communication while working on a major project with a client that was completely colorblind. Bridging
that gap and offering a deeper level of understanding made the project a success.
Outside of the office, Ashley is an active mother and enjoys spending time with her husband and two
boys. She brings a keen eye and dry sense of humor to everything she does. She cherishes the
opportunity to share puns with others and proudly claims the ability to hold an entire conversation using
only movie quotes.
Ashley Killian
Rockstar Interior Designer
we would love to hear from you!
mcg explore design
RISING ACTIONS
connecting people to community
STATUS QUO
HIGH POINT
The story line
FALLING ACTIONS
OUTCOME
Status Quo
the blend of life and work
Home
The original enclave, the shelter from the storm. It has flexed for us, and we have adapted to Covid, varied work-life balance and the unknown state of our blue planet. Through the fashion mullets (you know- work on top, sweatpants on bottom) we have worn all the hats to keep our lives progressing. Some may choose to stay- but our story has more paths to explore.
"WFH" CULTURE SHIFT
Gone are the days where working from home is seen as something only achievable by the few are far. Our world is now hyper connected throughout all aspects of daily life. Bring on those kids, those dogs, and "your on mute" idioms.
Rising Actions
knowledge
Design Library
Seek and you will find a lot - of opinions, or research and resources. Pause for a moment of silence and soak in the ASID, WELL and lived research that has foraged our transition.
All...The...Research....
From the onset of our global pandemic we have been privileged to be at the front lines of "hot off the press" research, white papers, interviews and so much more.
High Point
outdoor spaces
Garden
From the elements we came and from them we find solace. Biophilia is alive and well through house plants, biomimicry, and the meditative connection we have embraced in our time of social change. Let us not forget to return the favor and care for this green and blue bountiful creation that restores us when our humanity grows in options again.
fresh air
Nothing can really beat it! Achieving natural ventilation through open windows, doors and outdoor spaces can provide a positive occupant experience.
The rising action starts right after the period of exposition and ends at the climax. Beginning with the inciting incident, rising action is the bulk of the plot. It is composed of a series of events that build on the conflict and increase the tension, sending the story racing to a dramatic climax.
Falling Actions
choice and control
Attainable Autonomy
All the growth! Learning to be ok with wanting more than the 9-5 grind. We are nimble, aware and we want to live. Through the work we do, the connections we make and the families we raise there must be a reason to join together. Introvert or extrovert it does not matter - Autonomy is attainable. Come together and decide how.
everyone is different
Neurodiversity describes the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways; there is no one "right" way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and differences are not viewed as deficits.
Outcome
community
Wishing Well
Will we take what we have learned and make it scalable? Will we learn from the living creatures of the earth and the beginnings of civilization and come together on peaceful common ground? Will we gather at watering holes and take advantage of our hyper connection, of our current society and allow shared resources? Will massive infrastructure not remain vacant while schools beg for funding for multipurpose rooms? Will the homeless not suffer while hotels remain vacant in the middle of our cities? Will we learn how to organize instead of turning a blind eye to what we are creating with every action we take?
Make a wish - the future is yours and the future is all we have to create. Necessity has brought us together as nature does. Let us learn from it and band together; creating infrastructure that works for all.
Agoras
the agora was a central public space beautifully decorated with fountains, trees, and statues that connected different operators, givers, artisans, explorers, pioneers and strivers.
The Process
How and why we got here
Where we started -
Overall Floor Plan and Renderings
As we gather once again, we are inspired by all we have achieved over the last few years – every hat we have worn, every task we have juggled, and every challenge we have accepted regardless of the outcome.
We have a resilient community. We take challenges head on, diving into the research, sitting through countless hours of CEU’s, and collecting a foundation of knowledge that will allow us to keep our communities and families safe and supported.
We have been at the table for conversations about sustainability and spearheaded the push for healthy materials in our buildings. We do this by sharing our knowledge with each other and coming together as a collective body of professionals. We understand how to find a solution to the issue at hand, large or small, with evidence-based design.
In designing the showcase, we kept all of this in mind. Our journey is outlined below. It takes you through our work from the home/hybrid lifestyle, into our collective knowledge base, and highlights the serenity and wellness we find in outdoor spaces. This is our new reality. We can work from anywhere.
remote work
design library
outdoor garden
autonomous zone
wishing well
