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Corgan’s Jacquelyn Hunter Evolves the Design Industry by Embracing Change

Aug. 5, 2019

Jacquelyn Hunter, a project manager for Corgan and conference chair for Design Connections 2.0, encourages young designers to embrace change and test the unusual to propel the commercial interior design industry forward.

Like many in the industry, Jacquelyn Hunter’s design path is an evolving one. She started as a design intern, and after becoming licensed through the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners, has landed a role as project manager and associate at Corgan.

Along the way, Hunter has learned that the best projects end when users feel inspired by the space.

“I am most proud of projects where the client understands how holistic design is an essential investment from the start,” she says. “Design directly impacts culture and the end user’s experience.”

Featured on the cover of interiors+sources’ August issue, Hunter, along with four other young design professionals, is known to question the status quo. She was named “Chief Disruptor” at our Design Connections event in February, and will also be a conference co-chair for the Design Connections 2.0 event this fall.

Learn more about her story below.

Creative, Purposeful Design Leads to Positive Outcomes

Hunter’s work at Corgan ranges from adaptive reuse spaces to corporate workplaces, ground-up studios and even product development. She believes that by embracing change and curiosity throughout the creative process, up-and-coming designers can inspire others in the field to test the unusual. 

“Every human should reach outside of their lane and explore new facets of creation. We should all be advocates for positive growth,” she says. 

Here are some of her most notable projects over the years.

KPRC + Graham Media | NBC Houston, Channel 2

Located in Houston, Texas, KPRC is a ground-up broadcast facility, outfitted for the next generation of news and media.

“Our approach to developing this building was a true reflection of, ‘designing from the inside out,’” says Hunter. “Rather than driving the interior space by the parameters of the exterior, we integrated our programming efforts seamlessly between the interior elements and the core/shell architecture, to ensure that the form of the building supported the natural behaviors of KPRC’s future workflow.”

Because the industry is constantly evolving, it was imperative during the project that KPRC’s space remains flexible in supporting future change.

The furniture and office modulation were created to be able to transition and reconfigure easily.

[Related reading: Smart Design for Shared Spaces]

In 2018, Houston Business Journal awarded KPRC a Landmark winner for outstanding real estate projects in the category of Workplace Interiors.

“It is so fulfilling to know the work you put in has a positive influence on the community and those occupying the spaces we design,” Hunter says.

Mannington Commercial Product Design

Looking to fill a void in the commercial carpet and LVT market, Mannington Commercial + Amtico engaged Corgan to develop a few new products in an outside design collaboration.

“This was an appealing new undertaking, as we are so used to looking at all elements of the built environment, where in this case, we had to scale down our focus and were introduced to the world of product design,” says Hunter.

She and the team solicited feedback from local designers in efforts to better understand gaps in current product offerings. Through this, they learned people are looking for a space that is warm and inviting.

[I Hear Design Podcast: Creating Trendy Lighting That Lasts]

Ultimately, the Mannington Redefined Collection was born, layering classic patterns and textures that played with scale and proportion to create a new landscape for office settings looking for a hospitality vibe.

“The process was so insightful and gave me a new appreciation for well-designed, thoughtful flooring,” Hunter says of the project.

Curiosity and Creativity Continue to Drive Design

Hunter isn’t afraid to challenge traditional standards or ask questions to understand the “why” behind certain processes.

From her experience, this confidence leads to new insights and can present solutions that might have otherwise never been considered.

“Encouraging others to have a voice and to always stay curious leads us to the birth of new forward-driven ideas,” she adds.

Looking ahead, Hunter says the interior design world needs constant inspiration to evolve and transcend.

“Let us avoid falling into a stagnate, redundant module, and instead reach outside of our industry and find something that sparks a creative energy to translate into our future designs,” she says. “Having a precedent helps us set the tone for a strong concept, in which the rest of the process leans upon.”

About the Author

Adrian Schley | Associate Editor

Adrian Schley is an Associate Editor for i+s, where she has been covering the commercial interior design industry since 2018. Her work can also be found in BUILDINGS and Meetings Today. 

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