• Lin Ver Meulen Lin Ver Meulen
    Founder, Principal

    AIGA
    Design West Michigan
    UICA

    Superpower you wish you had:
    I wish I could be HUMORwoman. Lightening sticky situations faster than a speeding bullet. Cutting through tension like a locomotive. It’s a one-liner. It’s an inside joke. It’s one of the few personality traits with the power to save the day.

    Stuff you make in your free time:
    I have a craft gene that shows itself in things like knitting tree sweaters, sewing boxes made from coffee bean bags, or cooking. I’m always in quest of recipes for the perfect Asian or Mexican dinner, and any dessert that’s complicated + looks beautiful.

    Something you never get tired of looking at:
    Post modern architecture, ahh. Some day I’ll build my dream house… a flat roofed or prefab, 1500 square foot, one room, glass walled, green, glorious embodiment of the simplicity of design on a lake. Never hurts to dream.

    Invention we need:
    A Moment Machine that would capture, store and allow you to relive the glorious moments of life.

    Designers/companies you like to keep on your radar:
    • Christien Meindertsma: I love, love her Urchin Pouf, which makes me want to knit unconventional stuff.
    • Ronan + Erwan Boureollec: Their Vegetal chair + Clouds are inspirational. The work they do with Vitra makes me jealous. I’d love to meet them.
    Lisa Dingman Lisa Dingman
    Principal, Designer

    AIGA
    Design West Michigan
    UICA

    On your playlist:
    Ra Ra Riot. The XX. Beirut. Girls. Yeasayer. Shout Out Louds.

    Best day of your life so far:
    One of the best days was the birthday of my second son, Cal. Getting to watch my older son Ben hold him and seeing the look on Ben’s face was a great moment.

    Books or authors you’re recommending:
    My nightly reading these days is filled with picture books. A few of my favorites: Santa Through the Window by Taro Gomi, CELESTE A day in the park by Martin Matje, Unloveable by Dan Yaccarino, Follow the Line by Laura Ljungkvis

    Favorite concert ever:
    Fleet Foxes at Ladies Literary Club

    Secretly obsessed with:
    Searching for the perfect house. Nordstrom Rack. Margaritas.

    Something you never get tired of looking at:
    Open floor plans. Mid-century modern furniture. A clean kitchen.
    Lindsay Jones Lindsay Jones
    Designer

    AIGA
    Design West Michigan

    On your playlist:
    Beach House, The Kinks, Deerhunter, A Tribe Called Quest, Yeah Yeah Yeahs

    Something you think should catch on:
    Travel by train

    Books or authors you’re recommending:
    Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain and
    Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

    Alternate career:
    Filmmaker

    Green living tip:
    Always try to keep a reusable bag on your person. I love the ones from Baggu.

    Something you never get tired of looking at:
    Antiques/old stuff, industrial landscapes, magazines, art and design books

    Invention we need:
    Teleportation

    Artists you are inspired by:
    William Eggleston, Francis Bacon, Elizabeth Peyton, Richard Diebenkorn, Rosson Crow, Lucienne Day, Jenny Holzer, and Robert Rauschenberg
    Andrew Milauckas Andrew Milauckas
    Designer

    Design West Michigan
    Saugatuck Center for the Arts
    Ox-bow

    Secret obsession:
    ffffound.com

    Best day of your life so far:
    The day I rode an elevator 11 floors with Mary Kate Olsen!

    Alternate career:
    U.S. Secretary of Design (we need one)

    Community groups you support:
    Saugatuck Center for the Arts.

    Green living tip:
    Eat local. It's a three for one. It's good for the environment, the local economy, and your health.

    Favorite Square One office:
    Istanbul?

    Something you never get tired of looking at:
    Magazines, water, and Convoy.
    Stacy Getz Stacy Getz
    Designer

    On my playlist:
    Kings and Centipedes by Stepdad, The Abalone Dots, Sam & Ruby,
    and Vienna Teng.

    My secret obsession:
    Chuck Norris jokes. Tell me one. I laugh every single time.  Well, and hot wings. I crave them like chocolate.

    Books or authors I’d recommend:
    Reading is one of my favorite things to do, especially British authors. I have an adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Ernest. Wilde’s mastery of wordplay and wit is amazing.

    Alternate career:
    Either a linguist or an art historian. I love studying languages and cultures.

    I never get tired of looking at:
    My organic duvet cover. I know it sounds strange, but it’s this colorful vintage woodland scene on a white background  - the shapes are made out of pieces of Pantone swatches! It’s gorgeous!

    Artists I’m inspired by:
    The Bauhaus movement in general for the school’s simple and functional solutions, Paul Goble for his graphic storytelling, Patricia Urquiola, and Marian Bantjes.

    Favorite concert ever:
    Jake Shimabukuro. Best. Ukulele player. Ever. Fantastic musician and performer.
    Emily Underhill Emily Underhill
    Designer
     
    AIGA, YNPN, UICA
     
    Two foods that taste amazing together:
    Salt + vinegar is usually my number one combo, but are more flavors than foods. A more unexpected choice would be dill pickle relish on top of pepperoni pizza. Yes, literally spread the relish on top of the pizza. An old-time favorite I started during my Little League days. Weird combo, but mmm, it's actually pretty darn tasty! 
     
    Secret Obsession:
    Organizing. Anything.
     
    Best day of your life so far:
    My wedding day
     
    Superpower you wish you had:
    The ability to "un-do" real-life mishaps, just like you would with a key command on a Mac. Accidentally spill your coffee? Just command + z. Spend an hour re-arranging a room just to realize it was better before? Command + z.
     
    Most amazing scent/smell in the world:
    A burning campfire, hot cider, fresh linen
     
    Something you never get tired of looking at:
    Swatches. My adorable nieces + nephews, if I blink they'll be all grown up. Home videos/pictures, for my super sentimental and nostalgic side. I also could stare at our yellow Lab all day long. I never grew up around dogs (originally a cat person), but boy was I smitten when I first met her at 6 weeks!