Conduit Studios loves Heartside in Grand Rapids; moves to larger studio space close to "home"

Deborah Johnson Wood

John O'Neill and Tim Carpenter love having the heart of their graphic design studio in Heartside. So when Conduit Studios outgrew its 700 square feet at 7 Ionia SW, the duo found triple the space that fits the company image and inspires creativity right in the same building.

"When we first moved into the smaller space, it was just Tim and me, so that gave us room to collaborate, but we still had space to get away from each other and focus on work," says O'Neill. "Then we added two employees, and if you leaned back in chair you were touching someone else."

O'Neill says they wanted a space that promoted more collaboration and less hierarchy; a floor plan that put the two owners squarely in the mix with employees, yet allows everyone room to work privately.

"There should be a blur between what is a residential feel and what is an office feel, and we're really trying to achieve that," O'Neill says. "Our interior designer Kathryn Chaplow added a standing-height bar with bar stools which is perfect for when you're critiquing something really quick, and it serves as a kitchen metaphor, a natural gathering space."

The studio's design has clients walk through the work area to reach the conference room in the back – a strategic plan that helps clients engage with the designers.

O'Neill and Carpenter collect the works of local artists and wanted to bring those pieces into the work environment for inspiration. An art wall that's nearly floor-to-ceiling allows display of a disparate variety of paintings, photography and other art media.

"It's filled with art that inspires us, it's not meant to be a portfolio of our own work," says O'Neill. "When we're surrounded by things that inspire us we can use that in our work and challenge ourselves by our surroundings."

Source: John O'Neill, Conduit Studios

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Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Development News tips can be sent to [email protected].

Photos:

Conduit Studios under construction -Courtesy Photo

Mood board created by designer Kathryn Chaplow, LLC