We recently connected with Anthonette Sandoval and have shared our conversation below.
Anthonette, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
I am extremely fortunate to have worked on a wide variety of projects throughout my career, but the one that stands out for me is the Dodger Stadium Renovations from 2006 to 2008. I’m a huge baseball fan, and at the risk of giving away my age – I even played in Little League when I was 12 years old, back when girls participating in little league baseball was still unheard of.
I was the Director of Design with the Irvine, CA office of HKS, a global architectural design firm, based out Dallas, TX. I had just moved back to Orange County from Indianapolis for this position. I remember on my first day, the Principal in Charge told me that I would be accompanying her to a client meeting that afternoon. The meeting was with the then owners of the LA Dodgers, the baseball team, and Dodger Stadium, a husband and wife partnership, Frank and Jamie McCourt. The meeting was somewhat comical and I felt like I was watching a tennis match with their back-and-forth bickering, a foreshadow of what was to come of their marriage.
Dodger Stadium was originally built in 1958 and therefore, due to celebrate its 50th birthday in 2008. The overall concept was to bring back the mid-century flavor of the park complemented by modern and contemporary touches through signage, way-finding, materials and finishes, and technology.
Just before the the housing market crash of 2008 and the entire project went on indefinite hold, the team was starting the redesign of the team’s clubhouse, and during the walk-thru I came upon Larry Bowa’s locker! At the time, Larry Bowa was a coach for the Dodgers, but I knew him as the incredible shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies back in the early 80’s, and having grown up in the Philadelphia area, I was a huge fan.
Anthonette, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I have been in the commercial interior design industry for over 30 years. I guess you could say I followed in my father’s footsteps, but veered off somewhat.
He was an architect and he would bring work home to do on the weekends. This was before computer software did the drawings. This was a time when hand drafting was considered an artform. My father certainly was an artist. I was fascinated by the different line weights of his floor plans, and although I didn’t understand what I was looking at when I would browse through his elevations and details, I thought they were beautiful. His renderings were done in colored pencils and markers, and they were works of art.
I was in the 8th grade when I started asking questions about his projects. It was then that my father started teaching me how to draft. He allowed me to trace his floor plans, and details, and I was hooked. Then, during my summer vacation between the 8th and 9th grades, I read a novel, in which the heroine was an interior designer. The character was glamorous and her work seemed glamorous. This is when I decided I wanted to be an interior designer.
Architectural Drawing was an elective course in high school, and I loved it! This is when I realized that if you love what you do, then it’s not “work”.
I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design from Drexel University. Drexel is known for its cooperative education program, also known as co-op. Undergrad students alternate classes with full-time employment – six months of classroom study, six months of co-op employment. This is a requirement to receive a degree for most of the majors. An advantage of a program like this is after graduation, many of the students are guaranteed employment with the employers for whom they have already worked. On the flip side, it is also a great way to know if that industry is right for them.
Over the years, I have worked for a number of architectural and interior design firms, and in a variety of market sectors, such as commercial office, hospitality, entertainment, sports, retail and healthcare. I don’t think there’s any sector that I have been disappointed working on. I treat each project equally important, regardless of size and budget.
About a year and a half ago, I taught my first design studio at Arizona State University, and realized that I enjoy and have a passion for mentoring the next generation of interior designers. It brings me joy to help the students discover and experience their creativity and learn how to problem-solve.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
My journey has not always been easy. I have survived about a few economic down-turns, such as 9/11 in the early 2000’s, the housing market crash of 2008, and most recently, the Covid pandemic in 2020.
Architectural and interior design firms were laying off during these times, and the standard practice in this industry, is to lay off “meat”, which is typically the more senior level staff. I was laid off during the pandemic, and not unlike the other down-turns, no firms were hiring since they too were laying off. I was able to live off of savings for a while, but the boredom was really getting to me. When retail was starting to open again, I immediately started looking.
Living Spaces, the furniture store, was hiring designers. I applied, was hired, and I worked there for about 8 months. I enjoyed my job very much, despite having to wear a mask for my entire 8 hour shift. It was fun working with customers and helping them transform their homes.
The design industry is up and down, ebbs and flows. Resilience is key – “ya gotta do what ya gotta do”
Any advice for managing a team?
Managing a team can definitely be challenging. A team is comprised of a wide range of personalities, egos, and skill levels.
When I’m managing a team, know the strengths and weaknesses of each team member and assign tasks accordingly. I try to treat each member as an adult, and not micro-manage. There are many ways and methods to get to the destination, and as long as we get there on time, that’s what matters.
I believe it’s important to acknowledge and show gratitude for accomplishments along the way, in addition to meeting the deadline or whatever the goal might be.
Image Credits
Projects with McCarthy Nordburg