We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Claudia Gibson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Claudia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I grew up spending a lot of time with my grandfather at his architectural firm, while my parents worked. He would take me along to meetings and construction sites, where I learned a lot from him and his staff. My favorite part was visiting the construction sites and the art of architectural drawings, back when everything had to be drawn by hand. I admired how respected my grandfather was by his clients and peers. After graduating from high school, I took a gap year and visited my uncle, who is also an architect. He introduced me to the interior design department at the firm where he worked, and I immediately fell in love with it. I knew right then and there that this was what I truly wanted to do.
Meeting clients for the initial consultation is always one of my favorite parts of my job. During this meeting, we discuss their vision, wants, and needs for the space, and I listen carefully. I then work alongside them, guiding them and designing spaces that exceed their expectations. Execution is my next favorite part of the process, as it involves bringing all of the ideas to life. Witnessing their reaction as they walk into their new home is truly magical.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you. Crazy stuff happening is almost as certain as death and taxes – it’s technically “unexpected” but something unexpected happening is to be expected and so can you share a crazy story with our readers
The most unexpected, craziest, and wonderful thing that led me to start my own business was motherhood. Becoming a mother made me rethink my priorities and move mountains to accommodate the new responsibilities that came along with it. I used to work on large luxury home projects at a design firm and loved traveling and creating. However, the 9-5 schedule was getting hard to manage with a baby. So, I took one of the hardest decisions of my life and left my job to start my own design firm. It felt scary but thrilling at the same time. Soon, I started getting calls from friends and past clients, and the love and support was overwhelming. This made me realize that I was on the right path.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
As a service-based firm, referrals are our primary form of marketing and as a boutique design firm, a referral is the highest compliment to our work. We pay close attention to the quality of our work, our involvement, and our transparency. This is particularly important while building a reputation within the industry. In interior design, I value the relationships we build with our vendors over the years. I was fortunate enough to work for DCOTA Design Center while going to school and getting to know all the trade vendors was one of the best educational experiences I could have had in the early years.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Motherhood has played a significant role in my life, making me stronger and more resilient. However, it also comes with its challenges, such as having to cut back or even put my career on hold. But I have come to understand that every stage of life is a season, and the key is to adapt and evolve. Although the journey is not always smooth and colorful, I have learned to appreciate three things that help me keep pushing through: the love for what I do, the people/clients who believe in me, and my family. These are the driving forces behind my resilience. My passion for what I do has given me the strength to persevere even when my motivation was at its lowest. The unwavering support of my clients and loved ones has played a significant role in keeping me going. Their belief in me and my abilities to transform spaces has given me the courage to continue pushing forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cagdesignstudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cag_designstudio?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088510946208
Image Credits
Photography by Dennis DeSilva @bluelemonphoto