We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gabriel Yuri a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Gabriel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Is there a lesson you learned in school that’s stuck with you and has meaningfully impacted your journey?

During my time in grad school, I had the privilege of being mentored by two exceptional professors, Christina Diaz Moreno and Efren Garcia-Grinda. What set them apart was their ability to challenge the norm and inspire their students, including myself, to push the boundaries of conventional thinking. They emphasized the importance of considering people and their life experiences as the driving force behind every design decision.

Through their teachings, I understood that design was not simply following architectural trends or catering to personal preferences but has the power to shape social dynamics, influence behavior, and elevate communities. As I moved forward in my career, I always prioritized understanding the people I designed for and sought ways to create spaces that responded to their unique needs and aspirations.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I spent three years at Diller, Scofidio + Renfro, a multi-disciplinary architecture & design firm best known for their design of the high line in New York City. It was incredible opportunity to work on a broad range of projects, from large building projects to smaller interdisciplinary projects such as the art direction and set design for performance art productions. It had a major impact on the way I design, and certainly the way that I think, but after a certain point the idea of working independently and collaboratively with other young designers began to come into focus. It was not easy to suddenly be left without a steady income and access to the resources and connections from a long established practice, but this risky transformative period was invaluable to the development of my career and establishing myself as a designer and a creative in my own right.

New Operations Workshop is a design agency working across platforms and programs, which I started in 2017. Drawing from experiences in professions of interior design, architecture, graphic design and set design, we intersect and harmonize to broaden the scope and capabilities of the conventional design firm.

We’re extremely excited for our newest project, a minimalist mountain house at 10,600 feet who’s interior will be wrapped top to bottom in wide-plank white oak and its exterior in yakisugi wood. The altitude and extreme remoteness of the project were exhilarating constraints. We have also been consulting on the store design of luxury retailers for the past four years and are eager to further our commercial practice. Dream projects include a yoga/meditation studio, a spa, and anything for the queer community.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, collaboration is undeniably the most rewarding aspect of being a creative. We have the privilege of working closely with clients, designers, contractors, and various stakeholders to bring a shared vision to life. The process of collaborating with clients in residential design allows me to understand someone on a deeper level, and ultimately their aspirations. Being part of a journey to create a space that truly reflects their personality and enhances their daily lives is incredibly fulfilling.

In my experience with retail and commercial design its more about understanding a specific brand identity and target audience to not only showcase products effectively but also immerse customers in a memorable and engaging environment. Overall, the opportunity to collaborate with diverse individuals and groups enriches our work and reminds me that great design is a collective achievement.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Word-of-mouth has absolutely proven to be the most effective method for us in obtaining new design and architecture projects. Personal referrals carry trust and credibility, resonating with potential clients more than any marketing campaign could. Referrals often result in clients who are genuinely aligned with our design approach and values. When people hear about our work from someone they trust, they already have a sense of what to expect and are more likely to be aligned with our design vision.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.newoperationsworkshop.com
• Instagram: @not.to.scale.gabriel