We recently connected with Jaime Tapias and have shared our conversation below.

Jaime, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear your thoughts about making remote work effective.

Yes, the team is able to work remotely. The best asset our Studio possess is our people, I really mean this. We are so fortunate to have a team of designers from all over the world, and we can only do so because we have the sources, tools, and systems in place that allow us to work online. I can’t imagine being able to do what we do any other way. One pitfall would be there are times during the day when we can’t meet with certain team members due to time zones, but other than that for a young Studio like ours working remotely has been a great experience. A non-obvious benefit that I can think of right away is the design language and aesthetic we’ve been able to develop as a team, which has to do with where team members are located, and what surrounds and inspires them daily.

Jaime, 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 find myself in a new creative environment, which it’s very existing! I’ve always loved art and design, and since my college days, I’ve always been interested in collaboration and multidisciplinary projects, I believe that’s what first attracted me to pursue an undergraduate degree in film and digital media. And whether it was music videos, short films, and/or movies, there was always a degree of design collaboration involved that I wanted to be part of.

As a video producer, I wrote and directed short video content for my alma mater, SCAD, while earning a master’s degree in creative business leadership. Post graduation, I decided to take a break from producing and move into management. The move to management was fueled by the desire to better understand what it actually meant to manage teams.
After a decade-plus in the South East, I moved to Chicago where I worked for world-renowned visual effects studio, The Mill. The Mill was a one-of-a-kind experience that unfortunately came to an end due to another career opportunity in the far east. I live in Hong Kong where for five years I worked in business development and project management.

All of those career experiences perfectly led me to join my business partner, Rodrigo Buelvas, and start Studio Rodrigo Buelvas. The pandemic really forced us to think about our careers in corporate; and as the pandemic was dwelling down why not venture into entrepreneurship.

Based in Miami, Studio Rodrigo Buelvas operates at the intersection of architecture, interior design, and objects. As director of operations, I’m in charge of the daily operations of the studio including project delivery, management, and support services. Additionally, I’m responsible for the overall responsibility and accountability for studio operations including revenue and profit goals and all design practices, design responses, and opportunities.

We believe one of the things that set Studio Rodrigo Buelvas apart is its methodology: client-centric design. At our core, all of us at Studio Rodrigo Buelvas believe that we’re in the business of offering design solutions that evoke a feeling, create everlasting memories, and bring comfort to our clients.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

There are several books that have definitely had an impact on my entrepreneurial thinking including atomic habits, strengths finder 2.0, and collaborative intelligence. However, most recently nothing like Salone del Mobile, a design fair happening once a year in Milan, Italy. It is here where I find my biggest form of inspiration, which then impacts how see ourselves and how we want to grow.
I think it’s partially because it is in this week that I witness the marriage between innovative thinking and business excellence. From the biggest brands to the newest designers, one gets to experience art and commerce at its highest level, I personally think.
Almost like a movie, in the backdrop of this cosmopolitan and historic city, it feels as if great design comes and finds you wherever you are.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

There isn’t a backstory per se, but something that I’ve had to unlearn is that it doesn’t matter how much planning you do, there is always a level of uncertainty we have to deal with. “Plan for the Best, Prepare for the Worst”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rodrigobuelvas.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studio_rodrigo_buelvas/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/studio-rodrigo-buelvas/

Image Credits
Photography by Adam Kuehl