We were lucky to catch up with Jonathan Sharp recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jonathan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Design Camp LA’s mission is to design with compassion and collaboration. Our collaborative process empowers our partners to be creative directors in the projects they bring to our studio. Through our background in community engagement, we continuously strive to create a design process that is engaging, straightforward, and universally accessible that places our partners’ voice at the forefront of decision-making.

My bi-cultural background as a French-American architect fuels my passion to inspire though design, cultural programming, and storytelling. Growing up navigating between two cultures gave me insight into the challenges of feeling othered, but also revealed the transformative power of language in bridging divides. Though born in the US, my early education in France before settling in Chicago exposed me to diverse perspectives. Going through programs like ESL (English as a Second Language) and navigating an unfamiliar system helped me connect with other kids from different countries, reinforcing a belief that has stayed with me: we are stronger when we learn from each other’s traditions, rituals, cuisines, and languages.

During my architectural studies in post-Katrina New Orleans, I witnessed firsthand how architecture and design can empower communities. This experience continued to shape my career as I moved to Los Angeles after completing my Masters degree. Here, I connected with Designing in Color (DCo), a collective of architects & designers of culture led by Christopher Locke, Opalia Meade, and Rubin Quarcopoome. Today, Design Camp and DCo collaborate closely on community-driven projects and comprehensive architectural and interior design services, all in an effort to amplify underrepresented voices in design.

Beyond our collaborations with Designing in Color, Design Camp applies its mission to its home city of Long Beach, CA. We aim to serve as a trusted advisor, architect, and designer for those seeking to make positive contributions to the city’s growth and development while honoring its rich history and staying true to its roots.

Jonathan, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Design Camp LA is an architecture and interior design studio based in Long Beach, CA. We specialize in commercial architecture projects, including tenant improvements and adaptive reuse, as well as residential ground-up and renovation work. What distinguishes us from other firms is our collaborative design process, paired with the use of 3D digital renderings that allow clients to clearly visualize their project’s potential.

Our approach empowers clients to become creative directors of their own projects, fostering collaboration throughout the design journey. We’re passionate about working with small, emerging businesses, guiding them through the intricacies of design, permitting, and construction. At the same time, we thrive in partnerships with established entities looking to elevate the experience of their workspace, restaurant, health clinic, home, and more.

As the founding owner of Design Camp, I’m thrilled to welcome Shanna Whelan, a talented architect and designer, as the new co-owner of the company. Expanding our team to include Shanna is one of my proudest milestones since launching Design Camp in 2023. Her addition not only strengthens our studio but also reflects the growing impact we can make within our community. Shanna’s approach to client relationships is marked by deep thoughtfulness and empathy. Her design work reflects a high level of care and craftsmanship, which continually inspires me. Together, we are thrilled about the future and the lasting impact we aim to achieve in the years to come.

We provide services that span the following:

1. Architectural Design
Concept Development: Creating initial design concepts based on client needs, site conditions, and regulations.
Schematic Design: Preparing basic floor plans, elevations, and sketches to visualize the space.
Design Development: Refining designs with more detail on materials, finishes, and systems.
Construction Documentation: Producing detailed blueprints, specifications, and technical documents for the building process.
Building Permit Coordination: Handling the submission of designs to local authorities for building permits and zoning approvals.

2. Interior Design
Space Planning: Optimizing the layout and flow of interior spaces for functionality and aesthetic appeal.
Material Selection: Choosing finishes, textures, and colors for walls, flooring, and other surfaces.
Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (FF&E) Selection: Curating furnishings, lighting, and accessories that complement the overall design.
Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (FF&E) Procurement: Purchasing all selected furniture, fixtures, and equipment for the project using the trade discounts available to our industry.
Custom Millwork Design: Creating bespoke cabinetry, shelving, or furniture tailored to the space.

3. Project Management
Coordination with Engineers: We hire and lead the engineering teams that are necessary for each project. Typically a structural engineer, mechani
Coordination with Contractors: Acting as a liaison between the client and construction teams to ensure smooth execution.
Budget and Cost Management: Developing and maintaining project budgets and cost estimates.
Construction Administration: Overseeing the construction process to ensure it aligns with the design intent and quality standards.
Site Visits and Inspections: Conducting regular site visits to monitor progress and troubleshoot any design-related issues.

4. Consulting Services
Feasibility Studies: Assessing the viability of a project based on site conditions, zoning laws, and budget.
Adaptive Reuse: Providing expertise in restoring and preserving historical buildings while updating them for modern use.

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

Traditionally, starting an architecture business has often been reserved for the wealthy, elite, and those with many years of experience working in large firms or boutique studios. Overcoming the imposter syndrome that comes with stepping into firm ownership was a significant challenge for me, one I don’t take lightly. This journey was made possible through the unwavering support, encouragement, and empowerment of my trusted network of family, friends, and mentors. I’m also deeply grateful to my partners and friends at Designing in Color, whose inspiring examples of entrepreneurship continue to motivate me and make me proud to be part of this community.

In creating Design Camp LA, I sought not only to challenge traditional notions of firm ownership but more importantly, to push back against the exploitative work environment that is all too common in the architecture industry. From the very first year of design studio, architecture students are often led to believe by faculty, upperclassmen, and the prevailing design culture that achieving the best designs or being successful requires dedicating every waking hour to the studio. This means constantly iterating on ideas, pushing through design challenges, and honing skills—while classmates in other fields enjoy a more balanced college experience.

Unfortunately, many companies perpetuate this culture, draining the energy, ideas, and design enthusiasm from newly graduated students and their staff. This pervasive environment negatively impacts employees’ mental health and overall job satisfaction, fostering a toxic level of perfectionism and dedication to clients at the expense of self-care and personal well-being.

There is a better way. We cannot truly serve and enhance our communities through enduring buildings and designs if we don’t first prioritize our own well-being. To all the young designers facing challenges in your educational journey or early professional years and questioning your impact: know that we are in this together, working to forge a new path forward. The key takeaway is to connect with like-minded individuals and keep the conversation alive, as ultimately, we are all growing together.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

While Design Camp LA wasn’t explicitly a side hustle, I have consistently engaged in side projects since my time in architecture school. The most significant growth opportunity from these endeavors has been my involvement with Designing in Color. Since 2017, when I met DCo co-founder Christopher Locke, I have had the privilege of developing both professionally and entrepreneurially in ways that have profoundly influenced the leader and owner I am today at Design Camp.

When Christopher Locke, Opalia Meade, and Rubin Quarcopoome founded Designing in Color in 2016, their mission was to diversify how architecture is taught and practiced while making a direct impact on Black and Brown communities. I joined their mission in 2017 when Christopher, our friend Michael De Leon, and I co-founded the Small Talks:LA initiative. Over the next two years, we organized events, workshops, and activities that aimed to disrupt the status quo and harness our collective expertise to create opportunities for change in our city. We held events in Inglewood, Chinatown, and the Arts District, culminating in a large architectural installation in Culver City, which we designed and fabricated after winning a design competition.

Since 2016, DCo has expanded to include new members, such as Brian Wisniewski in Detroit and Olga Bracamontes in Phoenix (in DCo until 2023), and has broadened its scope of work. Through DCo’s expansion, I have been involved in its design justice initiatives, focusing on educating students and architecture firms about the racialized history of architecture and urban planning. This work highlights how policies have systematically marginalized communities of color and other disadvantaged groups throughout history. Additionally, we have been long-time collaborators and partners with CicLAvia, a transit advocacy nonprofit in Los Angeles. For their 10th anniversary, we designed an art installation and helped organize a community action hub at their 2022 event in Watts.

All of this work was accomplished while we were employed full-time at various architecture firms. This experience taught us how to juggle multiple projects and commitments, transition between different scales of work, manage our time and finances, and inspire each other to keep making a difference. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had these experiences, which paved the way for the founding of Design Camp. When I finally ventured out ‘on my own’, I felt well-prepared, supported by a wealth of experiences and a strong network of allies.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://designcampla.com
• Instagram: @designcampla
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/design-camp-la

Image Credits

Gabby Pajo (all photographs and headshots) – Design Camp (all renderings and imagery of projects)