We were lucky to catch up with Rachel Back recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rachel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

Unlocked Designs began with the idea that spaces, no matter their scale, can hold meaning, tell stories, and shape experience. I started Unlocked Designs during graduate school by crafting handmade wooden puzzle boxes, each with its own hidden locking mechanism. I loved not just the design process, but the way people engaged with the objects and experienced that moment of discovery. That’s where the name Unlocked Designs comes from: each box had to be unlocked, turning a simple object into an experience. Today, I bring that same mindset to my spatial design practice. Unlocked Designs reflects my commitment to designing spaces that feel personal, purposeful, and responsive. My process is inspired by vernacular architecture and the sense of place each site holds. I aim to honor context, the natural world, and the personal stories of the people who live in each space. I see design as a way to support how people feel, move, and connect within their environment, and that ethos continues to shape my work.

Rachel, 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’m a spatial designer and the founder of Unlocked Designs, a studio focused on creating meaningful spaces, rooted in a lifelong love of art, structure, and form. I love problem solving and see parameters as opportunities for creative expression. Working within constraints is where I do my best work.

That intersection of art and logic led me to study engineering first, where I worked on a range of projects, including as a bridge inspector. This technical work gave me structure, discipline, and a solid understanding of how buildings come together. I earned my Master of Architecture from Rhode Island School of Design, where I merged logic with creativity.

Both inform my design process today, not only as a technical challenge but as a way to understand how people live and interact with space. Travel and exploration have also shaped my design lens. I’ve spent years exploring small towns and hidden landscapes, both abroad and across the U.S. That immersion taught me that space is more than just structure. It is shaped by its context, its landscape, and the people who use it.

With that mindset, I founded Unlocked Designs, a spatial design and consulting studio. I work in residential and experiential design, offering services that include design consulting, as-built documentation, planning and permitting support, and full service spatial design. I collaborate with both homeowners and other designers, and I enjoy working with people who need guidance or want to create something unique.

What sets me apart is my ability to listen to each client’s story and translate that complexity into clarity. I work to understand what a client truly needs from their space and design from that place. The vernacular and natural context of each project guide my work, and I believe that thoughtful design has the power to improve everyday life. I approach every project as a creative partnership, providing thoughtful, responsive design that reflects each client’s goals.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My mission as a designer and business owner is to create spaces that work for the people who live in them and offer a strong sense of place. I believe good design can contribute to a good life and that it should be accessible to everyone. Through Unlocked Designs, I want to help people shape environments that support their lives and make room for their stories. That mission is closely tied to storytelling, which has always been central to my design process. I believe every space tells a story, and my work is about designing spaces that reflect and support that narrative. I don’t just want to make something beautiful. I want to make something that feels right.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding part of being a creative is making something that continues to live on after I’ve stepped away. Whether it’s a space someone moves through each day or an object they interact with, I love knowing the work becomes part of someone else’s world. That’s especially meaningful in my design work, where clients come to me with ideas, questions, or a feeling they can’t quite define. Through conversation and process, we shape those thoughts into something real, reflecting their needs and feeling like home. Watching an idea take shape and become part of someone’s daily life is still one of the most fulfilling parts of what I do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.unlockeddesigns.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unlockeddesigns/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unlockeddesigns/