As a newly initiated member to the BatesMeron family, I wanted my very first blog to speak from personal roots about the concept of home and how we are influenced by the many nostalgic and heartwarming places we consider home throughout our lives.
I spent my childhood amidst the rolling hills of northern Missouri, growing up on a picturesque hobby farm, far from the influences of urban life. It was, and is still, a very peaceful setting. One where the sky meets fields dotted with the occasional herd of cattle, and the nearest neighbor is miles away. The summer air swells with pulsing cicada calls, and the hushed winters fall pristinely, sprinkled every now and then with the prints of a doe and her fawn.
Periodically, these countryside memories resonate in my work as a designer. The solitude and tranquility of our homestead always remind me to be mindful of simplicity and negative space. I also sometimes look to nature for organic inspiration, maybe in the texture of animal fur, or the pattern of an insect wing.
In 2010, I transplanted my rural roots to a new home, and have been happily thriving in Chicago ever since. I am constantly fascinated by the contrast of city life, with its abundance of inhabitants and endless cuisine, festivals and concerts. I enjoy biking among the skyscrapers, and taking in the juxtaposition of lake and skyline. The city poses new sources of design inspiration, including a vastly larger creative community full of supportive and helpful artists.
I am also ecstatic to have now found an additional home and family with the BatesMeron team. My coworkers are lovely folks who inspire and challenge me as a designer, while keeping a balance of hard work and fun at the forefront of all we do. I look forward to growing roots with BatesMeron for many years to come!
