ITS OUR BIRTHDAY!
Whether you have been with us from the very beginning or just stumbled upon our blog, I am so excited you are here to celebrate our fifth birthday!
We are so grateful for all the opportunities, relationships and impact we have been able to make on our community and surrounding areas. Over the past 5 years, I have been privileged as the Owner and Founder to do business differently; in parallel with our clients with a focus of investing in our team (the heart of PDG).
OUR DNA
Our team is located in the heart of Indianapolis and we reside in a flexible and open studio. We have a wide variety of experience, from start-up tech firms, to well-established law firms. With each and every project, our team has one goal in mind: to think pragmatically, progressively and purposefully; creating not just ordinary spaces – but exceptional spaces along-side of our clients.
Parallel Design Group is a tightly-focused team of interior designers with a passion for emitting brand and culture through the design of the built environment. We believe in promises and caring well for our clients. We welcome collaboration and make decisions with integrity and purpose. Our name came from the desire to work side-by-side, in parallel with our clients. Our process marries Art and Science; creating stunning, strategic designs that meet our clients’ needs and exceed their expectations.
HOW WE GOT HERE
PDG began after I had served 10 years in the Interior Design Industry. To read more about our start, make sure to read The Parallel Story. To make a long story short, a 50,000 sq ft. job as a solo contractor and a new mom who had no intention of going back to work, was ultimately the gateway into what is now known as Parallel Design Group. This one job re-ignited my design passion and challenged me to think of how to do things differently. Little did I know that I would be able to bless 8 others with the opportunity to replicate my dreams of making family first and fulfilling career passions.
THE “SECRET SAUCE”
Many people ask what makes us different. The answer is easy. Our team. Hands down – it’s our team and I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without them. Over the past five years, we have grown from 1 to 9. In order to foster good morale and flexibility early on, I empowered each of them to create their ideal work life balance, while capitalizing on their greatest skills. Technology allows us to work from anywhere and creates a family first atmosphere. I am still a firm believer that creating this unique environment for our employees drives them to give their all, which shines through to our clients.
Speaking of growing and speaking of family, we most recently welcomed Project Interior Designer, Kaitlyn Barrett. More on getting to know her later 😊.
GROWING IN NUMBERS…AND IN GRATITUDE.
The PDG team is what has allowed us to build new relationships, clients and spaces. We are elated to have impacted over 8,237 workplace lives to date. Referrals and word of mouth keep our business going – and we couldn’t be more excited.
IN THE MEDIA
Our team has most recently earned awards under the IIDA Indiana Chapter as the Economical Design Runner Up (2017), and Best in Show for IIDA Modern Masters (2018). Our most notable? The Honor Award for Interior Design for the Monumental Awards (2018). We also had the honor recently to be featured digitally in the Contract Magazine for our work with JLL.
OUR FUTURE
Early on, my high school Home Ec teacher challenged my college aspirations to be a radiologist. She saw something in me and set up a career day to show me the way, which led me to explore the Interior Design field. Because of this great mentorship, I now carry a passion for mentoring the next generation of design professionals. I’m also passionate about mentoring my staff – giving them opportunities to flourish within each of their own skill sets; while also challenging them to dig into new areas that are not naturally easy for them.
GIVING BACK
We are also very grateful for the opportunities to give back to the community, both financially and physically. One of the most rewarding transformations was the St. Vincent Art Therapy Center. A few years ago my mother battled breast cancer and used the studio as a form of therapy. The director at the center mentioned the desire to repaint the studio, as it was uninspiring. When I visited the space, I felt it needed more; I couldn’t just repaint the walls. I rallied the industry reps and we freely poured our hearts and materials into the space. The generosity of our industry partners was astounding and without hesitation. The feedback from the cancer patients brought tears to my eyes and they even made a few special gifts for us. I have never felt so proud and appreciated. It’s a moment I will forever be grateful for and hope there are many more similar opportunities.
My heart is overflowing, and I am feeling extra appreciative of these last 5 years. I have to give some extra special credit to my husband, daughters and extended family who have been my inspiration to take this leap of faith and have been by my side the entire time. Many thanks to everyone who has supported us along the way, and we look forward to many years to come! Cheers to 5 years!