Meet Andrea Darwin | Design Professional

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrea Darwin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrea, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
First, thank you for the opportunity to showcase my design business and tell my story. More than likely, most outsiders don’t realize that design can be accessible and achievable for many, not just a luxury for a few. I’m solution-driven and work with clients with varying budgets at every stage of life, from young professionals, couples, and families just starting and purchasing their first homes to well-established clients seeking a fresh design perspective for their spaces. It’s not a one size fits all approach. Having realistic expectations is essential, but everyone has options. I strive to be an accessible, fun design professional with a personalized vision for my clients!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

Absolutely! I frequently remark that I get to wake up each day and do the work I love. There isn’t a greater truth. It took me a while to get here, and I wouldn’t have it any other way—a lot more on that to follow!

I founded Andrea Darwin Design, LLC, post-graduate school with a refined mastery of business, communication, and project management, a lifelong passion for design, and the determination to find a better way forward—for the industry, valued clients, and myself.

My motto is “Creatively Forward with a Vision,” accompanied by a custom vectorized logo created in my likeness with fun spectacles! I’m a versatile design professional known for getting things done for my clients, wearing a striking collection of frames, and having a unique design vision, so it was essential to integrate each of these elements into my branding! My brilliant and talented friend and I collaborate on these design concepts, and she is the master behind bringing all of the graphic magic to life! She has been a significant influence on the success of my business, and I’ll forever sing her praises!

As a professional design consultant and concierge for multi-scale projects, my work encompasses residential and commercial furniture sourcing, home renovations, custom design projects, and beyond. I offer current and prospective clients comprehensive and creative design solutions with an unparalleled work ethic, bar none. There are very few moments when I take my foot off the accelerator!

My passion and purpose are to provide creative direction, procurement, and project management to see my client’s design-related dreams come to fruition. I partner with a talented group of expert craftsmen, artisans, tradespeople, and skilled professionals who are the best at their craft. For clients, it removes the guesswork of who and where they should turn to for their next project, as I’ve already done the legwork! The result is happier clients and more functional spaces and places for them to enjoy.

I think one of the best ways to determine your ideal career is to reflect on the activities that profoundly interested you as a child. What did you gravitate towards and do well then, and how does it translate into your adult life and career? I have had many interests, from music, design, art, outdoor activities, and writing, and creativity is at the heart of everything. As a young girl from an imaginative family of talented artists and creatives, my mom, grandmother, and family friends inspired me to create beautiful and functional spaces. I eagerly visited furniture galleries and design studios and antique, textile, wallpaper, and home improvement shops with them when my peers would see it as boring and obligatory. I was frequently immersed in endless racks of colorful fabric bolts and enthralled with the beautifully appointed spreads in my mom’s Better Homes & Gardens and Architectural Digest magazine subscriptions! Even when I was very young, improving spaces thrilled me. In anticipation of family gatherings, dinners, and events, I was always concerned about how the house looked aesthetically, ensuring all details were covered and everything was in its place. The pillows were fluffed, the pictures on the walls were hanging straight, and the bulky table books that nobody reads but are intended to make us look like interesting people were in the proper place. It was something I relished with great enthusiasm!

My past career and educational pursuits took me down a much different path far from interior design. After I graduated from UT-Austin with my undergraduate degree, I opted for a more pragmatic route instead of following my passion and taking more significant professional risks. Not surprisingly, this left me feeling moderately empty-handed and professionally unfulfilled.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed everything for me and, of course, everyone else on this planet. But, more specifically, it was a pivotal turning point when I finally rescued myself and completely shifted my professional trajectory. An unforeseen pandemic-related job loss while working for a dysfunctional corporation in early 2020 was a wake-up call allowing me to pause and do some serious soul-searching. I never wanted to be trapped in an organization or career where I would likely become expendable and undervalued again. The thought of waking up twenty or thirty years from now in an empty, meaningless job was very unsettling, and I decided it was time to design my career and define my value and not allow someone else to do that for me. I’ve always possessed an entrepreneurial spirit, so starting my own design business has allowed me to sit in the driver’s seat and take control of my future and success, which is essential and will always be.

Throughout this process of discovery and rebuilding, I fulfilled a long-awaited promise to myself, earning my Master of Science in Communication degree from Northwestern University with an emphasis in Business Leadership and a Certification in Project Management. Graduate school made me acutely aware of the importance of self-investment, allowing me to become a more proficient and confident communicator and leader, which is highly applicable to my daily business operations and work with clients and contractors. Not a day goes by when I have yet to leverage my MSC degree into my work as the Founder & Chief Creative of Andrea Darwin Design, LLC. It’s one of the most important decisions I’ve made that’s contributed to my success.

Building a new business takes a tremendous amount of self-motivation and sacrifice. Sometimes, you must be willing to work around the clock, seven days a week. It’s also crucial to remain agile, open to feedback, and adjust as needed. It’s worth every effort because doing the work I love is the only way!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

I’m a San Antonio native, but Fort Worth, or “Cowtown,” has been my home for many years. It is known as the modern west—a vibrant city full of culture, character, and a great arts scene! We have a fantastic symphony, incredible museums, a great children’s theater, historic Fort Worth Stockyards, a nationally-ranked zoo, gorgeous parks, botanical gardens, and the Trinity Trail System along the beautiful Trinity River. There’s undoubtedly something for everyone. The area has grown exponentially in the past few years, but it’s manageable, and the essence of old Cowtown remains.

For an adventurous taste of Fort Worth, I’d take my friend to Skydive 35 in Hillsboro, about 45 minutes outside Fort Worth, for a skydiving adventure. This is something I do annually to celebrate my birthday! It’s liberating, exhilarating, fun, and a great way to get out of my comfort zone. Then, we’d go on a bike ride on the Trinity Trails along the Trinity River and stop by my favorite health haven, Juice Junkies, to recharge with a delicious smoothie or acai bowl and the best darn kale chips on the planet! We’d visit a few art museums, the Fort Worth Zoo, and attend a Fort Worth Symphony performance. Finally, we’d eat meals at Lonesome Dove, Rodeo Goat, Vickery Cafe, Cane Rosso, Kincaid’s, Rudy’s BBQ, and Salsa Limon, to name a few. Whew! I’m already exhausted and full just thinking of that!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

It’s impossible to narrow a shoutout to one person, as many people and experiences have inspired me along my journey. I come from a long line of creatives and many other influential people who have encouraged me throughout my life. I’ve been involved in design work and the industry since I was knee-high to a grasshopper with my extraordinary fiber artist mom, immensely talented late grandmothers, and other creatively gifted and imaginative extended family members. I’m incredibly thankful for them! I’d also be remiss if I didn’t thank my valued clients who entrust me with their design needs and allow me to carry out my dream every day!

When I was deeply entrenched in the corporate arena many years ago, a wise soul from my extended family told me never to forget that I’m an artist. Those profound words were most impactful and continue to resonate with me today. What’s more, my clever graduate school advisor once told my cohort that when you know who you are, you can stop announcing it. So, I think I’ll stop after this interview! Finally, after what appeared to be a series of setbacks that were ultimately gifts propelling me into my design business, I was encouraged by a very special person to continue doing what was working for me and what I love: design. In essence, these words of wisdom indicate not to sell out, to embrace your strengths, and to exude confidence in who you are. So, many thanks, oh wise ones!

Website: andreadarwin.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreadarwindesign/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-darwin-msc-a76b3a16a/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089216675183