Contract Magazine - April 2018 - 24

Designers
You
Should
Know
Design, Bitches
In 2010, Catherine Johnson and Rebecca Rudolph
founded Los Angeles-based Design, Bitches,
a multidisciplinary firm on a mission to make
architecture more accessible to a broader audience.
Inspired by their design, art, and pop culture
experience, the duo collaborates on a wide range of
commercial and branding projects, and designs with
an emphasis on the human experience in space.

Rebecca Rudolph and
Catherine Johnson (above,
left to right) lead the Los
Angeles-based design firm
Design, Bitches. Their recent
work includes Checker Hall
(below) and Button Mash
(bottom right) in LA, and Little
Octopus (bottom left)
in Nashville.

How wide is the variety of your work?
We are a full soup-to-nuts firm that can work
on concept and branding, all the way down to
the design of every piece that might be inside the
space. We also work on commercial, residential,
single family, and ground-up tenant improvement
projects. In the hospitality space, we work on
a really wide range, including projects with mixed
programs-or what we've termed "new social
spaces." These might include an art gallery with
restaurant, office, or educational space, and also
have a commercial component. We are really
excited to see how these types of social spaces
really start to change, or amplify, how we live.
What is important in design today?
Creating spaces that allow for flexibility
and the opportunity for people who are using
the space-whether they are working or visiting-
to have a variety of experiences. We especially
love spaces where there is a sense of discovery
and where you might find something unexpected,
and we're interested in creating spaces that
people will integrate into their lives.
What are you working on now?
We're working on an exciting concept called
"Free Market." It is an example of how we are
exploring the ways that retail, food, community,
and art might all come together under roof
and how to keep that space active, lively, and
engaging. We're also working on a big flagship
roastery and café for Verve Coffee in the Arts
District in downtown LA and several
training centers for Counter Culture Coffee
around the U.S.

Why the name Design, Bitches?
The short version is that it was our response
to a question that was posed by AIA Los Angeles,
which was, "What is architecture?" Our response:
"It's design, bitches." For us, it's about reminding
ourselves that architecture is about design
in a broader sense. It's also, oddly enough,
more approachable not being so formal.
What makes your work unique?
We often contemplate the experience of
a space and design from the inside out. Which
does not mean that we ignore the exterior space,
but we often start on the interior. How people feel
and experience space is very important to us, from
larger grand gestures to tiny details they might
find. We are really involved from the structure itself,
right down to perhaps a menu or business card.
We are also known for having a sense of wit, and
for strong use of color and texture in our work.

24

contractdesign.com

APRIL 2018

PHOTOGRAPHY: LISA DIEDERICH AND NASHVILLE GURU (BOTTOM LEFT); LAURE JOLIET (ALL OTHERS)

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Contract Magazine - April 2018

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