After all, we are the ones who shape the built environment. When we met Josette Murphy in 1993, she was a fifth-year senior at Arizona State University. Murphy was participating in the Student Contract Design Competition, sponsored by the Institute of Business Designers, The Knoll Group and Apple Computer, along with other students from Arizona State, Auburn University and Rhode Island School of Design. Murphy supplied the winning entry from Arizona. But regardless of the project statistics, what I do best is earn the client's trust, make sure the process runs smoothly and follow through with the details.
Clients are increasingly respectful and aware of good design.
It is a true pleasure to work with clients who understand design principles such as proportion, mass and light, as well as recognize the boost that solid design has on their business. Volunteering is another one of Murphy's passion. The committee annually hosts a day-long student charette competition to which students and teachers, as well as mentors and judges from the local professional design community, join for an intense day of design and exploration. Each extreme begs a different solution, she says, to which design firms must respond. But regardless of whether a client is large or small, Murphy always enjoys learning, meeting inspirational people and seeing projects built.