The design studios of The Wiseman Group and BAMO, and Geoffrey de Sousa Design and de Sousa Hughes, new showroom to view newest projects including modern and classical design, architectural historic restoration, and new design collections. BAMO has invited us to end the day with a reception.
DIANE DORRANS SAEKS is the bestselling author of twenty-five design books, including ‘Parisian by Design Interiors by David Jimenez’ and “Jean-Louis Deniot Interiors”. Diane Dorrans Saeks is also interior design editor for PaperCity and an editor with C MAGAZINE. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, the Financial Times, Vogue Living, Australian Vogue. INSTAGRAM: @dianedorranssaeks
THE WISEMAN GROUP: Paul Wiseman, the founder of The Wiseman Group, has built a notable reputation since establishing his firm in 1980 in a historic Victorian ‘captain’s house’ on Potrero Hill. Celebrating over 40 years of success, Paul and his team are renowned for their highly customized, elegant interiors, with a particular focus on craftsmanship and detailed design. The firm, which has taken on high-profile projects such as assignments for Salesforce, collaborates with a diverse roster of skilled craftspeople worldwide to produce both innovative high-tech and traditional old-world effects. Their work utilizes advanced techniques like 3D printing alongside traditional methods such as hand-appliqué and laser cutting. Emphasizing a deep understanding of the history of architecture and interior decoration, The Wiseman Group is also deeply committed to environmental sustainability. The result of their approach is work that is both intellectually and emotionally engaging, reflecting both a sensual and precise aesthetic.
DE SOUSA HUGHES: De Sousa Hughes, led by cofounders and creative directors Erik Hughes and Geoffrey De Sousa, is a premier design showroom and interior design firm located in San Francisco. Spanning 27,000 square feet, this space is dedicated to showcasing over 45 companies known for their exceptional, handcrafted furnishings. The showroom features a diverse array of furniture, textiles, lighting, art, and accessories from both local and international artisans. Renowned within the interior design community, De Sousa Hughes specializes in offering contemporary and innovative home furnishings that cater to professional interior designers looking for unique, custom boutique lines. Through their meticulous selection of artisanal products, Erik and Geoffrey have established De Sousa Hughes as a leading figure in the world of interior design.
BAMO: A distinguished full-service design firm, BAMO has been shaping spaces globally for thirty years with a focus on residences, hotels, restaurants, yachts, private clubs, and corporate headquarters. Operating from an inspiringly creative studio housed in a renovated industrial warehouse, the firm thrives on a culture of creativity and passion for design. Under the leadership of Pamela Babey and her highly accomplished Principals and associates, BAMO is celebrated for its imaginative “fantasy scripts” for international hotels, such as Villa Feltrinelli, and for its classical designs for Four Seasons hotels in locations like Milan, French Polynesia, and Hawaii. Known for its versatility, BAMO prides itself on eschewing a uniform style in favor of bespoke, client-centered solutions, which has led to multiple awards and a dynamic, diverse portfolio.
Addresses AND LOCATIONS provided upon ticket purchase: Car pooling planned
Please note, locations are not suitable for children. All guests must bring a photo ID with them to the event that matches the name you registered under. Attendees will be emailed details on meeting location prior to the event.
The Dynamic Minds Seminars Series produced by Diane Dorrans Saeks is 4 separate afternoon events over a week from June 1 through June 8 2024.. Please acquire an ‘all access pass”; and then register for each event.
Creativity, ideas, inspiration and exploration, balanced with in-depth knowledge, remain essential elements in today’s interiors and architecture.
Inspiration and intense engagement are evident throughout four special afternoon seminars at the studios of leading California architects, a new showroom, and interior designers in San Francisco.
During the architecture and design studio on-site events in the series, attendees will meet San Francisco’s leading architecture and design practitioners and view work and discuss process.
Studios include Aidlin Darling Design, The Wiseman Group, BCJ, ODADA, Geoff de Sousa Design and de Sousa Hughes, and BAMO, Ken Fulk, Martin Kobus, Studio Collins Weir and The Office of Charles de Lisle. These 4 intense on-site seminars take place on different afternoons over 4 days and require separate ticketing. In each intense on-site seminar, we have a program to meet the designers and architects, to engage with new projects, and new highlights from work on the boards.
Each studio visit is an opportunity to encounter advanced ideas, creative procedures, and design and architecture concepts and advanced thinking.
Attendees will experience the full range of aesthetics, from pure modernism to richly informed classical design, traditional, bold, minimal, and eclectic expression. All are based on intellectual and intuitive disciplines. A highlight will be viewing and discussing works in process, as well as newly completed interiors and unpublished new residences.
We will see how studios fully use newest technical advances such as VR and AI, and 3D printing (and continue to sketch) in their design concepts and in interactions with their clients. Participants will view and engage with latest thinking on sustainability, ‘green’ practices, and the use of tech and an appreciation for sketching.
At the end of each day, participants are invited to a private in-studio reception and celebration, offering the opportunity to meet designers and their staff and to discuss in-depth ideas and views.
Led by best-selling author and leading interior design journalist/ author Diane Dorrans Saeks, this year’s interior designer program follows on the great success of last ten year’s programs.
Diane’s seminars offer a very rare opportunity to tour top architecture and interior design studios, meet with designers and architects one-on-one.
Dynamic San Francisco architecture and design firms on the seminar roster include Aidlin Darling Design, BAMO, and The Wiseman Group and BCJ, as well as leading interior designers Ken Fulk, Martin Kobus, Charles de Lisle, Susan Collins Weir, ODADA. A special visit to the new De Sousa Hughes NEW showroom is a highlight.
Each highly accomplished designer and architect will speak of works in progress, new work, and what they see happening in the near future. Studio visits celebrate achievement, creativity, the power of ideas, and the power of optimism. This program is not appropriate for children under 16, as they are architecture & design study tours of studios, with formal presentations made by company principals.
Learn more about other events in the series –
Studio visits to Aidlin Darling Design, ODADA and BCJ.This tour includes a 5pm Reception. Participation will converse, meet, discuss idea, and meet the designers and architects.
A studio visit is led by best-selling author Diane Dorrans Saeks at the Magic Factory headquarters of Ken Fulk, and his recently restored St Joseph’s Arts Society church, which is a studio/ atelier/ entertainment place. The venue is a lavish site for discussions on design, altruism and philanthropy.
Studio visits to The Office of Charles de Lisle, Studio Collins Weir, and culminating with a reception and refreshments at Martin Kobus Studio: