ERIKA
Curiosity →
Clarity → Impact
ERIKA
McWHINNIE
DESIGN DIRECTOR with 18+ years dedicated to experiential enhancement via design.
having worked in some of the top, global architecture firms + creative consultancies, i bring a multidisciplinary approach to design that blends strategy, storytelling, + innovation.
i believe an interdisciplinary approach with clever, inquiring + dedicated teammates allows varied processes + solutions to positively influence each other + ultimately deliver the client with the most innovative design.
"the most basic and instinctual human drive is to create order -- it's a sense of well-being, essentially.
anytime i look at design, i see its human impact, emotion + purpose."
WE > ME
people + connection are my passion.
the main reason i was drawn to design is my understanding of its ability to bring people together from all walks of life. i ideate + create with intention of creating solution(s) that will ‘move’ people -- that will generate positive impact + evoke emotion.
that’s HOW i came to find design.
the absolute joy of creating + sharing meaningful experiences is WHY i stayed in design.
CURIOUS.
fueled by curiosity + the ongoing conversation that design presents between philosophy + process, the ‘WHY?’ + the ‘HOW?’,
i am most inspired by a heavily collaborative creative process, designing visual stories, creative action, + client partnerships by encouraging diverse perspectives + then connecting the dots.
INSTINCTUAL.
my design approach, is guided by human impact, emotion + purpose. my awareness + empathy have enabled me to analyze + synthesize information, while always keeping humanity at the heart of things.
CONNECTED.
i am always seeking unique design opportunities which facilitate collaborations that are equally dedicated to environmental, cultural, aesthetic + experiential enhancement. through my work, the purpose has not been to tell a simple story, but to create an environment in which an experience is curated, articulated, + reinforced in real time through multiple senses.