People

For Abby, “design is a lifestyle, not a job,” she says. While she actively researches new directions in design, she also gathers ideas and concepts through her daily experiences, whether lunching at a just-opened café, traveling abroad or working with a client in a state other than Minnesota. “Wherever I am, I love watching people interacting with the built environment,” she says. “Every experience provides new perspectives. Designers should never stop learning or evolving.”

She joined ESG in 2016 with expertise in a variety of project types, including corporate, civic and education. “Having cross-over experience in multiple markets helps me bring new ideas to different projects. It’s exciting to puzzle together all of a client’s needs and wants and parameters, and then watch the project come to life.”

Abby’s experience includes developing and communicating design intent to clients through space planning and 3D color rendering; preparing full finish palettes and finish boards; generating construction documents and specifications; and providing construction administration for clients. “Getting to know the client is one of my favorite parts of the process, because it helps me understand why our clients have the thoughts they do,” she says. “That way, we can address each property for a specific client and demographic. Seeing people happy with the space and creating a positive impact through design is the most rewarding part of my job.”