Studio Fusion is celebrating 15 years of business!
Learn more about us from this Q&A that was featured in the Charlotte Business Journal!
What is the primary mission of your company?
Studio Fusion is a diversified, full service Architectural and Interior Design firm. Our portfolio consists of many project types ranging from office/retail, restaurant and multi-family projects. Through our actions, we show our clients how determined we are to meet their project goals and how much we care about their needs throughout the entire process. No matter the size of the project, we believe great communication is the key to a successful project; therefore, we listen carefully until we fully understand our client’s visions and aspirations to produce quality work. By pairing our experienced and creative team members with projects they are passionate about, we create projects that are thoroughly designed and customized to their full potential. Our philosophy is that by blending multiple talents and personalities, not only do we deliver the project, but we deliver an enjoyable experience for our clients.
What sets your business apart from your competitors?
It is not what we do that makes our studio different, it is how we do it. We pride ourselves on staying in front of technology, trends in architecture and interior design as well as current market situations. We understand the complex challenges that many developers face, and we feel that we can bring considerable value to finding solutions that will allow projects to move forward.
We are truly a studio that is fused with diversity and talent, thus the name Studio Fusion. Through communication and teamwork, we ensure a unique design solution that meets our client’s objectives. We are never complacent or content. We care deeply about our clients and are dedicated to helping them creatively meet their project goals.
What, if anything, has changed since your business was founded?
The world we live in is constantly evolving and we are always ready to adjust our business approach to properly adapt to that change.
The architectural business climate is directly impacted by the economy. We rode the condominium boom from 2004 to 2009 and saw it come to a screeching halt almost overnight. The mortgage crisis changed everything. Fortunately, prior to the collapse of the housing market, we strategically focused on diversifying our portfolio. We opened an interior design division in 2005 to take on several restaurant and corporate office projects. Between 2009 and 2012 we found that the restaurant market and corporate office market were both very active. As many businesses were downsizing and adapting to the new economy, we were poised to take on many of these new opportunities.
What drove us through the toughest, challenging times were our relationships. We have worked very hard to cultivate and sustain our working relationships. During the height of the mortgage crisis, we encouraged many of our clients to look at new opportunities through various pre-design exercises. The multi-family market came back strong in 2012 and has been solid ever since.
Describe the defining moment you knew your business would be successful.
Repeat business is the best compliment we can receive. We have always stayed under the radar and never aspired to become a large firm. We deliberately want to be very “hands on” as owners, and we stay within an optimum size to allow that to happen. We would rather take on fewer projects and produce better results. We have never been a volume driven business.
Our portfolio growth is attributed to repeat clients. Our private sector clientele take on much risk in the multi-family world and need to know they are teaming with a group that understands that risk. Our ability to change and evolve throughout many different scenarios continues to be the defining moments that allow us to be successful.
What are your plans for the future?
We are excited about how we can distinguish ourselves in a very competitive market. We stay on the cutting edge of technology with how we design buildings. We are increasingly involved with the marketing phases of our projects. By having that early, fundamental understanding of the project, we can successfully extend the brand through the exterior and interior expression of its architecture. We want the experience of our process to be comfortable for our clients. We genuinely want our clients to be successful and aspire to create designs that make that happen. Our hope is that each project can, in some way, enhance the lifestyle and culture that results from it and ultimately lift the human spirit.
