{"id":4489,"date":"2017-02-07T17:08:49","date_gmt":"2017-02-07T17:08:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/modelo.io\/blog\/?p=4489"},"modified":"2020-11-18T08:17:54","modified_gmt":"2020-11-18T08:17:54","slug":"raegan-porter-design-manifesto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/blog\/index.php\/2017\/02\/07\/raegan-porter-design-manifesto\/","title":{"rendered":"Design Manifestos: Raegan Porter of FGM Architects"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Design Manifestos: Raegan Porter of FGM Architects<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n
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Raegan Porter (Photograph courtesy of FGM Architects)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Raegan Porter is a Registered Interior Designer with a diverse background in recreation, municipal, educational and contract design. She is the Municipal Interior Design Leader for FGM Architects<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>located in Oak Brook, Illinois. Raegan has a unique ability to understand her client\u2019s needs and incorporate them into creative, functional space plans. Through space planning, materials, furniture, lighting and art work, she brings her clients vision to life. Her goal for clients is to create an overall experience for the communities using her spaces. She states, \u201cI often judge a space on how it makes me feel. I want to create exciting spaces that make people feel good.\u201d Modelo<\/strong><\/a> spent some time learning about what inspires Raegan and about her current role at FGM Architects.<\/p>\n

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On becoming an interior designer <\/strong>
\nMy mother and grandmother were a big influence on my love of art and design and my decision to become an Interior designer.<\/p>\n

My mother had intended to go to Art school in Atlanta in the 1960\u2019s but, due to the rioting happening at that time, her family decided it was best she didn\u2019t go. But she still had a love of the arts and always encouraged my creative side!<\/p>\n

My grandmother was a painter and creative in every sense of the word. My cousin and I, who are very close in age and in spirit, spent many hours with our grandmother playing games that involved creative thinking and design. The three of us would dream up designs for our future homes and weddings. Both my cousin and I decided at that young age that we would be designers. And there was no turning back!<\/p>\n

I feel very lucky that I knew so early in my life that Interior Design was my calling!<\/p>\n

On discovering her voice as a designer <\/strong>
\nSince I can remember I have had a LOVE for color. Some of that comes from my mother and aunt who also have a love for color and art. Being immersed in that from an early age has most definitely contributed to my love for color and dramatic environments.<\/p>\n

For a while I freelanced at a firm that did more commercial interiors and was introduced to this idea of branding environments, this idea was fascinating to me. After some research I found it was a concept that made so much sense to me. It can help increase the client\u2019s bottom line, so why wouldn\u2019t they want to use their environment for marketing? Designing a space to embody the client\u2019s brand is something that I am always trying to achieve. It is in my nature to want to help, so if I can help a client have a competitive edge or help the impression of a client to the public I am happy.<\/p>\n

I also believe that all the adventures that I encounter in life have an influence in different ways whether it\u2019s dance, fitness, painting, teaching self-defense or my passion for giving back. All of these have an effect on who I am which I know in some form shapes how I design.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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McHenry Recreation Center (Images courtesy of FGM Architects)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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On joining FGM Architects <\/strong>
\nI started with FGM right out of college. My lighting professor in college put me in touch with a gentleman who did a critique in our class. He was a project manager at FGM and that\u2019s how I got connected to interview.<\/p>\n

In the early days I learned functional and durable design as well as how to be creative on a budget. We learned fundamentals in school but the early years of working are where you really learn. A majority of the buildings that we work on are public facilities that will be around for a long time, not to mention the abuse of a 24\/7 facility. The functionality and durability are critical. Budget is key so it is critical to find durable inexpensive materials or reinvent standard materials. It\u2019s easy to find really interesting materials when you have a large budget but when you are forced to reinvent materials on a tight budget the real creativity happens. That\u2019s a talent I have learned at FGM that I wouldn\u2019t give back for the world.<\/p>\n

With the down turn in the economy I was laid off after about two and a half years. I went on to work for a furniture dealership and had my own company doing design. In 2014 I knew FGM was looking for someone to head the Interior Design for the municipal practice area so I reached out and interviewed.<\/p>\n

Coming back and working the second time around I am truly grateful for all that I learned while I was away. There are talents and lessons I have learned I may not have had otherwise. Those are invaluable tools that I got to bring to back to FGM with me, making me a better designer for FGM and our clients. To this day I am still learning from the amazing team of people that I get to work with every day and continuing to evolve in my approach.<\/p>\n

On specific principles she strives to adhere to<\/strong><\/p>\n