IONIC: Manage Your Day 1.8.2014

Sometimes it's the smallest of things that set off a day in the right direction. Have a great day my friends.

D. Eugene Thompson, AIA

Ionic DeZign Studios

www.ionicdezigns.com

"Where Art and Architecture Come Together"

DIY Construction

It is dangerous for someone who knows too much about construction......namely an architect......more namely me......to do anything in actual construction. Lol. Just a quick picture of some Saturday morning concrete frames made and getting ready to prepare the rebar and WWF. 

And yes I have done this before......in another lifetime ago during summer breaks in college I worked various construction industries. Installed roofing, buried telephone lines, laid sod, dug trenches and installed sewer lines, poured concrete and even ran a backhoe. Amazing isn't it?

Well you will have to stop by our office in a few weeks for our grand revealing of all our renovations and expansion. Be watching for the announcement going out next week!

Ionic DeZign Studios

www.ionicdezigns.com

Where Art and Architecture Come Together

D, Eugene Thompson, AIA

Founder + President

Construction Bid in Kansas City MO

Ionic DeZign Studios is seeking qualified contractors interested in the bidding of interior build out work in Kansas City, Missouri. Projects consists of approximately 2600 square feet of minor medical facilities within an existing tenant space. Scope of work includes but not limited to demolition, framing, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, flooring, paint, lighting, finishes. Estimated cost of construction under $100,000.00.

IONIC will be represent owner for contract administrative services and will seek qualified bids by 21 January 2014. Project current seeking permit approvals with an anticipated start date of 2.1.2014 and a completion date of 3.31.2014.

Interested parties please contact the following:

D. Eugene Thompson, AIA- Sr Architect - et@ionicdezigns.com

Abby Hoffman Assoc AIA - Project Manager - ahoffman@ionicdezigns.com

Ionic DeZign Studios, Inc.

293 Independence Blvd. Suite 308

Virginia Beach, VA 23462

757.499.3510 (p)

Reference project name and number:

PREMIER LASER SPA - KANSAS CITY MO

IONIC # 131203

IONIC: Manage Your Day 1.3.14

 Architecture has it's way of allowing you to always work in the creative realm. Everything we do or work on we are creating something. Sure there are times where we really get to express our design skills and show off our talents on some pretty interesting projects. But there is creativity in even the smallest of details. Creating solutions .....often times better solutions....within the construction details.

Sometimes creativity comes in the form of redefining those details that save the contractor some time. Or even the owner some money. But still getting the same results. That is an everyday problem solving issue for Architects. Those creative solutions may not be seen on the outside but certainly effect the outcome of a project.

I have worked with some great well known 'starchitects', that can produce the most beautiful designs, but they cannot create the solutions to properly construct them within budget. There is a word for designing without regards for a budget......it's called SCHOOL! Most schools don't want to stifle creativity so they don't restrict design students to a budget. I respect that.....unfortunately for most of us we will always work within a budget during our careers.

Come let us share our work with you. 

Ionic DeZign Studios - Where Art and Architecture Come Together

Eugene Thompson

www.ionicdezigns.com

2014 Forecast

So are you prepared for the new year? Have you cleaned off your desk of all the leftovers of 2013 and set out to meet your new business resolutions?

Have you even thought about new business goals for this year?

The holidays are over and it is time to roll up our sleeves and get back to work. Time to set out to focus on the goals we want to achieve. It is January 2nd......your behind already! 

Each year it seems that the last one passed us by faster and faster. All the good intentions I had are just a faded memory. Things I wanted to do to market the business, to meet expectations.....to make those expectations a reality. They slip away. Time is short and opportunities are few, don't waste them to the procrastination giant slumbering inside.

Picking up on the heels of a successful 2013, one of our best, IONIC prepares to launch into its most energetic marketing campaign as it rolls into its 15th year of business. In response to the abundance of work in various markets, we have increased our staff of design professionals to accommodate our client's needs. An increase of nearly 40% over this time last year. In addition, we have added to our administrative and marketing personnel to handle both the project management needs of the new construction projects and reaching out to the new markets IONIC intends to increase it's presence in.

With all these new members to our team we had to increase the size of our office. Since we were expanding, we decided we might as well take advantage of the opportunity and create a new working environment. The renovations at IONIC has allowed us to exhibit some creative and innovative uses of materials, lighting and colors. The use of reclaimed elements were aggressively used thoughout the space to present not only our "FUN" side but how we can use sustainability features for our all design projects. Keep your ears open for our announcement on the upcoming open house.

The new year brings IONIC more projects up and down the east coast as well as extending into the Midwest. Our ability to quickly adapt has made us a resource for our national client accounts. Projects that have been sluggish due to the market concerns over the last few years have now gained a foothold and should begin early in the first quarter. Be watching for our job site signs as they pop up all over Hampton Roads.

Whatever your needs, be sure to look us up and talk to us about your potential project. Architecture, Interior Design, Historic Preservation as well as custom residential design are all part of our Strategic Planning portfolios. Our friendly staff will be glad to help. We look forward to a successful 2014 with our clients, contractors, consultants and friends.

Best of wishes to all.

 

Ionic DeZign Studios

www.ionicdezigns.com

D. Eugene Thompson, AIA

IONIC: Manage Your Day 12.29.13

Have you ever felt that you couldn't really complete anything because it had to be perfect? That is the story of my life. Completion of task often times take forever, never getting them all the way done or changing plans because I understand myself to know that it won't be right.......if I keep going in that certain direction. So I compromise. 

Compromising isn't necessary a bad thing. Especially if you can finally complete something. If you are frozen in fear of doing something "unsatisfactory" you won't complete ANYTHING! Chances are your work......as imperfect to you as it may seem.....is most likely unrecognized as such.

A few years ago I started getting back into sketching.....I couldn't. I didn't know what to draw and was afraid to put the first lines on the paper. Finally I convinced myself to just doodle......like I was scratching something out while talking on the phone. When I tricked myself into thinking that what I was drawing wasn't important and was just scrap......I getting some pretty neat doodles. From there I was able to take off again.

Don't hinder yourself with trying to me perfect my friends. Just try it. Something is always better than nothing!

Eugene Thompson

Ionic DeZign Studios

www.ionicdezigns.com

IONIC: Manage your Day 12.6.13

Have you ever got into a situation where you absolutely needed to get something completed by a deadline? A deadline that could not be changed or extended? And the perfect idea or solution just wasn't happening? Some call it writer's block or hitting a wall, in either case it is a barrier that keeps you from producing your best work. 

Sometimes it is the pressure to get it accomplished that keeps you from coming up with that great idea. If time allows I have found that setting your pencil down (do we still use a pencil?) and taking a break will give our minds the opportunity to rest and come up with the answer. 

I have even went to bed at night with the unresolved issue stuck in my brain and the impending deadline looming over me only to wake up in the middle of the night with an epiphany. My wife hates that by the way! But once I have woken up and doodled the solution down I can go back to sleep assured that the answer has been provided by my mind to be addressed at daybreak.

Take a break my friends and let your mind do its magic!

D. Eugene Thompson

Ionic DeZign Studios

www.ionicdezigns.com