Designer Crush: Meghann Day of Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA)
Author:Michelle Konstantinovsky1. How did you get started in design?
After college graduation, I started work at a residential/commercial firm in Orange County, CA. I joined the commercial division and shortly after joining, we received our first hotel project.
2. What brought you to HBA and what do you feel is distinctive and special about the firm?
I was drawn to HBA due to their extensive hotel experience and wanted to learn more about the industry. With hospitality, there is an expansive amount of creativity and customization of each project and I wanted to learn more. HBA is special as it gives all designers an opportunity to learn as much as they would like to know about hospitality and support career advancement to the level that each designer is seeking. There is an organic design approach through HBA which allows each project and design to evolve to be the best that it can possibly be.
3. What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role and how have you overcome them?
Biggest challenges is growth and supporting repeat project and clients as well as the design team.
4. Where do you draw design inspiration from?
Design inspiration comes from so many different facets. Design for myself comes from fashion, travel, designer blogs, new installed restaurants and hotels as well as museums to name a few.
5. What’s been your favorite project to date?
I can’t really pick a favorite. I really like our newly installed project Edgewood Tahoe which is a new build boutique hotel on South Lake Tahoe and will be the only new build hotel for the next 25 years. We also just completed Fairway One new build at Pebble Beach Resorts which with a classic design for an iconic property.
6. Musical album or artist that’s inspired you most in your life and why?
Combination of Gwen Stefani/No Doubt for Tragic Kingdom as well as Sarah McLaughlin. Two distinctively different singers and music styles but great female empowerment and leadership. They both original artists who stayed true to their own form.
7. If you could design the set for any movie, which would it be and why?
I was really inspired by the Baz Luhrmann film Romeo and Juliet as Catherine Martin did a fantastic set design and would want to work on something similar.
8. Describe your perfect Sunday.
Perfect Sunday includes a brunch in downtown Petaluma and an afternoon hike.
Lightning round!
9. Crunchy or smooth?
Smooth.
10. Bath or shower?
Shower.
11. Beach or mountains?
Mountains.
12. Netflix or night out?
Night out.
13. Heels or sneakers?
Heels.
