Principals at ID Studios Recognized in the San Diego Business Journal
As a woman-owned business, we were thrilled to have our three women principals featured in the San Diego Business Journal’s Women of Influence in Architecture this last month. Deborah Elliott and Amy Morway are founding principals whose vision created ID Studios in 2005. Jill joined the firm as a designer in 2006 and became an owner and Associate Principal early in 2020.
Each of the three has attributes that make them outstanding leaders and we’re proud to have them leading our firm.
In the May 2021 edition of Floor Focus Magazine, our very own Deborah Elliott was featured in the Designer Forum column. Here’s a taste of what she had to say about our client, Fish & Richardson, including a focus on the flooring choices for their new office design.
Fish & Richardson Lobby
“Fish & Richardson, a global intellectual property law firm founded in Boston in 1878, has represented some of the world’s greatest innovators. The firm played a crucial role in patent litigation during the development of the light bulb, telephone, radio, automobile and steam engine and its early clients included Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell and the Wright brothers.
“When the firm planned an expansion into a new office in Southern California, Fish & Richardson expressed a desire to show a purposeful relationship between the professional nature of the firm and the relaxed welcoming environment shared by employees.”
Jill Russell-Layman named in San Diego Business Journal Special Section
We’d like to thank the San Diego Business Journal for including Associate-Principal of ID Studios, Jill Russell-Layman as a Woman of Influence in Construction in San Diego. In this special section they, “highlight the women building, selling and designing properties in America’s Finest City.”
In January 2020, Jill joined the ownership team at ID Studios and became an Associate Principal. “In addition to directing some of ID Studios’ most significant projects, like the recently completed Fish & Richardson Law Office at One Paseo in Del Mar, she also participates in the day-to-day business operations of the firm. We are thrilled that Jill has expanded her leadership role at ID Studios, and we can already see the positive impact she has made,” says Founding-Principal Amy Morway.
President, Deborah Elliott says, “Jill has proven her value to ID Studios through her strategic client leadership as well as being on the ground floor of the amazing internal culture of ID Studios – something that sets us apart from the everyday design firm in San Diego.” She recently headed up our participation in BioCom and the San Diego HR Forum.
Enriching people’s lives through thoughtful design
Our core values reflect our approach to our clients and ourselves. We are storytellers. We build relationships, we learn your story and we tell your story through great design. We recruited a team member to create a graphic to go along with each of our core values. We’ll feature our Core Values and the graphics in upcoming social media posts. Here is the result.
Relationships: We are relationship-driven. We are a series of relationships, with our clients, reps, contractors and fellow employees.
by Cameron Johnson
Family: We, as an office, are a family and our clients become our family as well. We trust each other, we celebrate each other, and we support each other.
Dedication: We are fully invested in our projects because we feel they reflect our clients and ourselves as a team.
by Lauren Zinn
Creativity: Creativity is intrinsic to what we do. Creative thinking drives excellent solutions.
In a year that has been challenging for so many, we didn’t want to miss an opportunity to bring a little joy and humor into your life. We hope you enjoy a holiday video greeting from ID Studios. Check it out HERE!
We Believe in Giving Back to Our Community
We are proud to announce that ID Studios has made a year-end donation to the San Diego Food Bank in honor of our amazing clients; and industry partners who serve the architectural and design community.
Holiday Office Closure
Our office will be closed starting December 24 and will reopen on January 4 while we celebrate the holidays. See you in the New Year!
As we reflect on 2020, we recognize it has been a trying time, but we find ourselves thankful for the things we have as an ID Studios family. We have a strong culture here and we’ve found new ways to keep in touch, while also keeping a safe distance.
On March 17 we announced that we would support everyone working from home. When the state-wide “Stay at Home” mandate was announced on the 19th, we were already settling into the remote routine. Luckily, we had previously implemented Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and remote computer access so we were able to leverage those programs and transition to WFH relatively quickly.
Outdoor Staff Meeting
Once small, outdoor gatherings were deemed safe, we started holding our monthly staff meetings outdoors in our parking lot. We accommodated those who wanted to join with a remote connection. We’ve found these monthly meetings to be a big part of keeping strong working relationships with our co-workers.
Fun Connection
We’ve started a “Let’s Keep in Touch” club where we have virtual events ranging from 30-minute discussions about fun topics. Some include favorite binge-worthy shows, cookie decorating, favorite camping tips, sharing baby pictures and unusual drawing challenges. These fun events aren’t mandatory, but just something to look forward to where you can learn something new about your co-worker and laugh at old prom-pictures.
Looking Towards the Future
There are still challenges to come (virtual Holiday gift-giving???) but we look forward to stretching our creativity and finding new ways to connect. We also look towards the day when WFH is optional and we have more time to collaborate face-to-face.
ID Studios is excited to announce our alliance with ORANGEWALLstudios. This partnership was formed specifically in response to the increased demand for highly qualified lab planning and cutting-edge workplace design services in the Life Science sector. Over the last 15 years, ID Studios has designed hundreds of facilities that support positive workplace culture and drive innovation. Many of these projects have been in the San Diego Life Science sector. Now, with ORANGEWALLstudios on board, we have expanded our lab planning expertise with the design and planning of wet and dry labs that support immunology, genomics, biochemistry, and neuroscience, as well as support spaces such as vivariums. Combined, our firms are a solid technical and design force on the west coast.
As an example of one of ID Studios’ Life Science projects, we recently completed design and construction for the offices of Neurelis, a company that received FDA approval on a new seizure cluster rescue treatment. Their new workplace is built into a hill overlooking Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve where the views offer a powerful connection to nature, promoting health, happiness, and progress among Neurelis’ staff. The workspace design integrates natural materials to enhance the wellness mission of the company and provides natural light to each person while bringing the outdoors in.
Undisclosed Pharmaceutical Company Break Room
ID Studios also recently designed the new headquarters for an Undisclosed Pharmaceutical Company located at the brand-new mixed-use development, One Paseo. This company created the first and only medication approved by the FDA for the treatment of hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis. Their offices integrate the latest technology while maintaining a Southern California loft feeling and planning for new social distancing attributes as well.
Inova Diagnostics is yet another client in the local Life Science industry that ID Studios has worked with on several refresh and expansion projects. Nestled in the eucalyptus groves of Scripps Ranch, Inova is a leader in autoimmune diagnostics, delivering highly accurate reagents and efficient automation to labs throughout the world. The combination of state-of-the-art labs and healthy office space for these innovators, just add to the already successful company output.
With ORANGEWALLstudios’ extensive experience in Lab planning and ID Studios’ expertise in workplace design as well as over 1.5 Million SF of history in this arena combined, it is clear that our approach is what makes us an exceptional choice for companies who care both about their technology solutions as well as their people.
With this new partnership, ID Studios has now expanded its outreach with additional office locations in Oakland, CA and Portland, OR. ID Studios’ headquarters remains in Solana Beach, CA. We look forward to partnering with more life science companies in the future to create environments that support exciting new innovations in Life Science.
With the Life Sciences being a driving force in the San Diego region, ID Studios is excited to be a part of Biocom, “the largest, most experienced leader and advocate for California’s life science sector.”
We hope that by becoming an active part of this community, we can make better connections, join in education opportunities, share our expertise, and join in activities with others who are similarly focused.
We’re humbled to be part of the San Diego community’s Top 100 Best Places to Work. This Awards program, sponsored by the San Diego Business Journal, focuses on “outstanding companies whose benefits, policies and practices are among the best in the region.”
As a small, locally owned business we care about our employees and feel like they’re part of our family. Together, we work tirelessly to support our clients so we can continue to enrich their lives through thoughtful design. We’re committed to adapt to the challenges 2020 brings and come out stronger than ever.
We are truly proud to be in the company of our colleagues, clients, and industry partners who have also been named one of an Diego’s Best Places to work in 2020. #MillerHull #CWDriver #CoastalPayroll #tk1sc #DempseyConstruction #IgniteVisibility #SundtConstruction #SheppardMullin #MarshMMA #InnovaSystems #TandemDiabetes #SwinertonBuilders #JLL #BalfourBeatty #DPRConstruction
In January 2005 Deborah Elliott and Amy Morway founded ID Studios with a singular mission: Providing quality design services through timeless and enduring design principles. Over the last fifteen years, ID Studios has grown by developing long-lasting relationships through our personalized, dedicated service and we’re proud that this year we’re celebrating 15 years in business.
We are proud that this personalized service has allowed ID Studios to become recognized as the design firm of choice for many in the San Diego Business Community. The quality of design, commitment to excellence, and end-user personalized focus has borne a host of landmark projects, both for notable clients and the design community at large.
With sincere appreciation for the dedication of our team, the partnership with our clients, and the support of our industry partners, we look forward to another fifteen years!
