No two interiors are ever the same.

Structural fundamentals aside, there are hardly two interiors, two projects, two design visions which can be called the same.

Architects and designers understand this--they know that beneath the surface of every successfully realized space there is a complex web of aesthetic choices, individually tailored client solutions, and a wealth of constantly evolving expertise that supports it, and makes it unique. Fundamentals never change, but styles, client requirements, and technology do.

Over the last 25 years, TPG has grown into a truly diversified practice with a broad-based clientele --along the way we have learned that every interior, regardless of industry, presents its own distinct set of challenges and opportunities. Firm Principals Steven Segure, Vincent Iacobellis, Neil Tucker, RA, Barry Ludlow, Michel Fiechter, and Senior Associate David Okulicz share their thoughts:

Retail/Branding: As consumers, we are reassured by brand identity--the sense that we have an ongoing rapport with a retailer, service provider or product line. Consistently communicating that message is of paramount importance to the retail client, and designers must be sensitive to the issue--in a sense, becoming caretakers of the brand identity.

Steven Segure: "It is imperative that you understand the client's brand, culture, needs and ideals."

Segure speaks of work that must be completed on aggressive budgets and tight schedules, often requiring multiple revisions. "A designer must also understand the retailer's clientele--is it a high traffic store? How durable do the elements (carpeting, etc ...) need to be?"

Vincent Iacobellis: "The primary difference between corporate and retail design is that our product is visually accessible to the public."

Iacobellis is quick to point out that the firm doesn't attempt to insinuate a TPG style on the client's space: "We are not a signature firm--As designers, we are merely tools to execute the client's vision." Both Principals agree that in the world of retail, design is constantly refreshed, and their primary challenge is to remain on the cutting edge.

Broadcast / New Media: The rate of advancement within the broadcast / new media industry is dizzying even to the most tech-savvy design professional. How does the architect keep up with rapid changes in technology and address the needs of high-tech clientele without compromising design integrity or fundamentals?

Neil Tucker, RA: "You must understand what you're building--not just the structural elements, but the technology you're wrapping your design around."

Tucker points out that architects attend industry events, such as the NAB convention, to keep abreast of advancements in technology. Another must is understanding the special physical/acoustical requirements of a client's space in order to accommodate the demands of their industry.

Corporate / Strategic Planning: Among the litany of "C" words that come to mind when people think of corporate design (cubicles, corner offices, copy rooms) is a term that has re-drawn our current corporate landscape: Conglomoratization. Companies merge, meld and re-brand almost daily, corporate priorities shift--how can an architect / strategic planner accommodate the needs of a client with a seemingly infinite capacity for expansion?

Barry Ludlow: "The workplace can be a powerful tool for improving business results by boosting morale, inspiring creativity and fostering communication." Ludlow feels that every successful corporate planning initiative is "Part design strategy, part real estate strategy", stressing the importance of flexible client lease options in addition to design adaptability.

Michel Fiechter: "Flexibility, flexibility, flexibility--everybody talks about it, everybody wants it. The challenge is to understand the difference between perceived flexibility, and real flexibility." Fiechter believes the architect must endeavor to fully understand the corporate culture, and attempt to visualize long term space solutions versus quick fixes.

Healthcare: As a rapidly aging society, healthcare, both acute and long term, is quickly becoming the most discussed, analyzed and hotly contested issue in America today. We have more choices than ever, and the worlds of architecture and design have been racing to accommodate shifting trends in our wellness maintenance.

David Okulicz: "The competitive market for healtheare has created a new design requirement --a patient-sensitive environment with a look and feel different from clinics and hospitals of the last generation."

In our constantly evolving global economy, no two industries, clients, or projects have a chance to be the same--the interior of ten years ago is not the interior of today, and the architect's / designer's ongoing challenge is to envision the unique client needs of tomorrow.