Rachel Winston
Design Porfolio
“Creativity is human nature. When we call ourselves designers, we are telling the world that we have decided to nurture creativity and dedicate ourselves to the cultivation of ideas.� -Sage Russel
Rachel Winston
Projects
Office Library Mixed-Use Development
Professional Work
Finish Boards Fit Plans Completed Spaces
Philanthropy
Art From the Heart IIDA Philanthropy Committee
Projects
Improvisation 26: Wassily Kandinsky
Sustainability Analysis
Two-Dimensional Interpretation
First Floor Plan
Three-Dimensional Concept Model
Mezzanine Floor Plan
This project was to propose an office design for a graphic design company, Landor Associates. The new headquarters in San Francisco, CA, will inspire bright modern designs, clients and employees. This suite provides an impressive welcoming reception and conference rooms for structured meetings with clients. The open office area provides multiple casual gathering places where colleagues can brainstorm together, and also private spaces where employees can work independently. The abstract painting to the left by Wassily Kandinsky was the inspiration for this project. Overlaying the different elements and principles of design found in this piece resulted in my twodimentional interpretation. From there, I created the three-dimensional model and used it as an abstract concept for the design of this space.
Office
KEY: LIBRARY LIBRARY ENTRANCE DRIVING PATH WALKING PATH ACADEMIC BUILDINGS RESIDENTIAL AREA PARKING
Paths & Transportation Study
Building Analysis: First Floor
This team project proposed a renovation to the Marvin K. Peterson Library at the University of New Haven. The redesigned library will be the campus “cloud� of information and recreation. The convenient and interactive facility acts as a home base for the campus community where users can work, eat, socialize, and relax. It is a place to recharge and refuel not only devices, but your mind and body. The library is centrally located near the residential and academic buildings on campus; it acts as a center that combines education and student life. Faculty and students will be able to download a free and convenient app to their mobile device that digitally connects them to the library 24/7. It will have information regarding library events, room reservations, access to databases, ebooks, a digital library of textbooks and resources, wireless printing, and the cafe menu. The library is designed for the modern day student and educator; there are minimal physical books since digital resources are accessible through the library app. Computers and iPads are conveniently located throughout the space. All tables and lounge chairs feature outlets so that personal devices can be charged at any location. Each floor is designed as a different zone so students have space to socialize, refuel, collaborate, and work independently for maximum productivity under one roof.
Library
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
First Floor Plan PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
Second Floor Plan
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
Third Floor Plan PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
First Floor: Student Lounge
Second Floor: Collaborative Work Area
Third Floor: Quiet Study/Relaxation
First Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan
This project was to design an affordable housing develpment by renovating a historic building in New Haven, CT. Canopy Dwelling is a community for young professionals to live amongst their peers while maintaining their new found independence. A beautiful property with gardens, patios, and a firepit encourages its residents to befriend their neighbors. Tenants can conveniently get their daily exercise at the gym and fitness studio on site. Within the development there are two commercial spaces open to the general public. Canopy Dwelling inspires connections between its residents and the surrounding New Haven community.
Mixed-Use Development
Every apartment in Canopy Dwelling features a kitchen with stainless steel appliances, fresh colored finishes and plenty of storage. Units located on the interior side of the building have sliding doors in the kitchen and bedroom that lead to a private balcony overlooking the beautiful site. Each bedroom contains two large closets and will fit a queen size bed and a long dresser with room to spare.
Refresh Salon is a unisex salon where guests can get a haircut, color, wax, or massage. The small, cozy feel of the space makes it a comfortable place for everyone in the neighborhood to go; guests always leave looking and feeling their best.
Whether you are running to work and stop in for breakfast to-go, or you are meeting friends after work for a drink, Day & Night Cafe is the place to be. This casual cafe offers reasonably priced food and refreshment. It features a variety of seating and a large outdoor patio for visitors to enjoy during the warmer months.
Professional Work
245 FIRST STREET
GENERAL WALL COLOR: PURE WHITE SW7005
BARN LIGHT ELECTRIC: ATOMIC INDUSTRIAL GUARD SCONCE: GALVANIZED
WALL TILE: DALTILE: SEMI-GLOSS WALL & COUNTER GLAZED, 6x6 ARCTIC WHITE BRICK INSTALLATION
FLOOR TILE: BEST TILE: STAX12x24 ANTRACITE, STACK INSTALLATION
PHASE 1: LOCKER ROOM SCHEME
COUNTER TOP: M. TEIXEIRA SOAPSTONE: STORMY BLACK
BARN LIGHT ELECTRIC: ANCHORAGE BULKHEAD CEILING MOUNT LIGHT FIXTURE: GALVANIZED
AMP STANDARD KD WARDROBE LOCKERS DOUBLE-TIERED
SHOWER FLOOR TILE: BEST TILE: STAX: ANTRACITE 2x2 MOSAIC
RICHELIEU: MULTI-PURPOSE HOOK - 79629BAG
AMP STANDARD KD WARDROBE LOCKER FINISH DEMIN 731
Digital Board
Physical Board
Finish boards are created so that clients have a better sense of how all of the proposed finishes, furniture and accessories will come together in a space. Sometimes a digital board will suffice, providing digital images of all design components in an organized fashion. Other times, a physical board is needed so clients can see and feel the actual material of the finishes we intend to specify.
Finish Boards
Fit plans are an important intitial phase before a project is carried out in construction documents. I have created many fit plans for a wide variety of clients/tenants. Using the program provided by the end user, I design the best possible layout for the proposed space. While laying out the space, I focus on required adjacencies and compliance concerns such as ADA clearances, egress separation and travel distance. The examples shown here are color coordinated according to the tenant’s program. A legend is included so that the end users can better see that we have met all of their requirements and can confirm that our design will support the efficiency and functionality of their company.
Fit Plans
Cafe: Lounge Seating
Cafe: Table Seating
Lobby
Completed Spaces
Corridor
Lobby
Lobby
Materials Library
Conference Room Entrance
Open Office
Philanthropy
Melissa, a nine-year-old girl battling cancer, wanted an awesome room that she and her friends could hang out in. Her parents were already planning to buy her new furniture, so we used our budget to buy her some accessories: a TV, a closet organization system, and a versatile desk. She loves soccer so we created a soccer field mural above her bed and added glimmer lights and disco balls for some diva flare. Since Melissa was in the hospital when we finished, her father video chatted with her to unveil her new dream room.
As treasurer of the University of New Haven’s Art from the Heart club, I helped organize fundraisers and all of the purchasing of materials to complete two bedroom makeovers. Anneliese, a five-year-old suffering from cancer and her younger sister share a small bedroom. With the funds we raised, we were able to buy them all new furniture: a brand new bunk bed, two dressers, and bedding. We added a few fun touches for the young girls such as the monkey wall decal hanging above their dresser, and a chalk-board painted closet door to doodle on.
Art from the Heart
Volunteers from the local design community at the Cradles to Crayons warehouse
In June of 2015 I joined the IIDA New England Chapter’s Philanthropy Committee and immediately volunteered to be the liaison for our upcoming fundraiser for Cradles to Crayons. As the liaison, I coordinated a drive amongst local design firms to collect donations of back to school supplies for less fortunate children in the area. At the end of the drive, we as a design community donated enough supplies to give 118 children back-to-school supply packs that contained all of the essential items they need to succeed. As a follow-up, I coordinated a day where designers could volunteer their time at the local Cradles to Crayons warehouse. We spent a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon sorting through donated clothing to create clothing packs; a week’s worth of clothes to give to a child in need. Our next project was to help Heading Home, an organization that supports homeless families with career counceling, money management, and finally placement in a home where they can live independently. We spent an evening with designers making decorations for their holiday shop. Then we spent a Saturday volunteering at the shop helping families select gifts and watching young children in the day care.
IIDA Philanthropy Committee