P O R T F O L I O A Collection of Design Works by Valentina Ramirez
TABLE OF CONTENTS Selected Works from 2017 - 2020 University of Georgia - Interior Design
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350 West Main Ave Adaptive Reuse
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Odaiba Grand Hotel Hospitality
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Steelcase: NEXT Workplace
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Davines Booth Exhibition Design
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Luminary Sculpture Furniture Design
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Photography Miscellaneous
Studio 1 Residential Project - Fall 2017
Hello &
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hank you for taking the time to investigate my journey as a designer. Through my portfolio, I hope you can get a sense of my process from
conceptualizing ideas to the final presenation of my designs. In no means is it a linear process, but that is the beauty of it. As a designer, it is essential to challenge oneself to the limit of a project in order to successfully attain the full potential. This concept could be approached on a smaller level of individual projects, but it can also be applied to the grand journey that it is to become a successful designer. Being at the beginning of my own journey, I'm looking forward to being humbled by my future successes and learning from my failures. Valentina Ramirez
Photograph by Penske McCormack
350 WEST MAIN AVE
35 0 W ES T MAI N AVE Completed Spring 2020 - Solo Project
Logo Branding
ADAPTIVE REUSE
L
ocated in in Historic Downtown Gastonia, NC, the project combines the two building entities into a joined space that serve a single developer with two retail businesses. The retail business on the south side of the property is Spindle City Coffee Roasters, which aims to bring the community together one cup of coffee at a time. It retains double height ceilings to highlight the original architectural features of the building, while incorporating modern design elements like the lofts that mirror across the space. The north side of the property is dedicated to Little Pine, a charming evening eatery specialized in craft cocktails and modern Southern cuisine. Little Pine’s allure begins with the full-service bar located near the front of the restaurant while a sculptural staircase located near the center of the space invites its guests to experience the second level dining room. The original construction details are honored throughout the property, but none more than the large private courtyard accessible to the all patrons. Together, the businesses offer the community a new space to gather and create valuable connections, while being a new source of pride for the locals.
Perspective of Coffee Roaster Interior
Interior Section - North
Axonometric Perspective of Cafe Seating
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350 WEST MAIN AVE
Front Elevation
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sing adaptive reuse concepts at the core, the project at 350 West Main Ave, redeveloped the two buildings to a single address that houses two new retail spaces, a coffee roaster, and a restaurant. The new spaces will be divided along the original axis of the courtyard wall going horizontally across the building, creating a wider frame for the coffee roaster on the south side of the project. The profile of the original separation wall between the two buildings was updated to reflect architectural arcades
that reference the history of the town as Mill City. The core of the project consists of a shared kitchen and water closets, which are separated by a buffer hallway with sliding doors. The north-east side of the facility features the large courtyard that's lined by the original masonry walls and fitted with landscaping and seating for any user of the property to enjoy. Along the west side, sits the twostory restaurant that features a full-service bar and a variety of seating options to give the guests a unique vantage point from anywhere in the space.
Rear Elevation
ADAPTIVE REUSE
Second Floor Plan
First Floor Plan
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350 WEST MAIN AVE
Little Pine Eatery offers its guests a unique dining experience through the fine crafted-cocktails and Southern menu with a modern twist. The dining room is filled with rich tones of warm leather, salvaged wood that’s been repurposed, red brick along the exterior walls, and forest green from the custom wallpaper with a pine tree motif.
Axonometric Perspective of Little Pine
Perspective of Full-Service Bar
ADAPTIVE REUSE
Interior Section - East
Interior Section - West
Perspective of Main Dining Room
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ODAI BA GR AND HOT EL
Completed Fall 2019 - Group Project
Perspective of Hotel Lobby
ODAIBA GRAND HOTEL
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n oasis located across Tokyo’s sparkling Rainbow Bridge, Odaiba Grand Hotel’s design encapsulates the tender balance of modernity and ritual. Interior zen gardens and natural wooden materials create a harmonious atmosphere that blurs the line between the in and out, while sleek silhouettes reinforce the contemporary attitude. The kanso-style guest rooms and suites are complete with luxurious beds, spacious bathrooms, and feature
floor-to-ceiling windows that maximize the ever-evolving view of Tokyo’s skyline. Step into a world of relaxation at The Ukiyo Spa and Salon that offers traditional style treatments, a dipping pool, saunas, and more. There are several dining experiences to be enjoyed, including kaiseki sushi, Moroccan cuisine, and a unique twist on tapas. Modern elegance radiates throughout the Odaiba Grand Hotel, all the while embracing the natural beauty found in Japan.
HOSPITALITY
Left: Perspective View of the Executive Suite Right: Perspective View of the Presidential Suite
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ODAIBA GRAND HOTEL
Example Page of Final Presentation
HOSPITALITY
Perspective of Spa Lobby
Perspective of the Spa Pool and Sauna
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STEELCASE: NEXT
S T EELCA S E: NEXT Completed Fall 2018 - Solo Project My mission was to create an office space that encourages collaboration and sparks productivity through the development of various work zones that are harmoniously connected and focused on NEXT’s principal values.
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he NEXT offices in Denver are divided into seperate areas among the same floor, so I felt it was my responsibility to create a design that made the two sides feel connected. One of the ways I did this was by using NEXT’s new logo as a motif throughout the project. For example, it's found on a large scale in the geometry of the angled hallway in Suite 150, and again in the shape of the large island in the Work Café in Suite 100. Both sides share the motif as a focal point, establishing the focus of NEXT's brand. My design also intends to highlight the vibrant culture in Denver, Colorado, which was one of the reasons why NEXT to move their new offices there. Denver has an energy unlike any other place, so I attempted to capture an essence of that through contrasting materials, a rich color scheme, and incorporating Denver-style murals in the space. Natural elements from the surrounding region, like Blue Beetle Kill Pine, are also featured in my design.
WORKPLACE
Assortment of images that inspired my final design concept surrounding the city of Denver, CO.
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STEELCASE: NEXT
Perspective of Large Conference Room Perspective of Connection Zone
Perspective of Open Work Space
Perspective of Work Cafe Perspective of Open Work Space
WORKPLACE
NEXT is a student design competition sponsored by Steelcase with a unique project-type offered every year. In 2018, the competition consisted of designing a workplace for a large real estate firm wanting to expand with a new office location in Denver, CO. My project was selected to represent the University of Georgia’s submission to Steelcase that year.
Rendered Floor Plan
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DAVINES BOOTH
DAVI NES B O OT H Completed Summer 2019 - Solo Project SUBSTANCE. STYLE. NATURE. SCIENCE. PEOPLE. SOUL.
Perspective of Booth Exterior
Perspective of Booth Interior
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nter the invigorating world of Davines where sustainability equals responsibility, and beauty celebrates diversity, curiosity, and uniqueness. Through extensive scientific research, Davines sources high-grade natural ingredients for each life-enhancing product. Davines believes that by using sustainable beauty products today their clients step towards a better world for tomorrow.
EXHIBITION DESIGN
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he scope of this project was to design an exhibition booth for an Italian company in a manner that expressed their brand identity both attractively and interactively. Inspiration was sourced from the architecture of Davines' new headquarters, known as Davines Village, located in Parma, IT, as well as through their philosophy of prioritizing natural ingredients for a sustainable outcome. This project was executed during UGA's study aborad program in Cortona, IT.
Perspective Section of Interior
Axonometric of Booth
Floor Plan of Booth
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LUMINARY SCULPTURE
LUMI NARY S CULP T UR E Completed Spring 2017 - Solo Project
Sculpture - Unplugged
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his project was an exploration of materials, finishes, geometry, and balance. Understanding the formation of shadows also played an important role in developing this piece, as slender spaces were carved into the vertical spine, letting light creep through the negative space. Functionality was a consistent parameter, while the development of the form became the true focus of the piece.
Color Palette
FURNITURE DESIGN
Sculpture - Plugged In
Concept Sketches
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PHOTOGRAPHY
P HOT O GR A P HY Zermatt, Switzerland - July 2017
2010 - Present
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Girona, Spain - April 2018
hile interior design remains my most profound passion, photography is a close second. I've been fortunate enough to travel around the world where I've been able to test my composition skills as a photographer. My favorite subject to capture is nature because it makes me feel more connected to my surroundings when I am framing it within a lens. Each detail matters, from the placement of a mountain to the arrangement of leaves on the ground. While most of my experience is freelancing, I've also been invited to photograph live music preformances at places like the Tabernacle, and Music Midtown. I also have experience with portraiture, having been hired for a wedding, and a graduation photoshoot.
MISCELLANEOUS
Young the Giant - Music Midtown - September 2017
Innsbruck, Austria - August 2019
Young the Giant - The Tabernacle - March 2017
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Paper Sculpture - Spring 2017
T HANK YOU Valentina Ramirez +1 704 622 9221 valentina.ramirez02@gmail.com