Derrick is a globally-interested designer who has received recognition for his design visualization and thought leadership. Through his international experiences as a designer in both multicultural and cross-disciplinary settings, he has developed a broad perspective that is informed by a passion for exploring functionally sustainable practices in architecture that relate more directly with social equity and community engagement. With an interest in discovering a "wilder" architecture that reflects the narratives and cultural values of a place, Derrick strives to brings a sensitive eye and enthusiastic voice to each role and project he is a part of, consistently demonstrating his openness as a designer, collaborator, and leader that has proved to benefit every design setting he has joined.
Gensler, Los Angeles, CA, US, Designer
Worked in the media, technology, creative workplace, and mixed-use residential practice areas:
1. Produced design schemes, renderings, and documentation sets for eight media production studio lots; two of which were developed from concept design up through construction documentation.
2. Produced design schemes, renderings, and documentation sets for three mixed-use residential developments across Los Angeles.
3. Participated in and won an RFP for a creative office building on the Sony Pictures Lot.
4. Worked with TikTok producing design schemes and renderings for an in-house recording studio and as part of the CA team for the LA HQ.
5. Developed facade options for a research lab at NASA JPL and an office repositioning in Beverly Grove.
6. Produced design schemes and construction drawings for a retail repositioning in Beverly Hills.
7. Developed design schemes for two creative campuses in Culver City.
8. Received an inhouse reward for excellence in design visualization.
9. Received a research grant to study socially sustainable and community driven design through a case study of Lincoln Heights.
10. Served as an ACE mentor and as part of the internship committee.
ORE Architecture + Technology, Brooklyn, NY, US, Designer
1. Produced design concepts, renderings, and construction drawings for the DD, CD, and CA phases of a custom home in Southampton.
2. Produced renderings and construction drawings for all phases of a pop-up retail space.
3. Produced construction drawings for the CD phase of a multifamily residential project in Manhattan.
4. Produced a white paper on sustainable practices for the conceptual design phase of a food processing center for GrowNYC.
5. Led the design and execution of three design-build installations.
6. Participated in multiple RFP submittals, prospective project proposals, and client presentations.
7. Trained interns and younger staff and a monthly internal series highlighting interdisciplinary design topics.
I-Beam Design, New York, NY, US, Designer
1. Produced renderings and construction drawings for all phases of design for the Miami location of Employees Only.
2. Produced concepts and renderings for the schematic design phase of All-Wise Meadery in Williamsburg.
3. Produced design concepts, renderings, and drawings for the conceptual and schematic design phase of an F&B project in lower Manhattan.
SITE, James Wines, New York, NY, US, Designer
1. Produced renderings for an Off-White store in South Korea.
2. Generated design concepts, sketches, and renderings for the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion competition in 2016 and 2023.
3. Produced design and branding concepts, renderings, physical models, and construction drawings for all phases of design in a reboot of Fatz Cafe across the American South which included two refurbishment and one ground up prototype.
University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA, US, BArch, Bachelor's of Architecture
Recipient of the Trustee Full Merit Scholarship.
Relevant Courses:
Architectural Design Studio, Architecture History, Building Structures, Sustainable Design, Material Science, Architecture Culture and Community, Light Color and the Character of Material, Sketchbook, Digital Tools for Design, Design Communication, Furniture Design, Graphic Design, Concept Design, Photography, Typography
IIDA SoCal Calibre Award, Nomination
For TikTok Recording Studio in the Small Workplace Category.
Gene Watanabe Award, Honorable Mention
Gensler award recognizing excellence in design visualization.
Winner of the Southwest Region and firmwide Finalist.
