Catch Design Studio was founded in 2003. Ever since, we have been delivering superior design projects to our clients throughout Washington state and across the country. A logo, a brochure, a website, an environment, are not independent entities, but relate together to generate the overall image of a company. Our diverse set of skills allows us to provide this holistic design for our clients.
Catch is a collaborative design firm. Think of our design process is a game of catch. An idea generated by one mind is thrown to the next which catches it, refines it, adds to it and then throws it back where it is caught and refined again. Our clients join with us in this game of catch. Our clients challenge our thinking and we in turn challenge theirs. They understand that we are valuable business partners with them for the long haul, It is through this active communication that we arrive at the right solutions.
The team at Catch is diverse and broadly educated. We span three generations and two cultures. Our education in the world, and in university, ranges from fine art to cultural history, from interior architecture, graphic, and interactive design to web programming, from teaching to small business ownership. This diversity brings depth to our design solutions.
Company Timeline
The Beginning:
Fresh out of design school we established our partnership: Catch Design Studio. We found a perfect office in the heart of Capitol Hill. Our first major project was revamping the Inglewood Golf Club logo. We went on to redesign their entire stationary system and provide new marketing materials.
In 2004 we were selected to redesign the ABKJ Consulting Engineers logo. ABKJ designed some of the most iconic bridges in the Seattle area including the West Seattle bridges and the Bellevue sky bridge. We went on to create a special logo for their 50 year anniversary, a stationary system, as well as promotional materials. Eventually we went on to create our first major website for them: a 200 hundred page site entirely in FLASH.
Our company logo was selected to be part of the Logolounge book of best logos of 2005. We continued to establish our graphic design work branching out into annual report design. We designed 5 years of annual reports for WCRA (Washington Community Reinvestment Association)
From 2004 to 2006 our FLASH animation web design really took off. We had the opportunity to create the Annika website for Cutter & Buck, celebrating their Annika Line; The Moose Pablos jewelry site; The Mata No Peito site for Nike; Colt Rod Company’s flagship website; The Nascar site for Fetha Styx; and SASE Company’s new website; among many more. We created branding and marketing for these companies as well for an integrated design approach.
Prior to their degrees in graphic design both partners had a background in visual art, and one had a previous degree in interior architecture. In 2007 we began our journey into interior spaces by creating environmental graphics for retail businesses and restaurants.
This was the year we landed our first major interior architecture project, a ground up buildout in the brand new expansion of Westlake Mall for Racha Thai & Asian Kitchen. We designed their food court offshoot: Noodle Zone, as well as Racha locations in Capital Mall in Olympia WA and in Clackamas Oregon. This was the year of the great recession, it was a hard year for Catch and clients alike. The changes we made to our business to make it through the hard times made us stronger when we came out the other end.
In 2009 we continued our interior architecture work designing several restaurants throughout Seattle. It was this year that saw Catch really digging into the back of the house: kitchen layout, equipment selection and flow and function of the working spaces.
In 2010 and beyond we continued our interior architecture business creating reality out of dreams for chefs and entrepreneurs big and small. We knew we were successful when the project was finished, and the client did not want to leave the restaurant.
In 2011 we began to work more closely with our senior architect and consulting engineers and began developing our knowledge base for city codes and permitting.
In 2012 we created a web development system specifically for restaurants. We integrated web design into our interior architecture projects.
Major projects during this year include: HaiKu Buffet in Redmond, Varro, Tam Noodle Box, and Manao on Capitol Hill, Inspire Fitness in Ballard, Zen Sushi & Bar in Bellingham, Seattle Hat at Sea-Tac Airport,and Smiles by Bond in West Seattle.
This was the year we designed our first stand alone buildings. We designed and oversaw construction of the T-Mobile retail building in Renton, and a four unit townhome project in Lake City. We brought together, and worked closely with a team of engineering and architectural consultants.
In 2014 we developed our knowledge of beauty salons, healthcare institutions, and retail business. From codes specific to these types of businesses, to their interior flow and function, to unique design solutions; we had the opportunity to design for many different types of business.
In 2015 the new version of the IBC (International Building Code) was established as the code of the land. The ADA, life safety, and seismic requirements became more stringent and detailed. We gained more knowledge and experience in plan submittals to various jurisdictions. We developed our own system for efficiently following plans through the permitting process.
This year was the start of our support drawings for Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing portions of the interior architecture process. We also branched out into construction administration and project management working closely with General Contractors to oversee the projects from start to finish.
In 2017 our sister business in Bangkok was created. With drafting and 3D modeling design help from this company we were able to take on many more projects in the USA.
This year began our opportunity to work for national brands that were expanding internationally. 2018 saw the completion of several major projects including Subway, KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut.
This year Catch became a 24 hour design business. With our international helpers working through our night (their day), and our team here picking up the next morning we were able to turn projects around much more quickly. We were the busiest ever- more workers- more project types including commissary kitchens and retail stores.
We shut down our office and worked remotely throughout this year along with the rest of the world. It was a tough time for our restaurant clients. We did our best to help where we could in terms of adapting for take-out operations etc. Fortunately most of our clients made it through. We took this opportunity to shut down our Capitol Hill office and began the process of moving to a larger, stand alone building in West Seattle that will give us more options and room to grow.
We worked with clients to create businesses that could still operate within pandemic parameters. We designed and permitted several bubble tea locations and more quick service restaurant concepts. We began developing several larger projects for clients with vision and means, who want to be ready right away for the post-pandemic world. This has been our strongest year ever and we look forward with optimism to 2022.
The fun things inside or outside the office
It’s a serious business
