Meet Wendy Umanoff

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Wendy Umanoff a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Wendy, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I found my purpose from the environment that I grew up in. We lived in a mid-century modern home constructed with post and beams and walls of glass, I was always surrounded by creativity. Having the opportunity to experience the changing of the seasons and the growing landscape design that my father passionately worked on, I came to understand that the ability to create comes from the ability to see. Also, both of my parents were creatives. My father being a furniture designer and mother a sculptor, taught me the importance of choosing a career path that I would love. Not by what they said, but by what they did.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m a lighting fixture designer located in Richmond, Virginia. My design Co. Umanoff Design LLC, specializes in creating custom light fixtures for residential homes, hospitality and commercial spaces. My design aesthetic has always been eclectic. It keeps me open to appreciating the many different styles that exist in the design world. Along with my custom work, I also design limited edition collections that are available for purchase on my website. My passion is to create lighting fixtures that my clients will continue to fall in love with everyday. There is something so gratifying about having an idea, finding the resources to create it and then seeing it in it’s finished form.

What I love most about the custom design work that I do is about the time spent getting to know the people that I create for and what inspires them. Providing an opportunity for stylistic self-discovery, the design of each chandelier, pendant or sconce is tailored to authentically reflect their unique style. Working with couples allows for a deeper dive into their emotional commitment to the project. Often, they are wanting different things. Helping them communicate their vision so that they can find their alignment with each other is extremely fulfilling.

There are so many choices that are available to align with our desires. Sharing the pairing of materials, and finishes for a light fixture, inform and create exciting possibilities. Even though each custom project is different, my design process begins in the same way. At our first meeting I will ask my clients specific questions that will guide them towards learning what their wants and needs are. Discovering what they don’t want will allow for more creative opportunities. What can be different with each project, is communication styles. Creating sketches, including dimensions, using actual lighting parts and pieces and providing finish samples are all tools that are a part of my process. There is a definite balance needed between listening and documenting the choices being made. It’s such a sweet part of the communication process.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The three qualities that have been the most impactful in my journey as a designer is communication, collaboration and consideration of the failure rate in a project.

Communication:
With each project I want my clients to feel that their living and or working space is an expression of who they are. Understanding their desires and the details within that space will help to define a successful outcome. Sometimes the success of a custom light fixture is more about my client’s emotions than the design of the fixture itself.

Collaboration:
Achieving a finished product, absolutely takes a village. I feel lucky to be able to collaborate with local metalsmiths, wood woodworkers and glassblowers right here in Richmond! The custom projects that come through my studio most often involve a layering of fabrication processes. Whether designing custom light fixtures for residential interiors or energizing commercial spaces, we do our best to listen, with a fine-tuned attention to detail.

We can be very independent in the work that we do, but growing your creative community most often promises for a more successful outcome. There is so much information gained from having creative conversations with people who are studying design (fresh minds) or are established working designers and artists. Having these relationships continue to stretch me and offer an ongoing opportunity to learn and grow my creative purpose. Aligning yourself with people that are absorbed in their own creative journey, can definitely help to influence your passions.

Failure Rate:
Being aware of what can fail in a creative project will most always offer a successful outcome. I have learned that when I’m designing custom light fixtures there needs to be awareness of possible failure. Making sure that the dimensions are correct, awareness of the space and placement of the fixture to be installed as well as how it will be installed, will create a successful and less stressful outcome.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

The biggest area of growth that I’ve experienced in the past 12 months is how to create quiet space within my mind. Through a practice of writing and meditation, I have become much more patient. Being a triple fire sign, the energetic message I keep getting is “Wait for it”. Being able to create more space within my creative brain, my design ideas come through me with more ease. I’ve learned to ask myself different questions about what I need. It has helped me to be more methodical about my design process. Also making daily detailed lists help me to stay organized and work more efficiently.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://umanoffdesign.com
• Instagram: @umanoffdesign
• Facebook: Wendy Umanoff – Umanoff Design
• Linkedin: Umanoff Design