Design of a Lifetime

The Design Path of Danielle Koos

When I was younger, people asked what I wanted to do when I got older and to be honest, I had no idea other than I knew I could do whatever I put my mind to. I grew up associating the Eames lounge chair with my grandfatherʼs study and learning to take my first steps around a Noguchi coffee table, which acted as a balancing piece. I didnʼt actually connect the dotes of what my calling was until many years later.

This photos is around 19 years old. Everyday in school starting around the year 2000, I focused on my graph paper, counting the squares as if they were the square footage calculators for the floor plans I designed. Then rushing home to get onto my moms computer so I bring those plans to life on a game called The SIMʼs. I remember my mom forcing me to come sit for dinner or to get ready for bed when all I wanted to do was build homes. If you arenʼt familiar with The SIMʼs, you build and manage communities and families. Starting with creating the family, buying the lot, building then furnishing the home, and once completed you manage the people. Except I did not care for managing the people, I found myself focusing on the lots themselves. Iʼd count my squares on the lot then go straight to my graph paper, creating multiple floorpans I would later build and furnish.

Ten years later, majoring in business and still not knowing exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I never liked school but I also never gave up. I distinctly remember the exact moment of when I realized design is for me. It was an accounting class which is definitely not my forte, not to mention a night class, but I found myself not listening because I was building houses on The SIMʼs. The professor was passing back exams, which clearly I didnʼt pass, but it was even more clear to me that I had to make what I enjoyed into my profession. While looking at my failed exam, I glanced at the house I was building on my computer screen and then the time I had left in the class. With two hours still remaining, I decided to close my laptop and pack up. I remember leaving class and literally running back to my dorm so I can google different career paths that have to do with design. It was then, when I called my mom and told her I was dropping out and coming home. I packed my car and drove home the next day, not knowing how I will get to what I wanted but knew I could do it no matter what. 

It sure wasnʼt easy after that, but my drive never stopped, I started completely over aiming to achieve my degree for what I knew I was made for. 

​Itʼs now 19 years later, where I can look back at my path of design, not only with a bachelors degree in interior design, but with confidence that I followed my calling, my passion, my obsession.

The best part?
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​This is just the start!