Studio Director and Principal Jessica Benner (right) with her sister (left) enjoying an outdoor concert this summer!
BrightBuilt Home’s Studio Director and Principal Jessica Benner has been drawing dream floor plans on grid paper and scrutinizing Architectural Digest magazines since she was 8 years old. To this day, she finds that her penchant for studying and making art, paired with the efficiency of precision drafting, and the inherent puzzle that is smart design, scratches a perpetual itch.
What’s your history with and what you do at BBH?
In 2016, the early days of BBH, I started as a “project coordinator”. I was fresh out of Architecture school and ready to hit the ground running at this new dream job. I was able to work with clients, address their deepest needs with thoughtful design, collaborate with manufacturers and builders, manage the details of project delivery, and even write a newsletter or many. The company was new and small, and the owners/leaders were empathetic, cool humans who valued my opinion and skills. I’ve been walking with this company through its every iteration, ever since. I’ve done a dash (or more) of just about everything it takes to run and develop a start up.
Over the years, as we’ve matured, I’ve been able to step out of that original role to embrace strategic thinking, company vision, team growth, and process development. Now as a principal of the firm, I have the privilege of meeting new clients in the sales process, working with the design team to think about big design concepts, and the pilots to consider client experience. In the day to day, I also get to bring thought and care to the minute details of team health and personnel growth, and be a pen in the evolution of our internal and external processes.
Jessica’s recent dabbles into watercolor
What's something that's inspiring you lately?
Have you paused to admire the shape of the moon lately? Or, on a Sunday afternoon, have you pulled up a seat on that antique stool in your bathroom, sunlight streaming in the windows, and dyed a 7 year old’s hair orchid purple - an artful endeavor, just at the tips. I’m inspired by slowing down, which is sort of hilarious for me to say because my secret super power is being efficient, which sometimes, oftentimes means doing things incredibly fast!... What I think I’m trying to get at is doing things (even the mundane) with intention and reverence is the sweet stuff of inspiration.
I’ve been writing a lot of poetry lately (Mary Oliver is the dream muse!) I read roughly 2 books a week, and while my go-to genre is heavy on fantasy, there is something mind-blowing about mixing in some bell hooks and the like. I've recently discovered I enjoy feeling the stretch and sweat and centering of hot yoga, and there is always the sensory bath of walking amongst the falling leaves of autumn with friends.
I am mama to two ungovernable girls who challenge me to dive head first into life, creating community, or laughing uncontrollably as we play duck-duck-goose while the sun sets and the air chills. I am continually, infinitely inspired to seek understanding about how people find meaning in their lives, including my own, and how that translates to the business of business and furthermore the spaces that which we inhabit.
One of Jessica’s ungovernable daughters cartwheeling down Portland streets
What do you like most about your work?
The people. This team is incredible. They inspire me everyday. I want to be in our office daily because the vibe of the collective is whole, and engaged, and supportive.
And, I can’t not mention the endless puzzle of all design. Designing for modular is especially consuming; fitting all of the spatial pieces in a 3D form while having the boundaries of a “box” that is sized to be shipped, it never ceases to be interesting.
For any new client, how would you describe your design style, approach, or what it's like to work on projects together?
My style is adaptable and quirky, as is my personal approach to just about everything. I like to relate to people and I want to know about you. People get a human experience when we work on projects together; I am quick witted, passionate about the work (both design and environment) and committed to walk the path and to an end result that just feels good.
Thank you Jess, for all that you do!!
Check out more behind the scenes images of Jess’s world on our Instagram.
