Paula Rees

About Paula Rees

Born in a tornado, I have loved stimulating environments and room service. With a degree in Fine Arts (minors: architectural history, theatre, and world religion), I’ve been on a lifelong exploration of symbology, color, cultural anthropology, and what makes people tick. Every day, I wake up to the best job in the world — delivering outstanding real estate experiences. It means assembling teams of the most innovative, expert minds to create delight. We develop the stories that matter and embed the fine-grain details that attract and bond people to a place. Since founding Foreseer, a multi-disciplinary design practice in 1980, I’ve co-created results with intentioned owners and development teams. Our collaborative partnerships have repeatedly delivered exceptional properties that outperform in each category — mixed-use districts, Main Street neighborhoods, hospitality, and retail. Like a geomancer, I dig for the unique essence of each location to create its singular story. The artistic and architectural elements we create reflect that community with a nod to its past but a look toward its future. The story is embedded subliminally. People, and not architecture, make a place. Buildings are not the first or last impression: people are emotional and sensory beings. We relate to what we see, feel, taste, smell, and hear. Spaces exist everywhere, but we deliver authentic places because of the people we attract. We draw them into a holistic experience. We avoid referring to our places as “brands.” Some things are sacred. We don’t think of people or places as consumers or commodities. Most designers look back at what they last did to create their next project. But there are no formulas for creating meaningful places. Having done this work since long before it was called “placemaking,” we realize every place has a particular reason to be, and the sensory details we create have little to do with data but everything to do with the heart and soul and being of service. Not every development is successful, but ours are. When asked how we connect with new clients, the answer is, “We make owners a hell of a lot of money.” One executive tells another, and the phone rings. Doing the right things pays. That’s why we’ve had long-term relationships, and our properties are known as the “best of” and only grow more valuable over time. If that is of interest, let’s talk.

Experience

1. Principal

   Foreseer

   Jan 1980 — Present · Seattle, WA, US

   Formerly MAESTRI (19••••05). Founded multi-disciplinary design practice in 1980.

Skills

• Visual Communication
• Indesign
• Design Thinking
• Art Direction
• Concept Development
• User Experience
• Graphics
• Retail Design
• Sketching
• Creative Direction
• Rendering
• Layout
• Information Architecture
• User-Centered Design
• Corporate Branding
• Wayfinding
• Communication Design
• Governmental Affairs
• Packaging
• Product Design
• Exhibit Design
• Design Research
• Book Design
• Design Strategy
• Environmental Graphics
• Creative Strategy
• Industrial Design
• Concept Design
• Illustrator
• Brand Implementation
• Collateral
• Interaction Design
• Strategic Design
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Posters
• Information Design
• Environmental Design
• Graphic Design
• Illustration
• Information Graphics