Team Spotlight: Katie Timmerman, Senior Director of Design At Convene

At Convene, we’re passionate about amazing design. From creating Meeting & Event spaces that elevate collaboration, to selecting furniture textiles that evoke an undeniable sense of place, every detail in our spaces is meticulously tailored. A “design narrative,” inspired by the history and culture of the surrounding area, is woven into every property, giving it an authentic personality all its own. From a design perspective, this makes every location unique, yet Convene’s signature style and commitment to excellence can be felt throughout.

We sat down with Katie Timmerman, senior director of design at Convene, to give us a deep dive into her design process and philosophy, and to explain how she brings the Convene aesthetic to life.

How would you describe your role?

As Senior Director of Design, I lead a team that defines, develops and maintains Convene brand and typology standards through the design of Convene’s physical spaces from concept through delivery. We’re the team that creates and executes the designs that our members and clients see when they are in the space.

What drew you to Convene?

I have a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Interior Architecture and Design and began my career in New York City doing corporate office design. Soon after, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue the hospitality design industry, working on hotels, resorts, and high-end club spaces within sports stadiums and arenas. I eventually made my way to Convene which has been an amalgamation of both worlds, fusing hospitality, events, and workplace into one outlet.

What are the core principles that go into designing our spaces?

Our design philosophy is simple: We value the way our clients engage with our spaces. We believe design has an emotional impact and shapes the way people connect, collaborate, and create in their physical surroundings. Our spaces aim to inspire productivity in a comfortable, thoughtful environment that carefully considers how we want users to feel in our space. We strive to break from the ordinary, invite possibility, and promote authenticity; creating a familiar comfort that allows our users to feel at home, at work. We design our spaces with intention, curating an experience that supports and inspires our users to have their best day at work, at Convene.

What does the design process look like?

We always start with a narrative that is relevant to the building and the surrounding vernacular. We desire to become a part of the neighborhoods and communities that we go into, so we want to celebrate the local connection and history around our space. If you look at narratives across the portfolio, you can see how we tie the design of our space back to the building and surrounding community.

We strive to keep the narrative consistent throughout the design and make sure our brand and philosophy shine through. We want people to walk into our spaces and know they’re at a Convene. We have a global fabric that is the main structure of the space, and we use the unique local thread to weave through every individual project. Our in-depth storytelling really makes our spaces different from everyone else’s.

Could you give us some examples of that process in action?

22 Bishopsgate is located within the City’s Square Mile in London and references the history of the Bishopsgate arch, or one of the main entries into the Square Mile. We meshed this with the experiential component of livery halls, where people gathered in the City, juxtaposed with the modern street art located in the neighborhood adjacent to 22 Bishopsgate.

Convene 100 Stockton in San Francisco - The building is located within an old Macy’s in the heart of Union Square, a neighborhood that is full of landmark architecture and historical buildings. We looked at surrounding, local residential architecture of the Third Bay Tradition, a modern architectural movement seen along the coast of Northern California. We then introduced some local flavor through the notorious city fog… You can see the ethereal nature of the fog woven through the space in things like materials, lighting, etc.

From a design perspective, what are some things that event planners and workplace decision makers should look out for when selecting a space?

High-quality design, room and gallery breakout and flow, AV functionality, and brandability. Clients enjoy the narrative and the end result, but ultimately, the most important factors are what help them to run a successful event. Convene spaces are designed to be flexible and cater to every client's needs, and at the end of the day, that’s the most important thing to be considered when designing.

What projects are you currently working on?

Convene 100 Stockton is next to open in San Francisco, and then Convene Sancroft, St. Paul's in London, with a few other exciting (confidential) projects in the pipeline.

What can people expect from those?

People can expect the same high-quality design and narrative across the next tranche of properties, but what they will see is the product of years and years of work improving and building upon our projects. As we design and open properties, we are continuing to iterate on how to design and operate properties more efficiently and better than before.

Do you have a favorite property?

My favorite projects are typically those that are opening a brand new market for us, but it typically changes often! Right now, my favorite project is Convene 22 Bishopsgate. The team worked so incredibly hard to deliver that project as our first project overseas, and it has been incredible to see the response from clients and the market.

If you ask me again in October though, it will definitely be Convene 100 Stockton. There is really nothing like the thrill of opening a new property, and the team is more excited than ever to open in San Francisco. We have been working on this project for over 4 years, and seeing it finally come to fruition is incredible.

Interested in joining the Convene team? Learn more on our Careers Page.

Curious about our meetings, events, and office interior design? Head over to our About Us Page to learn more.