by Tim Girvin | Brands, Motion Pictures, Places, Retail | Sep 10, 2026
[Image shot onsite at Disneyland | Tim Girvin] Working Imagination | The Imagineers at Disneyland In my history as a design leader, we worked around various propositions of entertainment at Disney—not only working on films, but Disneyland itself, in a string of calls...
by Tim Girvin | Brands, Interior Design, Places, Retail | Jun 17, 2026
Creating environments with brand language and narrative patterning built into the experience design strategy. What if there was an intention to create a pattern language that could guide consumers, and renovate a retail environment? And, while you’re at it, simplify...
by Tim Girvin | Concepts, Interior Design, Places | May 6, 2026
Since 1972, I’ve created a long string of design environments—from my on-campus college office in 1973, while at The Evergreen State College, as a student and associate professor—with my first business license—the cabin that I lived and worked in on Eld Inlet—named...
by Tim Girvin | Interior Design, Places | Sep 27, 2024
As you walk a journey—there are symbols in the path of your stride. As a person that has history in building places, thinking design in destinations, I tend to think about everything as a migration of symbolic content. Surely, simply, contemplate walking in a door—you...
by Tim Girvin | Brand Mysticism, Brands, Concepts, Cool People, Human brands, Interior Design, Places, Retail | Nov 5, 2021
TOUCH ME MORE OFTEN. When you circulate, out exploring things—places, brands, natural experiences in the outdoors—what do you do? How do you explore? Me? I’m a touchy-feely kind of a person—I like to touch things, which is inherent in the character of my work, since I...
by Tim Girvin | Interior Design, Places, Storytelling | Sep 30, 2020
When you make a place, what gives it soul? Authenticity, material utility, legacy of use. Humanity in play, ingenuity of unexpected applications. Soulfulness wouldn’t support a clinical cleanliness or synthetic manufacture, soul— by its very etymology—refers to sea,...
by Tim Girvin | Concepts, Places, Storytelling | Aug 26, 2014
What is the thing? As in every thing, I begin as a writer, I look into the heart and history of words, to learn more about their original heat — what was their sparking ignition? I contemplate my use of many words as deeper meditations on patterning. Where did the...
by Tim Girvin | Interior Design, Places | Feb 1, 2008
Jumeirah, the Dubai-based global hospitality brand, created — with help of restaurant designer Tony Chi | NYC — a new visioning of dining experience at the Essex House. Our role was to define strategy and personality, gather pertinent commentary from Kerry...
by Tim Girvin | Artists, Places, Retail | Feb 1, 2008
…. I’d written about Ken earlier, the work that he was doing on this sidewalk. I’d surely offer that Tony Goldman, the developer, should be applauded for his winning (and willing) innovation. Must be a visionary, to implement this street art, as an...
by Tim Girvin | Artists, Concepts, Designers, Places | Dec 16, 2007
I’ve offered some expression of the opening vision of 40 Bond and I’ve been watching the evolution of that project. I went back. I had a couple of meetings in that area, NOHO, I’m guessing. Kimberly Sheppard from Gabellini | Sheppard. And...
