Time With The Boss - Lorri Kramer Gray Design Group
Lorrie Kramer
Gray Design Group
Website: www.graydesigngroup.com
Gray Design Group is one of the leading multi-disciplined architectural, interior, planning, branding and graphic design firms in the Midwest.
What’s the smartest thing your company did in the past year?
Gray Design Group’s standout achievement this year has been our strategic focus on team growth and development. We exemplified our firm’s core values by elevating two talented design professionals, Laurie Williams and Melody Cooper, to Associate Principal roles. Promoting strong leaders to mentor the younger generation reinforces our commitment to quality design, client relationships and a positive work culture. We also focused our recruitment efforts on hiring diverse talent, from entry-level to experienced design professionals and added administrative staff roles outside the AEC industry to bring fresh perspectives and insights to support our team. Maintaining a flexible work environment that promotes work-life balance has fostered trust among our team and reduced turnover. This comprehensive approach strengthens our internal relationships and enhances our ability to deliver innovative and collaborative design solutions for our clients.
How do you differentiate your business from others in your industry?
At Gray Design Group, we offer comprehensive design services, integrating architecture, interiors, planning and branding from project inception. This holistic approach creates functional, cohesive spaces that reflect our client’s mission, values and brand identity. Our turnkey design services benefit our clients, providing a streamlined process throughout each project phase. We also encourage our staff to pursue ongoing professional development through training, formal education and certification exams, holding multiple certifications, including AIA, RA, NCARB, EIT, CDT, NCIDQ and LEED, preparing us to uphold safety and welfare standards. Our team is licensed in 40 states and has local and national experience across various markets.
What have been the keys to success for the business?
Gray Design Group attributes our success to a design philosophy centered on listening, collaboration, communication and teamwork. This philosophy guides our interactions with clients, designers, project consultants and the community. We prioritize understanding our clients’ project goals and providing our team with the support, clear communication, guidance and leadership they need to complete a project successfully. Building trust through supportive, strong relationships is also crucial to our approach. We promote collaboration and position ourselves as partners in the design process by cultivating an environment where feedback and ideas are welcomed and encouraged.
What is your best advice for other business owners to find business success?
Gray Design Group has found success in empowering strong leaders, maintaining flexibility in our work culture and trusting in our employees’ capabilities. We prioritize ongoing training and education within our design studios, supported by regular coordination meetings and well-documented processes, to make sure our team feels supported and equipped to handle project challenges. This proactive approach offers opportunities for advancement or stepping into critical roles when necessary. By investing in and trusting our employees’, we create a resilient, capable and adaptable workforce.