Interior designers are frequently asked, “Where does your creativity come from?” It might surprise some people to know that it is a question we often ask ourselves as well, because creative thinking is not something you can calendar or force to happen. Mike and Bryan value getting everyone in the office away from our computers so we can explore and engage with our surroundings, with the understanding that where interior designers find inspiration is often in the most unexpected places.
For our April 2026 team building day, we explored experiences that ranged from highly practical to genuinely magical. Each one offered a different perspective on creativity, collaboration, craftsmanship, and the Yates Desygn creative process.
Creativity Beyond the Design Studio
Our day began with bagels and cream cheese at the office, alongside CPR training with our friends from Pulp Studios. As a team, we learned the must-dos and must-not-dos of life-saving techniques while sharing plenty of laughs along the way.
With “dummy” jokes abounding, we learned the importance of staying calm in unexpected situations, what to do if an emergency arises, and how to provide aid until medical professionals arrive. Lady Bird, not wanting to miss out on the excitement, even brought her tattered mermaid friend into the action while we learned that the beat to “Staying Alive” is a perfect rhythm for administering CPR.
Collectively, we all learned things we did not know before, and many insightful questions were asked and answered by our instructor. A huge thank you to our friends at CINTAS for the training.
Why Collaboration Matters in the Creative Process
At first glance, CPR training may not seem connected to interior design, but experiences like this are part of how we think about the creative process at Yates Desygn. Creativity is not only about aesthetics. It is about observation, communication, calm decision-making, and learning to work together under pressure.
The more experiences we share as a team, the more perspective we bring into the homes we design.
Where Interior Designers Find Inspiration Through Art
Once the training wrapped up, the Yates team headed uptown to the Thoma Foundation. Founded by Carl and Marilynn Thoma in 2014, the foundation includes more than 1,700 works of art across a wide spectrum of disciplines.
As we wandered through the contemporary gallery space, we were struck by the range and depth of the collection. From Spanish Colonial portraiture by unnamed artists to Afro-Chic by Carrie Mae Weems, we experienced centuries of artistic evolution in a single afternoon.
Visiting the Thoma Foundation in Dallas
Our guide, Rachel, shared not only the history of the pieces and artists, but also the reasoning behind the Thomases’ commitment to collecting and preserving art.
Art plays an important role in many of our clients’ homes, not simply as decoration, but as part of a larger narrative about how they live and what matters to them. Visits like this help us better understand how artwork shapes atmosphere, emotion, and identity within a space.
How Contemporary Art Shapes Interior Designers
From a personal perspective, I always enjoy hearing how the Yates team processes the art we experience together. As a non-creative in the office, I love being able to quietly observe what excites my colleagues.
Two works in particular sparked especially animated conversations.
The first was 3 original Andys by Andy Warhol, animated digital artworks created in 1985 that were among the earliest images ever produced on a personal computer. The pieces prompted conversations about digital creativity, artificial intelligence, and Andy Warhol’s continuing influence on culture today.
The second was Chair by Kumi Yamashita, a breathtaking sculptural study exploring the relationship between light and shadow. Discussions around color theory, artistic technique, and the future of creative expression quickly unfolded around us.
I have no doubt that some small piece of inspiration from the Thoma Foundation will eventually find its way into a future Yates Desygn project.
Creativity, Craftsmanship, and the Design Process
After lunch at North Italia, Mike and Bryan surprised the team with a glass blowing workshop at Dallas Glass Art.
Founded by glass artist Carlyn Ray in 2013, Dallas Glass Art exists to “educate and inspire creativity while providing a magical experience.” Many people may remember that Yates Desygn collaborated with Carlyn on the custom coffee table created for the 2025 Kips Bay Decorator Show House Dallas.
Mike felt that experiencing the glass blowing process firsthand would help us better understand the craftsmanship behind one of our favorite collaborators’ work.
Exploring Glass Blowing at Dallas Glass Art
Once we selected our tumbler designs and color palettes, Carlyn’s team guided us through the glass blowing process. We learned how to move molten glass, apply color, shape the tumblers, and safely cool each piece.
The final result was a beautiful collection of uniquely Yates glasses, each one slightly different from the next.
