In our latest KBB From the Tap podcast, we spoke with Summer Jensen, founder of Hawk & Co, a design firm based in Laguna Beach, California, about how she strives to balance luxury and environmental responsibility in her projects.
Jensen begins by detailing how her youth in Hawaii influenced her approach to design. She said, “I guess my design style comes from a conversation with nature, and the balance between the manmade and the organic.” In her work, she strives to create spaces that are experiential, where all of the senses are engaged.
Next, the designer examines the definition of luxury. Drawing on her experience as a jewelry artisan, she questions the common perception of the premise, stating that luxury shouldn’t be about material goods; rather, it should about feeling like one’s every need is cared for. “Is it really the flower on the pillow in a hotel room or the idea that someone thought to put it there for you?” she asks, making her point.
After discussing the intersection of material costs and sustainability in luxury design, Jensen talks about her process for evaluating products and technologies for their environmental bona fides. She runs through her checklist in which she assesses a product/source for biodegradability, honest construction, ethical manufacturing and social responsibility.
The conversation concludes with Jensen making some actionable suggestions to designers who are looking to create projects that are both sustainable and luxurious. First, she urges colleagues to consider how their personal lives reflect their values and beliefs; for instance, asking themselves questions about their consumption habits, their daily living behaviors and more. She likens these inquiries to “small seeds of awareness that will grow” and inform a person’s way of living and thinking.
Jensen also shares her favorite line to open a client meeting: “Would you like me to design a toxic or a non-toxic house for you?” Delivered with a smile, it sets the tone of the dialogue and effectively draws out the clients’ personal interests and concerns in health and wellness.
