What does it mean to make it better?
Make it better
This is not a claim, but an aim
To continuously learn, grow, and improve
To make it better today than we did yesterday
To make it better tomorrow than we do today
And to always leave it better than we found it
What is it?
It is everything we do, from meeting notes to invoices, from site walks to boardroom presentations, from concept sketches to construction documents, and from one-on-one meetings to community workshops.
What is better?
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As designers, each of us aspires to make beautiful things. We hope our work delights and inspires.
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Our work must acknowledge, engage, and honor historically marginalized and underserved communities. This point most demands continued growth and improvement.
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None of us is as smart as all of us. We find extraordinary value in diverse points of view and collective expertise.
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In our designs, we strive for authenticity of form and material. In our interactions, we aim to always be forthright and honest. We don’t fake it.
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We are stewards of the means entrusted to us by clients and stakeholders, always seeking the best return on their investments.
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Our work must embody generosity. We are accountable to the generations who follow.
These principles also drive our studio culture. We aspire to a different model than the traditional design practice, and we’re always working to make DTLS better.