PRACTICE AREA
RETAIL & HOSPITALITY
WE CREATE SPACES WHERE DESIGN, SERVICE, AND STORY COMBINE TO STRENGTHEN BRAND LOYALTY.
Our Roots on Both Sides of the Counter
Our founder, Mark Ward, started his career at a major global retail design firm, gaining essential knowledge in designing retail spaces. He also worked in restaurants during college and founded Ward&Co Men’s Grooming, a small retail store in Seattle, giving him a unique perspective as both an architect and a business owner. We understand this work from both sides of the counter: the creative ambition and the operational pressure. Creating unique and memorable brand experiences is a focus of nearly all our projects – telling an organization’s story, where they’ve come from and where they’re headed, is at the heart of our passion for architecture and interior design.
The Experience Economy
We’re passionate about people, wearing our empath hats when creating spaces for customers, diners, and travelers. Memorable experiences + exceptional service + great atmospheric design = brand loyalty. Customers aren’t just buying a product—they’re buying a memorable, personal experience. Great retail and hospitality spaces feel intuitive and welcoming while quietly doing a lot of work: guiding circulation, framing moments of discovery, supporting staff, and reinforcing trust. We’re motivated by helping brands translate their identity into memorable physical environments that help business owners sell their product, host their guests, and serve their dinner.
EXAMPLE PROJECTS
COMMON QUESTIONS
Can you assist with site selection, test fits, or evaluating an existing location?
Yes, we’re frequently engaged with clients upstream of the design process—before leases are signed or properties purchased. Through test fits and early feasibility studies, we evaluate layout potential, zoning or code constraints, visibility, access, and overall alignment with an organization’s operational needs. This early involvement helps clients make confident, informed decisions before committing to a location.
Can you work within franchise or corporate brand guidelines if needed?
Absolutely. We have extensive experience on both sides of this common relationship. We’re experienced in working within established brand standards and corporate guidelines while still finding opportunities for thoughtful design and site-specific optimization. Our goal is to support our clients’ brand consistency while ensuring each location functions effectively and connects with its audience.
What’s your experience with multi-location rollouts or tenant improvement (TI) work?
We’ve worked with clients across multiple locations and understand the balance between consistency and customization. For multi-location rollouts and TI projects, we develop efficient workflows, streamline documentation, and tailor each design to suit specific sites while maintaining overall brand integrity.
”Mark was a true pleasure to work with on The Estates Wine Room for Crimson Wine Group. Mark was a thoughtful partner from the beginning and guided our constantly evolving team through every step of the process, always with our objectives and vision in mind. We were extremely pleased with the ultimate result—a tasting room and retail space that is uniquely striking and communicates our brand values—a place where we are proud to showcase our wines.
Taylor KnightDTC Manager
