Purpose, Ikigai & Design
CABA. was built on trust, collaboration, and the belief that great design is a powerful investment. My earliest clients, founders who valued intentional design, affirmed a truth central to my work, that a well-crafted space is more than beautiful — it communicates identity, confidence, and purpose. It was through those early projects that I discovered something profound: my purpose lies in helping people communicate who they are, what they stand for, and the value of their work — through design.
For many of my clients, that means creating spaces that embody who they are, what they aspire to, and the lives they’re building or currently live in. But the principles that shaped those early collaborations now guide every project we take on at CABA. — because great design always begins with empathy, story, and understanding.
For my commercial clients, that means translating the excellence of their services into environments that speak volumes before a word is said. For my residential clients, it means crafting spaces that embody who they are — their past, their present, and their future — in every texture, tone, and line.
Purpose, for me, looks like helping a client strengthen the bond they have with the people they serve — not just through what’s built, but through how their brand makes others feel. One of my clients, a Black woman custom home builder, gave me the opportunity to experience this first-hand. By taking the time to build genuine relationships with her homebuyers, I uncovered needs she hadn’t even realised existed.
It was in those conversations that I learned about the grandparent with mobility challenges who required an adapted bathroom for better accessibility. It was through understanding a family’s dynamics that I discovered the mother-in-law who needed a bathroom and vanity area that reflected her vivacious personality. By weaving her palette and textures into the wider narrative of the home, every space told a shared story, one that honoured individuality while celebrating togetherness.
Designing with that level of empathy transformed not only the home but also the relationship between my client and her buyers. They felt seen, understood, and deeply valued. And my client, a woman creating homes for families, became more than a builder; she became a creator of experiences that honour the lives lived within her spaces.
Purpose also looks like helping a fellow designer articulate the value of her creative work to commercial clients with clarity and confidence, ensuring her projects are approved quickly and completely, without her having to overexplain or defend her vision.
This, the work of storytelling through space, of empowering people through design, has been the story of CABA. It’s where I’ve found my Ikigai — that quiet intersection of passion, purpose, and contribution.
In discovering my purpose, I discovered my client.
In understanding my client, I refined my craft.
And in refining my craft, I built a studio that designs not just homes, but stories you can live in.
What’s Next? Design Insights
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing a new series called Design Insights, where I walk you through the design stories behind some of the projects we’ve created for visionary founders — from custom home builders to interior designers and brand owners.
Each story will explore not just the what, but the why — the choices, emotions, and client journeys that shaped each space. Through these stories, I’ll show how design becomes a language of value, connection, and cultural resonance — how it helps my clients communicate who they are and what they stand for.
Because at its core, CABA. has always been about one thing — helping people design lives, brands, and spaces that honour who they truly are.
