Melissa Bell | Interior Design

Experience

ASSOCIATE
DLR Group (formerly BraytonHughes Design Studios)
San Francisco | 2018–Present

  • Collaborate with clients and design team on concepts and space planning for hotels, resorts, restaurants, and corporate offices

  • Prepare schedules, presentation, and material trays

  • Advance projects from concept to design to build

  • Source and select finishes, furniture, and lighting to solidify design and establish budget

  • Design and supervise the fabrication of custom furniture, lighting, and carpet

  • Properties include Altitude, The Pad, Baker McKenzie, Spanish Peaks Residences, Alma Station, and Silver Rock Resort

DESIGNER
ForrestPerkins
San Francisco | 2014–2018

  • Collaborate with clients and design team on concepts and space planning for hotel lobbies, restaurants, meeting rooms, and guestrooms

  • Advance project from concept phase to drawing phase with plans, elevations, and details

  • Source and select finishes, furniture, and lighting to solidify design and establish budget

  • Design and supervise the fabrication of custom furniture, lighting, and carpet

  • Prepare schedules, presentations, and material boards

  • Conduct site reviews, measurements, and on-site field verifications

  • Properties include Fairmont Hotel, Mark Hopkins Hotel, Claremont Hotel, Flamingo Las Vegas, and Cambria Properties (Chicago, Nashville, and New Orleans)

DESIGNER
JLF Collections
Los Angeles | 2012–2014

  • Collaborate with designers from concept to CAD drawing to finished piece

  • Work closely with designers regarding materials, finishes, revisions and prototype review

  • Coordinate with production and engineering managers to produce furniture within budget

  • Manage logistics with designers and fabrication team to make sure install dates are met

  • Conduct site reviews, measurements, and on-site field verifications 

DESIGN INTERN
Interior Design Fair
San Francisco | 2012

  • Worked with designers on concept development and space planning

  • Performed site reviews and measures for accurate CAD floorplans and elevations

  • Sourced materials and finishes for internal and client projects

  • Styled photo shoots for commercial and residential projects

  • Prepared schedules, FF&E binders, and expediting reports 

VISUAL MERCHANDISER
Crate & Barrel
San Francisco | 2011–2012

DESIGN INTERN
Ann Sacks
San Francisco | 2010

PROJECT MANAGER/DIRECTOR
Various Advertising Agencies
New York and California | 1999–2009

  • Created project budgets and timelines

  • Estimated hours required and secured resources to complete projects

  • Created workflows to optimize efficiency

  • Led project status meetings for individual teams as well as entire agencies

 

Education

BFA, INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN
Academy of Art University
San Francisco | 2011

  • High-end retail concept space featured in the Winter Issue of 180 Magazine

  • La Borsa Negozio handbag store project featured in the university’s 2011 Winter Show

  • POP Hotel project featured in the University’s 2012 Spring Show

BA, ART HISTORY
University of Hartford
Hartford, CT | 1997