overview D.B. Kim is a design executive with extensive experience in the corporate hospitality business/market, currently looking to focus on growing into luxury lifestyle brands and related product designs.
Instrumental in heralding a new age of business travel by creating havens away from home, D.B. has brought recognition and personality to top hotel brands by revitalizing them under his direction. They include W, Westin, Starwood Vacation Ownership for Westin, and Sheraton. His contributions challenged the world of hospitality to meet the evolving needs of modern business travelers by offering a synesthetic signature catered to quintessential comfort, convenience, and quality with the utmost simplicity.
Under D. B.’s design direction, his teams of architects, industrial designers, and interior designers established design standards that were rolled out internationally for all his brands. Although his revitalization leadership was design focused, the work included in-depth collaboration with valuable ownership groups, distinguished guests, global divisional team members, internal cross divisional team members, and operational team members. Furthermore, he has developed close relationships by working with the world’s leading architects and designers while striving to realize his design standards.
With a very confident philosophy regarding his approach to design, D.B. supports the future of design, participating as an expert panelist for seminars, design forums, charity events, and guest academic critiques. His convictions, intellect, strategic implementation of design and understanding of the marketplace are the driving force behind all that he sets out to accomplish.
experience 2009 – present, Design studio instructor, Parsons/ New School, New York.
• Senior interior design studio.
2009 – present, Creative Director for INSPIREDESIGN, a global design show, Las Vegas.
• World Market Center officials hired D.B. Kim to design the upcoming InspireDesign hospitality and health care furnishings show, which will debut Feb. 1 to 3 in Las Vegas. His concept will focus on inspiration, he stated in a press release. â€Succinctly, the show will be an option resource for the creators of our future environments,†said Kim. “I’ve seen some misdirected design shows in past years that have focused on sales and forgotten that these kinds of shows should inspire, educate and guide global design lovers.â€
2009 – spring, interior design creative direction, a global luxury chain, New York.
• 5000 sqft, 35mil budget overhaul interior design conception for a major global luxury retail brand.
2008 – present, On-line Contributor, Interior Design Magazine, New York.
• Weekly on-line blogger for Interior Design magazine as a “Traveling Guruâ€. Personal expertise in travels through designer’s set of eyes: http://www.interiordesign.net/dbkim
2007 – 2008, V.P. of Sheraton Design, Starwood Hotels and Resorts
Worldwide, Inc. responsible for global brand design strategies,
Architectural and interior design executions: brand’s revitalization.
• The largest portfolio within Starwood Hotels, with over 400 hotels globally, and opening one hotel every 12 days in 2008. Revitalized brand design direction including visual language, lobby, fitness centers, spas, retail, signage program, F&B outlets, family club programs, executive club lounges, new bedding, guest rooms, meeting rooms, ball room/ special event spaces, check-in experience, and uniforms. Prototyped the Sheraton hotel product. Managed and worked with in-house design staff of five and hired and collaborated with over 100 third party design firms globally. Campaigned to establish 4 billion dollars to revitalize the brand and its property improvements.
2001 – 2007, V.P. of Westin Design, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. responsible for global brand design strategies, Architectural and interior design executions: defining brand’s image.
• Celebrated the opening of the 150th hotel when departing the position, with the 175th hotel targeted to open in 2007. Partnered with United Airlines on implementing the Westin Renewal First Class Lounge, launched in 2007 at New York JFK Airport, Chicago O’hare Airport, Los Angeles LAX Airport, and San Francisco International Airport. Transformed the nondescript, monochromatic look of the brand into a positive interpretation of modern luxury. Established standards in fitness centers, spas, retail stores, F&B outlets, meeting facilities, ballroom, special event rooms, all related in-room visuals/ graphics, White Tea scent/ brand signature scent products, and uniform designs. Launched the “Heavenly “ product retail deal with Nordstroms. Partook in the design of vacation ownership residential development. Introduced a new select service hotel brand The Element and a prototype Westin hotel product. All design direction was targeted on a global level and affected the growth of the brand, improving the level of uniqueness and sophistication. Managed and worked with in-house staff of twelve and hired and collaborated with over 150 third party design firms globally. Average annual improvement budget was between 250 and 300 million dollars for the brand design initiatives and its property improvements.
2002 – 2003, V.P. of the W Hotels Design, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. responsible for global brand design strategies and Architectural and interior design executions: defining brand’s image.
• Differentiated the brand’s core design direction and established a design implementation process, providing the W hotels look and feel and its related design process and standards: guest rooms, lobby/ living rooms, F&B outlets, spas, retail program, and list/ standards for the qualified designers/architects. Started with 8 properties, 17 properties when departing the post. Now, the portfolio has double the number: 200% growth in pipeline globally.
2000 – 2001, Designer, Perkins & Will, responsible for design concepts/strategies on projects: corporate designs, education, and health care.
• This architectural firm is an international firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Conceptualized space planning and design concepts from 2000 sq. ft. to 2 mil sq. ft. spaces with budgets from $80 per sq. ft. to $3K. Typically worked within a group of four. Last project was for the City of Chicago Park board designing an office space: 70K sq. ft. with $80 per sq. ft. budget.
1998 – 2000, independent design consultant, projects: re-imaging of Bright Chair Company and various private homes.
• A 75-year-old family owned a high-end corporate furniture company and required an overall re-imaging. Assisted in the re-implementing the core vision by modernizing the image to make it more upscale. Also introduced a new furniture collection along with editing their existing collection. Tasks were concepts, drafting, drawing, editing, space planning, installations, and art direction.
1995 – 1998, Creative Director, Interior Design 101, responsible for managing 12 people interior firm: private homes and entertainment/retail projects.
• Leader of a small interior studio with a staff of eight designers: 80% high-end private homes, mostly located in Chicago, Illinois. Northface retail prototype concepts – provided first launching of their retail store planning concept.
1994 – 1995, Designer, Gary Lee and Partners, projects: corporate designs.
• Initial phase of designer: Gary Lee’s business started with six key designers to roll-out current design office of 60 associates in Chicago, Illinois. Tasks were set up the office: while working on Herman Miller design lab located in Merchandise Mart in Chicago.
1991 – 1994, Designer, Holly Hunt LTD, projects: conception and strategies built for HH Design studio, interior product development, and private home projects.
• Initial phase of setting up Holly Hunt’s design studio. Tasks were working on high-end private residences, re-coloring Jim Thompson silk collection, designing/ conceptualizing a private label home furnishing and fabric collections.
education masters in Architecture, Southern California Institute of Architecture/SCI-Arc
Los Angeles, CA and Vico-Morcote, Switzerland, 1987 – 1991
bachelor of fine arts, Minneapolis College of Art and Design/ MCAD
Minneapolis, MN, 1982 – 1986
recognition/ Golden Key Award for hospitality designs: Best Designer 2003
affiliations
Leadership Recognition: Starwood Hotels 2004
Swarovski Crystal Palace Collection: Designed a chandelier for Swarovski, 2006: Premiering at ArtBasel, Miami and Salone del Mobile, Milan, Italy
Media Korea: Cultural Arts documentary program – featured as a role model Korean born American succeeded in his career goals. 2009
Invited Design Judge, Hospitality Design International Competition, 2007, and 2009
Invited IIDA/ International Interior Designers Association, International Interior Design competition, 2006 and 2009
Keynote Speaker, HD Expo, Las Vegas, 2009: “Future of Designâ€
Member: Sustainable Hospitality Design Forum, Advisory Design Board for Electrolux Company, and Contract Design Magazine, Interior Design Forum
Guest Design Critic: New School, graduate school of interior design
Competition Judge: AIA/ American Institute of Architects, interior design award, 2007
Published: Profiled in various articles and editorial
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