CASE STUDY

Design Resource Center

Phygital nirvana and inspiration oasis for visiting designers and internal teams.

As part of a 20,000+ sq. ft. transformation of Delta Faucet Company’s (DFC) headquarters in Carmel, IN, I led the strategy, concept, and design execution of the Design Resource Center, a 680 sq. ft. adaptive reuse project converting a low-traffic commercial showroom into a high-value branded environment. The Design Resource Center reimagines the space as a multi-functional creative lounge, supporting internal team collaboration and external customer engagement during brand experience events.

This initiative was part of a larger, multi-phase effort to reposition DFC’s headquarters as an experiential storytelling hub for both internal and external audiences. Using customer insights, we evaluated how each space across DFC’s HQ contributes to the overall customer journey, from pre-visit anticipation to post-event connection, and strategically redesigned key spaces and activities to deliver an immersive, educational, and memorable brand experience unique to DFC. The Design Resource Center is one of the first of these reimagined spaces to launch.

Client: Delta Faucet Company

Location: Carmel, Indiana

Size: 600 square feet

Completion Date: 2020

MY ROLE

Lead Designer

HIGHLIGHTS

Material Bank Partnership

4

Guest Experience Types

1st

Guest experience center at the headquarters

The Challenge

Delta Faucet Company’s customer experience events were developed after their headquarter expansion, the Manoogian Center, was built. Meaning the space was never designed to support multi-day programs.

Sessions like hands-on workshops, product demos, and presentations created friction for guests and logistical strain for internal teams.

Our Solution

As part of our strategic design response, we conducted in-depth customer experience research and mapped the entire customer journey: pre-, during, and post-event to uncover friction points and opportunities. Three key insights shaped the vision for what would become the Design Resource Center:

  1. Time & focus: Many attendees run their own design businesses and need dedicated moments to handle client emails and calls during multi-day events.

  2. Design leadership opportunity: By offering guests access to design inspiration, specification tools, and resources for their active projects, DFC could further position itself as an industry leader.

  3. Untapped space potential: No dedicated lounge or work space existed for guests, and I noticed that a prime location adjacent to the showrooms was being underutilized.

Using these insights during the holistic space planning for the Manoogian Center, I proposed relocating the underutilized showroom and reimagining the space as a dedicated guest lounge and hands-on design inspiration hub. That idea became the Design Resource Center.

After securing executive buy-in, I led the programmatic rethinking and design execution, ensuring the space supported key event moments while reflecting DFC’s brands stories.

The result: a flexible, design-forward environment that empowers designers, fosters collaboration, and strengthens DFC’s leadership in the design community.

Design Details

The final design divides the Design Resource Center into four core zones.

1) Material Bank Smart Swatch Wall:

Partnership with Material Bank’s smart swatch technology displays updatable, on-trend materials alongside Brizo and Delta finishes, providing real-time inspiration.

2) Interactive Island Workspace:

RFID-enabled surfaces and monitors allow designers to explore materials, create digital mood boards, and order samples directly to their business.

3) Resource Wall:

An LED video wall for presentations, digital resource library tablets, and Material Bank mood board drawers for hands-on material exploration.

4) Lounge Space:

A hospitality-driven environment for recharging, connecting, and collaborating with fellow designers and DFC teams.

Use Cases

Workspace & Exploration

Hands-on design exploration during HQ customer events and internal workshops.

Events & Corporate Meetings

Hosting focus groups, creative sessions, and corporate collaborations.

Presentations

Space supports live demos, mood board building sessions, and brand storytelling.

THE RESULT

A central hub for design.

Since its launch, the Design Resource Center has become a central hub for Delta Faucet Company’s customer events and internal initiatives. Designers spend more time in the space, actively engage with DFC products, and leave with a deeper connection to the brand. Internally, the team now uses the space year round for workshops, focus group feedback, and informal meetings, unlocking additional value and visibility.

Pipeline Set Design

The Design Resource Center space also serves as the backdrop for Interior Minds, a roundtable video series featuring top designers, on DFC’s online platform, Pipeline.

Project Details

  • Site Analysis
    Kathleen Carron

    Design Input & Brief
    Kathleen Carron

  • Creative Strategy
    Kathleen Carron

    Concept Ideation
    Kathleen Carron
    Paul Kovacs

  • Design
    Kathleen Carron

    Renderings & Animations
    Kathleen Carron
    Felipe Oropeza

  • Documents & Drawings
    Kathleen Carron
    Paul Kovacs

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