“The precise role of the artist, then, is to illuminate that darkness, blaze roads through that vast forest, so that we will not, in all our doing, lose sight of its purpose, which is, after all, to make the world a human dwelling place.” – James Baldwin
As co-founder of New York-based interior design firm Drake/Anderson, Caleb Anderson was “working on these amazing projects, traveling all over the world, working with amazing budgets, using all these incredible materials.”
Yet, Anderson said, he “was feeling a little lost and feeling a little empty.” His mental health and physical health weren’t good, and he knew he needed to make significant changes. Part of that was a personal wellness journey. And part of that was a major rebranding of his firm.
The designer recently shared his story through his, “Design With Purpose,” at the “Designing Wellbeing: Neuroaesthetics, Biophilia and the Healing Power of Beauty” symposium in High Point hosted by Science in Design and High Point x Design.
Anderson hopes other interior designers can learn from his experiences to better align their own work in ways that are healthier for themselves, their clients and the planet.
Redefining luxury
The successful design firm Anderson co-founded in 2015 with Jamie Drake has been known for “sophisticated interiors that are luxurious, refined and always have a touch of the unexpected,” he said. Glamorous. Alluring. Curated. Timeless. Those are the words that have defined the firm and, in some ways, Anderson’s life.
But in recent years, Anderson knew something was missing from his own life and his firm’s work. He still wanted the unexpected delights. But he needed a healthier lifestyle, and his firm needed an expanded mission.
“I’d actually become allergic to this idea of luxury,” Anderson said. “But then I decided, instead of being disgusted and appalled by it, can’t I redefine what luxury actually means?”
He came up with a new list of words to define the firm: regenerative, healthy, equitable, circular, heirloom, synergy, transparency and intentionality.
“Instead of abandoning or villainizing what I do as a designer, I looked for an opportunity to marry all these things. How can we be glamorous and regenerative? Sophisticated and healthy? How can these things coincide?”
The process of introspection overlapped with executing a succession plan that led Anderson to take over Drake/Anderson earlier this year. As sole principal, he’s now rebranding the firm as /And.
In coming up with the new name and logo, Anderson wanted a nod to his company’s origins, as well as a link to what he wants the firm to become. He’s also sought to move away from “personality-based design,” he said.
“The reality is there’s a lot of people that bring these designs to life,” he said. “It’s certainly not just me. It’s not even just my team. There are so many craftspeople, contractors, so many people involved. So /And is an acknowledgement of that also.”
“The other aspect is that I really wanted (the name to evoke) a broader invitation to be more collaborative as an industry — with other designers, with other architects, with other industry partners,” Anderson added.
Along with adopting new descriptors for his firm, Anderson has been making substantive changes to how /And sources materials and designs spaces that are healthier for people and the planet, adopting a four-part common materials framework.
Part 1 of the framework is health: /And has committed to supporting planetary health by “exclusively working with 100 red-list-free materials” and vendors who are also committed to products “that are free of the worst chemicals known to human and planetary health or are open to meeting that goal with us,” Anderson said. “Health is nonnegotiable.”
Part 2 is climate and ecosystems: The firm has a goal to source 40% of its specified products from a 500-mile radius of project sites “to support bioregional materials and designers while reducing carbon emissions,” Anderson explained.
Part 3 is circularity: /And is striving to support the circular economy by sourcing furniture, fixtures and equipment “from reclaimed sources that make up 30% of our total specs,” Anderson said. In addition, the firm is committed to using design techniques to utilize materials efficiently and divert waste.
Part 4 is social equity: The firm is prioritizing partnerships with vendors and others that secure human rights across their own supply chains and that create positive social impact for their workers and the communities in which they operate in, Anderson said.
“It’s really given us a feasible roadmap to apply to what we do,” Anderson said. “There is so much in the realm of sustainability and so many things to be aware of. This is applying it in a way that’s realistic for you. It’s taking a step in the right direction and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
To Anderson, interior design that helps to create a healthier planet and foster healthier relationships is inextricably tied to designers taking care of their own health, too.
A few years ago, Anderson said, “I really got to a breaking point with my physical and mental health that sent me out on a wellness journey. And it’s really that wellness journey that led me to this moment of purpose because, ultimately, I had to have congruency. I had to have congruency between these values (for my firm) and who I was evolving to be as a person.”
“In that shift,” he added, “I came to see that beauty must be rooted in integrity for our health, our planet and the systems that sustain us.”
Coming up: Caleb Anderson doesn’t think he’s alone in facing burnout. In an upcoming article, we’ll share more about his mission to help other designers realign their purpose with a focus on well-being.
