VC Designer Interviews: Daniela Maher Promoted to Senior Associate

Daniela-Maher

We are excited to announce that longtime VC team member Daniela Maher has been promoted to Senior Associate.

After graduating from Endicott College in 2007, she joined our team at Visnick & Caulfield and quickly became a key member of the firm. She has worked on many of our firm’s major projects in the Greater Boston area over the years, including the recently completed headquarters for Keurig Green Mountain in Burlington, MA, Cushman and Wakefield’s Boston office,  Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, as well as a number of private equity and venture capital firms. Daniela was also part of the VC project team that received the 2013 IIDA Awards for both “Best Office 30,000 SF-80,000 SF” and “Best in Show” for the design of a private growth equity firm.

Get to know a little bit more about Daniela, and find out about her career at Visnick & Caulfield over the last eight years.

How would you describe the progression of your career so far. How has your role shifted? 

When I started at VC, I had just graduated college and was mostly assisting all of the designers; doing a lot of redlines, picking finishes but not having rule on the overall design. With more experience I began to work closely with the Principals at the firm, spending a lot of time learning from them. Through this, my expertise became sharper and eventually I started to have a greater role in the projects that I was collaborating on, as well as began taking on my own jobs.  Today, I have a say in the designs I’m involved in, and have the knowledge and experience to oversee and manage projects. It has been a very fluid and rewarding progression.

How would you describe your current role as Senior Associate?

I think I have a unique role here at VC. I have a portion of my work where I manage and design my own projects. But then I am still working in teams on these really amazing jobs that provide great learning experiences where we’re able to bounce ideas off one another. I feel like I have a mix of both worlds where I’m working on some jobs independently and others focused in teams.

I also get to be a mentor to the younger designers and interns, which is something I really enjoy. I love going to job sites and giving guidance, pointing out details and showing them what each facet of a project looks like translated from paper to reality.  Teaching and watching them learn is a really great benefit of being in a senior role.

Daniela alongside VC Marketing Manager Elle Litwinetz, Senior Principal Bob Caulfield, Senior Principal Sherry Niazmand and Senior Principal Fenglei Zheng at the opening day of their design for Cushman and Wakefield's Boston office.

Daniela alongside VC Marketing Manager Elle Litwinetz, Senior Principal Bob Caulfield, Principal Sherry Niazmand and Principal Fenglei Zheng at the opening day of their design for Cushman and Wakefield’s Boston office.

What has been a pivotal project in your career so far?

My role in our project for a private growth equity firm was extremely pivotal for me professionally. The space was not only the most highly designed job I have worked on to date, but also the most technical job that I have worked on thus far. There were so many details on that job that really pushed the limits on design and I feel so fortunate to have been able to be a part of the design team. I learned a lot about working with different consultants for things like lighting and acoustics. It really helped me understand more about the mechanical side of our industry, as well as millwork and all those components, and how they fit together to complete a highly successful project.

The learning and contribution part made it rewarding personally, and then professionally it was rewarding when the project won the 2013 IIDA Awards for “Best Office 30,000 SF-80,000 SF” and “Best in Show”. This project definitely opened my eyes to a whole new side of design, and helped me grow even further as a designer. We become extremely proud of our jobs when we see them completed, and to have our peers vote on your project to win an award like this is very surreal.

What certifications, credentials, awards, etc. have you achieved? What do you feel most proud of?

I think personally I felt most proud when I received my NCIDQ certification. This was one of my long-term goals and to go through the process and pass the exam was a great achievement.  Also having our previously mentioned job recognized by our peers in the IIDA Awards has been extremely rewarding. I was honored this past year when I was brought on to be a part of the IIDA Emerging Leaders Network. That experience has really shaped me and helped me grow in the industry, as it has allowed me to connect with other designers and gain more confidence in my profession and expertise. It led me to become an active member of the IIDA Philanthropy Committee which in itself is rewarding to give back to the community.

Our award winning space for a private growth equity firm. Image © Neil Alexander for Visnick & Caulfield.

Our award-winning space for a private growth equity firm. Image © Neil Alexander for Visnick & Caulfield.

How has working at Visnick & Caulfield affected you as a person?

I think working at VC has broken me out of my shell; I can tend to be very shy. I have been put in situations here that have helped build me as a person; building my networking skills, making me more comfortable and able to go out in challenging situations, having the confidence to talk in front of groups and give presentations. All of this has helped me grow into not only my current role, but also who I am today.

What do you think sets Visnick & Caulfield apart from other design firms? 

I would say there are two big things. One would be the culture. I think it’s rare to find a place where everyone treats one another like family, we really have that sense of community here. The other thing that I think is great about VC is our size. Each member of our team is able to touch every aspect of the design they’re working on; there’s not one person pulling finishes the entire time or one person doing all of the drawings. Each person at VC has the opportunity to grow and become more well-rounded as a designer. From day one when you start working here it’s all hands on. Even our interns, they get to do everything.

Meeting

What do you think your design philosophy is?

I like to think outside of the box and not repeat anything; a boring design is repeating something over and over and over again because it’s the easy way out. I like to push and challenge myself wherever possible even if it’s just a carpet and paint job; what can I do with carpet and paint that is going to set it apart from every other design?

What are the top three things you love about design?

One would be that design pushes the limits, and is always evolving.

Two, it’s a form of expression, it’s exciting.

Three, the people you meet and the relationships you build along the way. I’ve been fortunate to meet a wonderful network of professionals throughout my career.


Congratulations Daniela. We are appreciative of your hard work, leading nature and the constant enthusiasm you bring to the Visnick & Caulfield team. “Daniela has been an integral part of the VC team from day one, bringing her creativity and thoughtful approach to every project. She has strengthened the firm’s relationships with our clients and design partners and clearly has established herself as a true asset to our team.” -Senior Principal Bob Caulfield

For more of Daniela’s portfolio of work at VC, take a look at the below slide show.

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 Interviewed by Isobelle Hemmers
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