Our Mission

BrandNu Design Studio is committed to using design as a tool to advance equity, justice, and inclusion. We work in partnership with our clients to research, advocate for, and create art, spaces, and places that promote the well-being of communities and enhance their quality of life. We believe in design that is not only beautiful but also responsive to the needs of diverse communities and actively works towards creating a more equitable future.

OUR PRACTICE

BrandNu Design Studio is a full-service architecture and design firm founded by Michael Ford AIA, NOMA. As a minority-owned business, we take pride in having offices in Dallas, Texas, Detroit, Michigan, and Madison, Wisconsin. Our founder brings over 16 years of experience in architectural design and community engagement, and in 2022, he was named Young Architect of The Year by Wisconsin's Chapter of The American Institute of Architects.

Architecture

At BrandNu Design Studio, we pride ourselves on designing spaces that celebrate and showcase the beauty of different cultures. While we have a particular specialization in cultural centers and museums, we also bring our unique approach to design to a wide range of project typologies. Our philosophy is rooted in research and development activities that center on using unique cultural explorations as catalysts for design. We believe that by expressing time, space, dimension, and culture through new design tools we create and materials derived from our research and development, we bring a fresh perspective to all of our projects. Whether we are designing a community center, a residential building, or a public park, we are always striving to create spaces that enhance the quality of life while promoting equity, justice, and inclusion.

Art

At BrandNu Design Studio, we are passionate about art and its integration with design. We specialize in positioning unique aspects of various cultures as a catalyst for generating art, and we see art as an integral part of our approach to design. Our portfolio includes textiles, murals, fine art installations, furniture, and fashion.

Research and development

Research and Development is also at the core of our work at BrandNu Design Studio. Our research on architectural design, the creation and celebration of cultural aesthetics, and the history of spaces and places through the lens of Black culture is highly celebrated and recognized. Our staff straddle the line between academia and professional practice, and we are committed to pushing boundaries and exploring new ideas in architecture, design, art, and research.

Our mission is to enhance the quality of life while promoting equity, justice, and inclusion through our work. Every space we design has the power to positively impact people's lives, and we are committed to making that impact a reality. At BrandNu Design Studio, we are dedicated to designing spaces that inspire and celebrate diversity.

OUR TEAM