Today we’d like to introduce you to Jose Noya and Michael Dickson-Mills, Architects and Co-Owners of Notch Design.
Hi Jose and Michael, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Notch Design was founded by the architects Michael Dickson-Mills and Jose Noya in 2019. Before Notch Design, Mike worked as a visual artist, graphic designer, and professional photographer in New York. He studied architecture at Yale and got licensed as an architect in North Carolina after working for a few local firms. Jose studied architecture and got licensed in Spain. He worked as a project designer for several modern architecture firms and architecture competitions, including nationally and internationally awarded projects. In 2012, he moved to the US. Eventually, he got licensed as an architect in the US.
We met in 2013 while working for the Chapel Hill architect Philip Szostak. We realized we both had similar design philosophies and worked well together. We used to half-joke about starting an architecture firm together sometime in the future. One thing led to another, and here we are! We founded Notch Design in 2019, shortly before the Pandemic. Our first referrals were 99% past clients, friends, and family, and word-of-mouth. As we kept building a strong portfolio, we started getting noticed by people outside our network, mainly in Carrboro and Chapel Hill. Fast forward to today, we design projects mainly in the NC Triangle, and we’ve also had a few projects in Spain, the UK, and Costa Rica.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s been smooth in the sense that having a plan to start your firm and seeing it materialized over the years is a dream come true. That being said, we can think about a few struggles:
1. The COVID Pandemic! We started the firm shortly before the 2020 Pandemic. We had some jobs lined up, but during the first COVID months, most clients went into a holding pattern. We did not have much work for a few months, so we focused on updating our website, future plans, etc. However, things changed quickly: after spending so much time indoors, everybody realized their spaces needed improvements, and we started getting tons of calls and requests for architectural services.
2. As a business owner, you have to wear many hats. This is something we had heard before, but it was still surprising the number of things we had to learn and do when we started the business. 50% of our job is design work, and the other 50% is marketing, admin, accounting, networking, business development, improving our workflow and standard operating procedures, etc. The good thing is that as we developed those skills, we also started learning what we could delegate to subcontractors and when new employees were needed.
3. Staying true to our principles. This is a struggle that we enjoy and embrace.
Two of our most defining characteristics as a design firm are that (A) we are 100% focused on only strong design work, and (B) we are also mission-driven and want our work to be accessible to people and institutions regardless of their financial status.
(A) Focusing only on strong design work can be a struggle because, in the past, we have passed on projects that were not that interesting design-wise but could have been profitable and helped us grow faster. However, this allowed us to stay focused on the quality of our portfolio work and develop a reputation as a boutique design firm, which we see as a strength.
(B) Providing architecture services for everybody can be a struggle because not all potential clients can afford architecture services. We are constantly trying to work for underserved communities and non-profits, so we typically select a few projects per year where we work for a lower fee or pro bono. However, it is difficult to incorporate this kind of work because we are a small firm and must pay the bills. But we’ll continue doing so!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Notch Design?
Q: What do you do, what do you specialize in, and what are you known for?
A: We are a full-service architecture and design firm specializing in modern design. We are mostly known for our design work on new construction houses, extensive house renovations, small-scale University and commercial projects, and non-profit work.
Q: What sets you apart from others?
A: The quality of our design work, collaborative design process, and creative problem-solving approach.
The Triangle is a very competitive market for architecture firms, and we are very proud and grateful that our design work is getting noticed.
Our design process is strongly structured and tailored to every client’s needs. By the end of the day, our design work reflects our process, and we like that every design feels very personal and manifests our client’s needs and vision.
One of our strengths is looking at a design problem from multiple angles and finding an unexpected, creative, and beautiful solution that is also affordable. This is probably one of the things our clients value the most about our work.
Q: What are you most proud of, brand-wise?
A: Brand-wise, we love the communion between our firm’s name (Notch) and our actual design work and skills.
“Notch” comes from saddle-notched log construction, a technique used in 17th-century North Carolina, in which felled trees were notched at the ends to lock together, forming corners. We think this technique is a beautiful metaphor for our design process and what we do: we find simple and beautiful solutions to complex problems. Our logo represents that as well.
Q: What do you want our readers to know about your brand, offerings, services, etc?
A: No matter the scale of your project, feel free to reach out to us for an initial conversation, especially if you need help with a design vision. We are a full-service architectural firm, which means that not only do we “design and produce drawings,” but our involvement in every project can start from the planning and programming phase to the end of construction.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Mike and Jose:
-Eternal gratitude to our clients for trusting us with their projects. Oftentimes, building a project is one of the most significant investments in their lives, which we know is exciting and stressful simultaneously, so their trust in us and our process means a lot to us.
-Our friends and Notch advocates. We love it when you reach out to let us know you appreciate our work or when you share our work with other people. Please keep doing it! We are listening, and it keeps us motivated
Jose:
-My wife for encouraging me to take the leap and being so supportive. Also, for being so beautiful and perfect (and I’m not writing this just because I know she is reading 😉
-My two architecture mentors during my formative years in the United States: Scott Perkins and Phil Szostak.
Mike:
-My late mother, Nancy Kitt Mills, a landscape architect, always encouraged me to pursue my dreams and explore my creative side.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.notchdesign.us
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notchdesign
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notcharchitecture
