Siobhan Barry is a partner and executive creator director for dash design. The former ICRAVE partner has gained attention for her highly modern and dynamic interiors found in numerous corners of the hospitality industry. Here, Barry discusses her recent professional transition, what motivates her, and where she would take Patti Smith out to dinner.
Did you always know you wanted to be a designer?
Yes, I always knew I would work in some arena of design. I come from a very creative family, and art and design were highly esteemed in our home.
What are some of your first memories of design?
When I was 7 years old, our home burned down in a fire (no injuries, luckily), and my family worked with an architect to rebuild the house. I remember seeing the little white foamcore models the architects had made, and then watching the construction come to life, just because someone imagined it.
Did where you grew up influence your career path?
I grew up on Toronto Island. It was a very close-knit and a radically creative environment, populated by talented musicians, set designers, painters, and photographers—all free thinkers and artists. There was always a play or a festival happening, costumes to create, and my siblings and I were involved in it all. The lesson that I absorbed from an early age was seeing no separation between life and craft; that has stayed with me to this day.
Give us a bit of your background: college, first jobs, early lessons learned?
I was studying fine arts in college but before I was through my freshman year I decided to apply to architecture school. I went to the University of Waterloo, which has a great co-op program, so by the time I had graduated, I had earned experience working in a few different types of design and architecture offices. I moved to New York after graduating, and worked in retail design, and even in-house at Calvin Klein for a short stint. I began to learn that just being around creators wasn’t enough for me; I was itching for the opportunity to get my feet wet and make something. It was hard to be patient, and I try to remember this when I am working with young designers today.
Why and how did you join ICRAVE?
Lionel Ohayon (the founder of ICRAVE) is a friend from college, and he approached me when he was just about to start a design-build company; this was shortly after 9/11, and by 2002 we were up and running. I didn’t know much about design-build, but I was excited by the entrepreneurial spirit of a startup and the hands-on creativity that comes with being builder-creators. It was a refreshing change from the traditional firms I had been working in, and a really fun collaborative environment.
What spurred your decision to pursue a new role with dash design?
My decision came about after much thought and discussion with [principal] David Ashen about how we could pool our expertise to create a broader platform of design and strategy. Having complementary skills and compatible experience puts us in a good spot to be able to connect with a broader client base, beyond just hospitality.
Can you discuss some of your recent projects?
[ICRAVE] just finished a renovation of the lobby and bar in the Westin Hotel in Times Square, as well as a cruise ship that launched this summer for Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
Is there a challenging project that you are especially proud of?
[ICRAVE] worked with Memorial Sloan Kettering on the Josie Robertson Surgery Center, [the firm’s] first healthcare project, which opened earlier this year. A colleague mentioned to me the other day that a friend of hers had recently been treated there for cancer surgery, and she wanted us to know what an incredibly affirming experience it was—I am so proud of this, and proud of our team.
What are the most challenging and exciting aspects of your job?
The most challenging part is also the most inspiring part of my job: it’s the blank page, the open question, the problem to be solved. When you know the answer already, it’s not as exciting. The best part is the discovery.
What is the most important thing to remember when designing a restaurant—both in terms of branding and interiors?
When we think about a restaurant, we imagine the whole guest experience—from the minute that a guest checks out the website, to the food, music, and interior design, to the picture that a guest posts on Instagram. It’s important to think of these all holistically, as that’s how it’s experienced.
Is there an architect or designer you most admire? Why?
I’d say Pierre Chareau—a huge influence in this age of “warm modernism” and the idea that modern spaces can be fluid and responsive, and a rigorous machined aesthetic can still evoke craft and character.
What would be your dream project and why?
A collapsible moveable hotel. In this industry we speak about experiences being the new currency, and it would be fun to imagine a hotel as a moving social magnet.
If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
I’d have dinner with Patti Smith.
Where would you eat and what would you be having?
We would dine on lobster at Max’s Kansas City.
If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?
Not as happy!
