Dan Davis, Principal, Designer
Dan Davis has led many creative lives, bringing an unusually wide skill set to every project. He’s previously worked as an art director, a fine arts painter, an event planner and a landscape designer. Along the way, he’s won numerous awards, including a bronze Lion at the Cannes Film Festival, a United Nations Public Service award, and a Best of Houzz.com award for Customer Satisfaction. His interior design work is featured in local and national publications, including Hour Magazine, Ambassador, StyleLine, The Detroit News and Free Press, Design Sponge, Desire to Inspire and many other interior design blogs.
- Prior to starting your full-service design firm, you were a creative director in advertising. What made you decide to make the decision to do interior design?
As you climb the ladder, you manage more and create less. I missed creating on a daily basis. I needed a new creative outlet, and always loved interior design. - What type of projects do you find most satisfying?
The more difficult projects. I love thinking strategically, creatively, and practically all at once. Give me a hard-to-solve problem, and I am one happy designer. - What inspires you?
Travel, music and sharing ideas. I love collaborating on projects because it leads to great solutions. - Name three words that describe you.
Passionate. Earnest. Focused. - Why do all your projects look so different?
I design for my clients and their needs, not just how I would do my own home. I love getting into a client’s mindset and discovering a whole new set of building blocks that maybe I haven’t used before. It’s all about the client’s needs and wants. - What is something people are surprised to learn about you?
I am a farm boy, and an Iowa State banjo champion. - What design rule do you love to break?
I don’t follow rules. Does that count? - What are you happiest doing when you’re not working?
Traveling, entertaining, cooking, working in my garden, and being with my family. - What is something that surprises people when they hire you?
That I ask so many questions. I once had a client who was a psychologist tell me I asked more questions than she does! - Why do you think clients should choose to work with Dan Davis Design?
We try harder than other firms to deliver a personal and unique product to our clients. We love to help them tell their own story.
Jennifer Baross
Senior Designer
Jennifer Baross is a senior designer and business manager at Dan Davis Design, focusing on commercial and residential projects. At DDD, she creates and manages designs for small to medium commercial projects along with cozier residential spaces. Her designs infuse functionality with beauty, texture, and lovely detail. Jen has a BFA in Interior Design from College for Creative Studies (CCS) and is an expert in tile and historic architecture.
Additionally, Jen is an adjunct design professor at CCS, formerly serving on the boards of the Detroit Area Art Deco Society and Preservation Detroit. She is the co-founder and president of the Parducci Society, a non-profit focusing on architectural details and craftsmanship. Jen loves corgis and is happily obsessed with handmade textiles and crafts.
Michelle Schroeder
Studio Manager
Michelle Schroeder serves as our studio manager at Dan Davis Design, bringing expert project management to our team since 2016. She oversees the coordination of our clients’ journeys at every step, from initial meetings with prospective clients all the way through design development and then installation. In addition to assisting with design development, Michelle also keeps our entire team organized at the studio, following up on details and implementing processes to keep our team running efficiently.
Prior to joining DDD, Michelle had 20+ years of experience as a project manager at Kelly Services. She holds a BS from Michigan State, with an emphasis in social sciences, economics and HR. Her favorite projects are designing art gallery walls, placing artwork, and accessorizing client homes.