Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew McClure.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I think the heartbeat of my architecture and design background can be traced back to the creative engine that is imagination. As a kid there wasn’t one particular moment, but rather a desire in every moment to create, to experiment, and to explore.
I grew up in Seattle where the weather afforded me plenty of time for indoor activities. I sketched, built Lego landscapes, produced music, and customized computers to push the limits of video games. In the summer months I’d feel revitalized through the connection to the outdoors that exists in our city’s DNA.
The idea of architecture school only came into focus when I realized it was a way to combine all of my creative interests into one medium. I studied at the University of Oregon for 6 years and was exposed to all different forms of architecture before falling in love with residential. Within a week of graduating I was driving down the coast for San Diego, having landed a design position with one of the premiere architects in the city. For another 6 years I shadowed, learned, and eventually designed some incredible projects. Since leaving for Los Angeles and starting Nomad Design, time has been traveling at light speed, but it’s motivating to think about the steps that led me to this point and where they will take me in the future.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has certainly not always been a smooth road. Had it been though, my architecture would probably feel equally as boring. In any pursuit of a dream you have a million external influences pulling you 360 degrees and an internal compass trying to keep you on the right track. Overthinking this path is something I’m very good at. How will the economy affect the industry? Am I ready to start my own company? Should I start over in a new city? Is specializing in a particular style or type of architecture limiting? The good news is there’s no right formula and the trick is to not paralyze yourself with indecision.
Nomad Design, Inc. – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Nomad Design is the company I formed this year. Currently, the focus is on designing cutting edge custom homes, but even more so the moments and experiences within them. I wanted to paint a picture of someone wandering, in search of shelter, and an architecture that embodies the landscape from which it is built. All sprinkled with a touch of magic and mystery of course.
Right now it’s just me and I love the entire process and relationship I build with each client. I think the personal connection is as important as the architecture because that is what tailors the experiences uniquely to them. That’s what I’m proud of and that’s what I’m good at. If you would have told me a year ago I’d be living in Los Angeles, business license in hand, collaborating with other creative people in a buzzing city I probably wouldn’t have believed you. That piece is pretty special too.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I’m the type of person to look back and attribute credit to each person in my life in some way so it’s tough picking and choosing. It’s part of the fabric that makes you who you are. But I know I wouldn’t have made it without the endless love and support of my parents. They are so genuine and not only afforded me an education and the opportunities to pursue my passion, but helped shape my outlook on life along the way. That goes for the rest of our “McClure-Clan” as well.
I owe a great deal of my professional experience and insight to the principal at me previous office, Bill Hayer. He’s an incredibly gifted architect that took me under his wing fresh out of college and allowed me to sharpen my design skills on some of the most beautiful homes in San Diego. His mentorship went beyond design to help me form a deeper understanding of what it takes to run an office, having built up his own over the past 30 years.
The last person on the list is someone I’ve looked up to since I was a kid, making summer vacation trips to see what new tropical compound he was building that year. My uncle, Mark McClure is a developer and force in the industry, but also someone with a non-traditional resume. From high school dropout, to ski instructor, to CEO of Cobra Golf, to private builder, his success has been a result of taking calculated risks. With four upcoming projects in the Madison Club, an exclusive golf club in Palm Desert, my inspiration has become a realization and it’s a dream come true to be working together.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nomad-design.com
- Phone: 206-227-8057
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @nomaddesigninc / @andrewmcclure
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