Design Innovation Architects

STAFF SPOTLIGHT | MIQUEL JOHNSON Miquel is from Kingston Springs, Tennessee, and is a third-generation architecture major, following in the footsteps of his family at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He is majoring in architecture with a minor in graphic design and is expected to graduate in 2026. Miquel’s interest in design and architecture began in middle school and was solidified in high school when he had the opportunity to design some projects for his local state park while in high school. Currently a fourth-year student at UT Knoxville, Miquel is undertaking his first internship, having previously worked in construction over the past two summers. His interests include historic preservation, sustainability, and eco-conscious design. Miquel has worked on projects addressing climate-driven design challenges while maintaining vernacular qualities and is intrigued by parametric design and its applications. Outside of school, Miquel rows competitively for Tennessee Crew, the men’s team at UT, where he has served as treasurer for the past two years. He has worked as a lifeguard for the past five years and enjoys aquatic activities such as canoeing, kayaking, rafting, swimming, and rowing. His other interests include backpacking, biking, hiking, camping, playing guitar, and woodworking.

We are pleased to share that a project we worked on is now being utilized as a tech hub! 🎉 Check out the article to see how 121 will be helping startups and to learn more about this innovative space. We are proud to contribute to the growth and innovation in our community. #knoxvillestartups #insideofknoxville #knoxvillearchitects

STAFF SPOTLIGHT | JOHN KOELSCH Despite growing up in Kentucky, John returned to the Volunteer state to attend the University of Tennessee. After graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture and Minor in Business Administration, John spent the next four years working in Charleston, SC. Gaining experience in a several sectors such as recreation, hospitality, laboratory, civic, and higher education, he grew especially familiar with the intricacies of healthcare design in a variety of project types. He began to transition into more of a leadership role on projects with the help of several great mentors and team members after getting licensed as an architect in summer of 2022. John arrived in Knoxville in 2024 looking forward to transitioning back to east Tennessee and is excited to serve his community and clients. John brings to DIA a passion for organization, collaboration, and teamwork to design solutions that exceed expectations, especially when navigating challenging project constraints. John’s preeminent value is listening, and in doing so, enjoys learning something new on each project to continue to improve and grow. Outside of DIA, John spends time with his wife Abby serving at their church, exploring new restaurants, hiking in the Smokies, doing just about anything on the lake, or smoking a wide variety of meats.

Honored to support the next generation of architects and designers through our Design Innovation Architects Scholarship. Aimee and Greg enjoyed a productive lunch with UT students, discussing their goals and the impact of our scholarship on their educational journey. Proud to support the future the next generation of architects and designers. #futurearchitects #utcollegeofarchitecture #knoxvillearchitects

We are proud to announce that our firm has been recognized as an Emerging Professionals Friendly Firm for 2024 by the American Institute of Architects of Tennessee!   The jury highlighted our firm’s deliberate approach to mentorship, commitment to community service, and the positive impact of Emerging Professionals on our firm culture. This honor reflects our dedication to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for emerging professionals in the architecture field. We couldn’t be prouder of our team’s dedication and hard work.   Check out the full article below. #EPfriendlyfirm #AIAETN #KnoxvilleArchitects

DIA is seeking an outstanding Senior Interior Designer to join us in Knoxville. This dynamic individual will have the opportunity to contribute to a wide variety of interior design projects as a crucial member of our design team. The ideal candidate will be a team-oriented, highly motivated individual seeking progressively more responsible assignments on a variety of projects. It is simple. We value relationships. Building lasting relationships that inspire, bring value, and enhance the world around us is the core of DIA and the reason we have been in business for over 30 years. Your Role: • Manage all Interior Design aspects of multiple small to mid-sized projects. • Provide project team leadership and oversee all elements of the design and construction processes. Your Responsibilities: • Lead and manage projects and teams of designers. • Deliver presentations to clients and stakeholders during all phases of the design process. • Participate in the design control of projects in the schematic design, design development, and construction document phases. Actively control project communications and documentation. • Coordinate project efforts, administrative and technical, to ensure efficient and cost-effective execution. • Perform Construction Administration. During construction site visits, monitor progress, and ascertain whether phases of the construction process comply with building plans and project deadlines. • Correspond with authorities regarding permitting and code compliance. • Serve as the main primary client liaison to bring the schedule, budgets, and scope of work to completion and to the client’s satisfaction while managing client expectations throughout the project. • Prepare fee estimates, proposals, and contracts. • Identify and propose potential business opportunities in local markets by contacting and visiting potential partners as well as building relationships among existing clients to further business opportunities. • Perform office administrative tasks and project team assignments. • Coordinate with Interior Design vendors. • Maintain accurate project tracking in Ajera and Mosaic. Requirements: • Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design/Interior Architecture from an accredited program. • NCIDQ License Required. • 8+ years’ experience. • Proficient in Revit, AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, Bluebeam. • Previous Project Management experience. To apply, fill out the contact form through this link and send us your resume/CV. https://lnkd.in/enGvGFJS #werehiring #knoxvilleinteriordesign #applytoday

DIA is seeking an outstanding Senior Interior Designer to join us in Knoxville. This dynamic individual will have the opportunity to contribute to a wide variety of interior design projects as a crucial member of our design team. The ideal candidate will be a team-oriented, highly motivated individual seeking progressively more responsible assignments on a variety of projects. It is simple. We value relationships. Building lasting relationships that inspire, bring value, and enhance the world around us is the core of DIA and the reason we have been in business for over 30 years. Your Role: • Manage all Interior Design aspects of multiple small to mid-sized projects. • Provide project team leadership and oversee all elements of the design and construction processes. Your Responsibilities: • Lead and manage projects and teams of designers. • Deliver presentations to clients and stakeholders during all phases of the design process. • Participate in the design control of projects in the schematic design, design development, and construction document phases. Actively control project communications and documentation. • Coordinate project efforts, administrative and technical, to ensure efficient and cost-effective execution. • Perform Construction Administration. During construction site visits, monitor progress, and ascertain whether phases of the construction process comply with building plans and project deadlines. • Correspond with authorities regarding permitting and code compliance. • Serve as the main primary client liaison to bring the schedule, budgets, and scope of work to completion and to the client’s satisfaction while managing client expectations throughout the project. • Prepare fee estimates, proposals, and contracts. • Identify and propose potential business opportunities in local markets by contacting and visiting potential partners as well as building relationships among existing clients to further business opportunities. • Perform office administrative tasks and project team assignments. • Coordinate with Interior Design vendors. • Maintain accurate project tracking in Ajera and Mosaic. Requirements: • Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design/Interior Architecture from an accredited program. • NCIDQ License Required. • 8+ years’ experience. • Proficient in Revit, AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, Bluebeam. • Previous Project Management experience. To apply, fill out the contact form through this link and send us your resume/CV. https://lnkd.in/enGvGFJS #werehiring #knoxvilleinteriordesign #applytoday

We are incredibly honored to share that DIA has been recognized with second place in the Small Business category for the Top Workplaces Award for 2024 in Knoxville and East Tennessee! This achievement highlights DIA’s dedication to being a people-driven company and fostering the positive environment we have cultivated. A heartfelt thank you to our amazing team for making this possible. We’re also proud to have received the Specialty Award for Communication, reflecting our commitment to keeping our employees well-informed with everything happening within our firm.    Congratulations to all the other outstanding recipients as well!🌟 #TopWorkplaces2024 #knoxvillearchitects

Happy National Intern Day! 🎉✨   Meet our amazing interns: Molly, Maddie, Trey, and Miquel. We’re incredibly grateful for the hard work and energy they bring to DIA. Thank you for all that you do! #nationalinternday #interiordesigners #knoxvillearchitects

Remarkable progress at Axle Logistics! We are thrilled to be working on this project with Merit Construction and Haines Structural Group. March 2025 couldn’t come soon enough! #newdevelopment #AxleLogistics