Brad Cashin is New England Design & Constructions newest Lead Designer. He brings with him a gregarious personality and superior design sense coupled with construction knowledge from years of being a carpenter. We asked him to answer a few questions about himself to help you learn how awesome he truly is.
Where are you from and how did you get here?
I grew up in Metro Detroit and prior to moving to Boston I have lived in Georgia, North Carolina, and New York’s Hudson Valley.
How would you define your professional style?
I am extremely task oriented and have a habit of getting into a “zone” while sketching or creating construction documents. However, to design well we must also be able to communicate effectively and understand our client’s needs. So I try to walk the line between those two arenas — a ferocious work ethic with an approachable personality.
Who or what is your biggest inspiration?
I find inspiration in nearly anything — buildings, art, film, people, furniture, maps, history, books, television, fashion, other designers etc, etc. etc… I feel that some architects and designers can be overly dismissive of what is or isn’t “good design,” but it’s often just as important to see what doesn’t work well or isn’t beautiful as it is to see what does work well or is beautiful. I’ll admit that sometimes I am much better at it than other times, but every moment is an opportunity to learn and to be inspired.
What is your design philosophy?
I try to focus on an architecture that is free of “isms” (modernism, classicism, post modernism, etc.) and focus solely on what is best for the project at hand. When we begin designing with a preconceived notion or a style, then we inevitably eliminate possible solutions before even considering the problem that we are trying to solve, and if we are eliminating possible solutions, then we risk eliminating the best possible solution, and I don’t feel that is an acceptable way to design.
What is the last place you saw that made you think, “I wish I’d done that!”?
Either the Metropol Parasol in Seville, Spain or Habitat 67 in Montreal, Quebec (among countless others)
What does value mean for you?
Value is what each individual considers most important. This can vary greatly from individual to individual, but it’s important to discover what it is. For me it’s the people that I surround myself with and my work.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Work hard and be honest, everything else will play out.
Tell me about what your life will look like in 10 years:
Hopefully still with a great head of hair. Honestly, I have no idea. I have a desire to help redevelop Detroit with the skill set that I have spent my adult life building, but I don’t pretend to know what tomorrow will bring. My plan is to just continue to follow the best piece of advice that I’ve gotten. It’ll play out.
What’s your spirit animal?
Polar Bear. It’s man’s only natural predator and they can weather any storm.