Designing for Connection: Experience Edition
BY EMMA GEARY - FEBRUARY 28, 2023
Photo Credit: Isabel M Subtil via Paris Dining Club
A quality evening spent with friends leaves us feeling energized, buoyant, and full of joy. So what exactly makes an environment so inviting?
We connected with some of the best entertainment experts in the Twin Cities and learned that it’s all about intention and detail. The design of everything from a dinner party to a night on the town is key in creating an experience that welcomes connection, vulnerability, and most importantly, fun!
In the Designing for Connection series, we’re exploring the concept of connection through craft - from interior design to art to entertaining to food. Today, we’re asking local experts how they use their spaces and events to connect with their guests and create a memorable experience.
We wanted to know, how do culinary and event experts design for connection?
Pedro Wolcott
Guacaya Bistreaux
Next time you’re in the North Loop, make Guacaya Bistreaux your first stop. Think of it as an escape from our brutal winters with a warm hug of Latin Carribean cuisine and tropical cocktails that transport you to sunnier days ahead. I met Pedro on assignment for the MartinPatrick 3 Standard, and have been dreaming of his rum raisin ice cream since.
“For me,” Pedro shares, “I felt like the designs of most restaurants in Minneapolis are very similar. Having said that, my background living in multiple parts of the world and having access to other cultures allowed me to design a space to showcase my upbringing and create a space that conceptually compliments my vision, food, ambiance and service.”
The warmth, color, and openness of Guacaya Bistreaux is evident in every detail from the giant artworks created by his friends from around the world to expansive tables that encourage sharing both plates and stories.
“It's ok to be different. Transporting people to far distances through design is important. From the moment you walk in, the music, smells, sounds, visual arts all play into the Latin Caribbean Tapas concept. I dare to be different, and it works for me and my customers.”
Jamie Malone
Jamie Malone believes that “beautiful food has an ability to put us in an emotional space that is ripe for connection, joy and being present.” After the height of the pandemic, she reimagined the way she brings her award-winning dishes to her audience.
Jamie Malone is leading the evolution of our local dining scene in her newest venture, Paris Dining Club, which made a splash on the local scene in 2022. Through this curated meal kit, you can bring Malone’s fine dining experience and culinary creativity into your own home. On her menus, she highlights that they,
“...allow people to skip the stress and to get down to the business of enjoying time with others. Dinner is a magical ritual that passes us by far too often, we are here to cure that."
By creating a way for people to enjoy her food in their own space, it allows for a new level of connection, deepening the dining experience.
Photo Credits: Isabel M Subtil
Jason Berke
One glance into Jason’s studio is all you need to fall down his whimsical rabbit hole into a world of wonder and delight. This eye for detail and intention translates seamlessly into the gatherings he creates, most recently in a series of intimate dinners at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
"To me, creating the perfect atmosphere for comfort and warm hospitality all comes down to intention in your design or environment for the evening. I take the time to think about who I am hosting and think carefully about what might make them feel seen and special.”
What does this look like on an everyday basis? Jason has a few thoughtful examples, sharing how, “If I know that many introverts will be coming over, I create little sitting areas with nibbles nearby so that they can hang out a bit away from the crowd. I use items in my design that were gifted to me by some of my friends in attendance, rotating coffee table books and decor often.”
More than anything, he emphasizes intention in curating your evening.
“The common denominator? Take some time to sit down and jot down your ideas before things get too hectic in your planning. It will only make you more excited to entertain others!"
Anthony Serino
If you’ve ever stepped inside the expansive world of MartinPatrick 3, you know that every inch of their 22,000+ square foot retail space is designed for connection. In addition a curated selection of gorgeous pieces for both your closet and your home, MartinPatrick 3 is known for the events they host in their space throughout hte year. From a smashing annual holiday party to cozy evenings with designers, Marketing Director Anthony Serino is always willing to push the envelope of what a brand experience can truly be.
"A well-curated experience has the ability to connect brands with potential consumers in a way that is meaningful and long-lasting. At MP3, we strive to do so by creating events that are both engaging and feel authentic to the labels we represent. Our hope is that we build bonds and memories that resonate with our clientele, which in turn has the ability to influence future action. Not to mention we have a lot of fun in the process!"
Photo Credits: Joe Dammel Photo
Emma Geary
Emma is a writer living in Minneapolis. When she's not checking out a new brewery with friends or blasting Taylor Swift in her car, you can find her dreaming up ideas as the Brand + Editorial Manager at LAB.
