Meet the Designer
Hi, I’m Daniel Hastings, designer, builder and founder of Husk.
That’s me way back in 1973, learning to work outside on our small family farm. That might even be the same chainsaw my mom used to give me that haircut. Growing up in the 70’s, I spent days on end playing with tools, operating machines and learning to build and fix things. Some of the more ambitious projects like building a dog house or a wooden go-cart required design, and so I began drawing at an early age, too.
I liked drawing so much that when the time came to get serious, rather than going into contracting and real estate like my dad, I went to art school. I worked as a designer for many years in advertising agencies, publishing companies, tech, and in product design. That work was really fun, but as the years passed I became restless and yearned to spend more time outside, and to focus on designing things I could touch and feel.
The joy in contracting wasn’t about me at all
I started Husk to address these personal needs, but soon found that the joy in contracting wasn’t about me at all. It was about the people I was working for, and the unique way in which I could help to improve their lives.
With this in mind I started thinking of our contracting projects in terms of “spaces” and had a pivotal insight: When considered holistically, well-designed spaces can actually transform the way we experience the outdoors.
It’s not about building a deck or a barn. It’s about creating the perfect space for a morning meditation, for enjoying a hobby or for being with friends and family. Even paint colors can greatly affect the way one feels when experiencing the space around whatever is painted. So, instead of designing a specific element, I focus on the entire space and consider the big picture.
In the simplest terms, I listen to our clients. I try to understand their lifestyle, their priorities, their comforts and their concerns. I do my best to design spaces that will be functionally excellent, and at the same time speak to their emotions in order to offer the most satisfying experience. Not the transactional experience of working with Husk, but the experience they get when they deeply enjoy their outside space.
Successful design results in achieving a goal
It’s crucial that design is recognized as more than just a phase that happens at the beginning of a project. Instead, it starts in the very first meeting and continues throughout the duration of the project so that as the work progresses, the goal stays top-of-mind. Another way to frame it: Successful design starts with communication (seeing, listening, asking questions) and results in achieving a goal.
I consider design to be the most important thing we do at Husk. It creates a roadmap. It guides the conversations we have with our clients and helps us to make better decisions. It touches every part of the job and it’s what makes Husk unique. Without it, we’re just another contractor competing for jobs in a sea of sameness.
If this type of thinking appeals to you, and you’re thinking about an outdoor project in the coming months, let’s get in touch!
