Boutique Design - Winter 2024 - 51

PHOTOS: READ MCKENDREE, CRIS MOLINA, GIADA PAOLONI, AHMED SHUAU, AND COURTESY OF GOODRICH
GO LD KE Y D E S I GN ER OF THE YE A R
CREATIVE
FOUNDATION
ROOT ED IN CU R I OS I T Y, CO L L A BOR AT I ON, AND CR A F T ,
GOODR I CH DE S I GNS THOUGH T F U L S PAC E S W I T H I MPAC T
By Katie Kervin
Matthew Goodrich, principal of his New Yorkbased
design studio Goodrich, has cultivated an
approach that is rooted in collaboration, curiosity,
and pursuing the unexpected. With a career that
spans more than two decades, including formative
stints at Rockwell Group and AvroKO, Goodrich's
perspective champions the art of storytelling in
design while embracing a philosophy that every
voice contributes. Now at the helm of his own fi rm,
he has fostered a culture that values exploration,
resilience, and the transformative power of learning
through the unknown.
Collaboration is at the heart of the process. His
team employs a distinctive framework he calls the
" design foundation, " a methodology that combines
historical references, aspirational visions, and
unexpected muses to create designs that feel both
deeply personal and impactful on a wider level. It's
an approach that encourages team members to
contribute from their own perspectives, allowing
inspiration to fl ow from all levels. " This is not a topdown
design fi rm, " Goodrich says. " The creative part
of creating a design foundation is about discovering
what will make each project truly special. "
Since founding his eponymous fi rm in 2017,
Goodrich has leaned into projects that push
boundaries, taking on challenges that stretch the
team's capabilities. Take the UBS Arena in Elmont,
New York, home to the New York Islanders hockey
team, which the studio tackled with little prior
experience in either live entertainment or sports
venues. It became a defi ning moment, reinforcing
Goodrich's ethos: learning by doing and embracing
the unfamiliar to create something extraordinary.
His vision for his fi rm isn't just about creating
spaces; it's also cultivating a culture of trust and
stability. " I wanted to create a design culture that I
hadn't quite found elsewhere, " he adds, " giving our
team a foundation to feel comfortable but also the
confi dence to tackle things we've never done before. "
Goodrich's own deep and varied experience
has shaped his fi rm's growth; now counting 16 team
members and expanding from interiors to encompass
branding work for hotels and restaurant groups as
well as product design. But it's his ability to lead
with empathy and foster the innovative, team-driven
ethos that defi nes his fi rm today, leading to standout
projects such as Romer Hell's Kitchen hotel in New
York, a hotel that garnered multiple wins in this year's
Gold Key Awards. In the following pages, members of
his multidisciplinary team share their perspectives.
MAT T GOODRI CH
HO S P ITA L IT YD E S I GN . COM
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Boutique Design - Winter 2024

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