MASTERING DESIGN
Khalid Watson
Co-Owner GWDesign
New York, NY
Story: Amira Kidd
Photo: GWDesign
The co-owner of an architecture, interior
design and furniture firm in New York, Khalid
Watson loves what he does for a living. To
Watson, being a self-employed designer
equates to freedom. Both past consultants for
a New York-based firm, Watson partnered up
with Dominic Gasparoly to form GWdesign.
A graduate of the Pratt Institute School of
Architecture, Watson educates us on the
design business and why GWdesign is a
growing entity with more to stay tuned to.
What are your responsibilities at GWdesign?
There is an expression that speciality breeds
weakness. Because it is permanently just
the two of us, we are both responsible for
everything from conception to completion. A
partnership has to be a symbiotic relationship.
If we focus exclusively on our own individual
task without interaction, it would likely lead to
an inevitable breakdown of the company.
How did you and Dominic become partners
in GWdesign?
Dominic asked me to contribute with a couple
of furniture designs to an upcoming collection
in Soho, Manhattan. The two pieces I designed
turned out to be a critically acclaimed success.
I guess perhaps I passed the test. Later, a job
fell into Dominic’s lap and he asked me for
help. We received other projects and officially
became an incorporated company three years
ago after about six months of solidifying.
How do you and Dominic compliment each
other within the firm?
My background is in architecture with a B.
Arch from Pratt Institute here in New York. I
tend to naturally focus more on this aspect of
the construction process dealing with space
planning, overall design, and construction
documents. Dominic’s background is in the
realm of (self-taught) interior design and has
been in the business longer, so he tends to
focus more on the business aspect, design
details, and material finishes.
Who has been your most satisfied client?
It was this stockbroker whose home we
renovated on Park Avenue in 2006. He
apparently was very satisfied with the job,
because he gave us several referrals leading to
five additional jobs, which led to others.
Why are your clients so satisfied?
Pushing a client to a higher place (designwise),
and most importantly, exciting and
satisfying them is the key. They are constantly
the catalyst for job generation. This is evident
in the diversity within our portfolio. The
thread, however, that is ever present is the
drive for innovation, regardless of budget or
physical constraints.
Any special projects coming up soon?
We are currently working with a Belgian art
collector who is looking to enter the real
estate market here in the U.S. He is looking to
create a small community of aesthetically likeminded
individuals and families. It’s a dream
job. I‘m also working on my first official art
collection for a small exhibition in New York.
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