Design Director Spotlight: Jenny Myers

I joined RIOS because of my passion for working across disciplines. I had experience with various scales and forms, from multiple architectural typologies to furniture, product design, and graphics, and I was eager to continue exploring this breadth of work. When I visited RIOS’ headquarters in Los Angeles and spoke with the Creative Directors, I felt that I had found the perfect match for my aspirations.

I’ve always been drawn to creative pursuits. I found design to channel art into what my parents would say is a more applicable (and perhaps more employable) skill. Architecture is my second career — I initially pursued graphic design and later attended Harvard University to study architecture. Throughout my journey, I’ve continued to integrate representation, storytelling, and product design into my practice.

I find that being able to look at all scales of projects through the lens of a multidisciplinary design offers a unique point of view. Nurturing composition at both macro and micro scales, exploring materials, tactility, and spatial narratives and experiences that are attuned to their context and the people that will live and breathe in them – these are central to everything I do. I can’t help but see the interconnectedness of things and look for opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, as my mind naturally crosses disciplinary boundaries.

A typical day is remarkably diverse! It ranges from design reviews and brainstorming sessions to providing project-specific mentorship, leading international competitions, and spearheading initiatives that promote design excellence across the firm. Every day is unique and exciting but grounded with a throughline of strategic thinking and thought leadership. As a Design Director, I’m privileged to work on projects spanning a wide array of typologies and scales — from handheld objects to cultural districts and cities. We need to be nimble, often shifting gears between these scales, which keeps our mental agility sharp and exhilarating!

Greater awareness and attunement on a global level. This challenges our discipline to not only be responsive but proactive – to lead with innovation, creativity, and effective problem-solving.

I am inspired to bring true innovation to our commitment to new and sustainable ways of living and working in the world today. As interdisciplinary designers shaping our physical environment, we have a unique opportunity to truly advance and evolve for future generations.

My inspiration comes from my enduring curiosity as a learner and educator. I love to spark an idea, to light a fire of agency, not force my own singular solution. I am particularly inspired when I see creatives bring their best selves to their work every day.

Success, for me, revolves around authenticity. It’s about finding innovative solutions that authentically respond to challenges and opportunities, pushing us to view our world in new ways.

Be yourself. Trust and share your instincts and others will do the same… it’s contagious.

There are so many! On the project front, I’m working with our teams on a performing arts center in Chicago, a tech headquarters in Bucharest, a new mixed-use district in Austin, and a single-family home in the Santa Monica hills. On the product side, I’m working on a collection of fire tables for a global outdoor furniture manufacturer, and a coffee brewer for our sister product company notNeutral!

Painter Brice Marden’s mastery of drawing with paint and his stunning color palettes are particularly compelling. Weaver Mimi Jung intrigues me with her approach to breaking traditional frames and exploring transparency in unique ways. Additionally, the CDMX Art & Architecture studio Tezontle catches my eye with their bold material juxtapositions and the totemic forms that blend elements of Brancusi, postmodernism, and ancient mythology. Their work, described as “part ruin, part monument,” resonates deeply with its evocative and layered narratives.