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Before Erin Morris founded her own design studio, a place where parents hit critical deadlines while still making time for their families and personal lives—before she built a business that specialized in brands looking to expand their footprint in the US through creative and comforting spaces—before she created a new model that values creativity, execution, and design as highly as time spent outside of work—she had to deal with an F.
As the only girl in her high school drafting class, Morris was excited to tackle her final project: the creation of a floor plan. Morris, whose mother had encouraged her to rearrange floor plans she found in a book in southwestern Michigan highlighting new builds in the area, was excited to make something special. But when grades came out, she was shocked to find she’d failed the final project.
“It turns out that the teacher believed I couldn’t have possibly done the work myself,” Morris remembers. “I was so interested in design and had put so much work into it that my teacher assumed I had cheated. Luckily, the grade eventually got changed.”
A New Model for Work and Life
The SCAD-educated Morris never set out to be a business owner, but the signs were there early on. Her first job was at a boutique firm and, even as a new hire, Morris always found herself pondering alternative plans for leadership and business strategy.
“I hope more people can be inspired to find ways to craft their own realities.”
Erin Morris
When Morris had her first child, everything changed. She wanted to be fully present for her son. But she also always wanted to keep doing the things she was passionate about.
“I had a great nine months at home with my son, and I didn’t intentionally set out to create my own business,” Morris says. “I wanted to be an architect and a designer, but I also wanted the flexibility and the freedom to be a parent and a part of my family in the way that I envisioned.”
That desire has become the cornerstone of her eponymous firm. The business is a home away from home for working mothers who are also incredible at what they do. Morris left a world where she didn’t want to talk about how she spent her time outside work to create one where that life is celebrated. And her clients aren’t just onboard—they’re inspired.
Places and Spaces
Erin Morris Architect, Inc., known simply as Erin Morris, specializes in helping brands establish or expand their physical presence in the United States. Her team has worked with brands from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand entering the US market, online-only retailers wanting to establish memorable brick-and-mortar spaces, and novel concepts looking to start something fresh.
“People who come to us are looking to build their brands,” Morris explains. “They are often new to the process. They have an idea, a kernel or a spark, and we help them bring it to life. We’re active across the entire US because we tailor our services to where our clients are on their journey. They’re looking to walk that line between design and cost, and they need guidance. They have a thousand other things on their plate, and we can become that partner for them.”
Morris’s team excels at being that first important partner who can help assemble the rest of the important team in bringing a physical location to life. Morris makes the apt comparison that her clients are in different stages of their development. Some are toddlers just getting up on two legs, while others are already at a sprint and need help optimizing their performance.
Building a Life on Your Own Terms
Long before the pandemic forced many organizations to adapt to working outside the office, Morris and her team embraced the possibility of remote work. Yet she’s also keenly aware that her team sometimes needs physical space to come to so they can focus on their work.
Morris considers her team’s lives outside of work when making decisions for her business. Prioritizing work/life balance has become a differentiator for her firm, all while keeping long-tenured clients on the roster.
The success of her business is also apparent. Morris is especially energized by the plans to bring to market two separate new wellness concepts in 2025 while continuing the company’s strong presence in the retail sector.
“We’re seeing such a vibrant variety of possibilities and an exciting group of partners in our ecosystem that has me excited about the future of retail and personal service,” she says.
Morris considers herself lucky. She had the time and the capacity to build something unique from scratch. She acknowledges that not everyone gets that chance. But she asks that you take time to think about what you want your own life to be—and what you can do to live your dreams.
“I hope more people can be inspired to find ways to craft their own realities,” Morris says. “It can be so challenging, and I’m grateful to have had the chance to build something for me and my team.”
