For Studio Roslyn, great design starts long before a floor plan takes shape. Every project begins with understanding the people behind it, resulting in spaces that feel layered, personal, and built to evolve over time.

Founded by Jessica MacDonald and Kate Snyder, the Vancouver-based interior design and creative consulting studio draws from art, fashion, and culture to shape environments with a strong sense of identity. We visited their studio to talk about their collaborative process, the space they've designed for themselves, and the ideas that continue to influence their work.

Q: How did Studio Roslyn first take shape?

A: Kate and Jess met while studying architecture in Winnipeg, where they quickly discovered a shared belief that their approach to design extended beyond the traditional boundaries of architecture. What began as conversations about art, interiors, and spatial storytelling continued long after graduation, evolving alongside their respective careers. Studio Roslyn emerged as a natural extension of that ongoing dialogue built on collaboration, curiosity, and a desire to work fluidly across disciplines to create thoughtful, immersive environments.

Q: You’ve described each project as its own ecosystem. What defines that ecosystem for you?

A: Every project is shaped by a unique set of conditions, the client vision, operational requirements, site context, and cultural positioning. Our approach considers not only the physical space itself, but how it will be used, experienced, and sustained over time. We see materiality, light, circulation, and function as inherently interconnected; no design decision exists in isolation. The objective is to create environments where each element works in quiet alignment, supporting both the brand and the people who engage with it every day.

Q: What’s something about your design process that might surprise people?

A: A significant part of our process involves understanding the person or business behind the space; how they operate, what they need, and how the space must support long-term viability and growth. We often design flexibility in from the outset, anticipating change and multiple modes of use rather than fixed outcomes.

There is also a strong emphasis on editing throughout the process; knowing when to pull back is just as important as knowing when to push forward. Early-stage design is often anchored by a ‘muse’, this may be the client themselves, or someone or something that resonates with them or with us. This reference point helps guide research and informs the selection of objects, references, and ideas that begin to shape the project’s foundation.

Q: Outside of design, what interests do you share as a team?

A: A shared appreciation for fashion, art, music, and broader cultural shifts, particularly those that blur disciplinary boundaries, consistently inform our perspective. Travel and observation play an important role as well, with attention given to how people gather, move through, and inhabit spaces in different contexts around the world. Food and hospitality are understood as experiential design in their own right, shaping how atmosphere, service, and interaction come together. Alongside this sits an ongoing interest in material culture, including objects, textiles, and craft, and how these elements carry meaning within a space.

Q: What’s one unspoken rule that’s formed within your team over time?

A: An unspoken rule at Studio Roslyn is to always leave room for the unexpected. This often means introducing something antique or vintage to anchor the narrative, preserving and working with traces of the original design wherever possible, and layering in bold pattern, texture, and colour with intention. Just as importantly, there is a commitment to surprise, presenting ideas and references the client may not have seen or considered, but that expand the brief and spark excitement about what the space can become.

Q: What were your priorities when designing a space for yourselves?

A: The studio is designed to support both focused work and a strong creative energy that clients can feel as soon as they step inside. It is intended to be a clear reflection of who we are, what we do, and the energy we bring to our work.

Flexibility is central to the space, allowing it to shift seamlessly between workspace, meeting environment, gathering place, and more informal moments of creativity and exchange. This adaptability ensures the studio can respond to different modes of working and hosting without losing its identity.

There is also a careful balance between restraint and expression, allowing key moments to carry weight and impact without overwhelming the space. Selected pieces and materials from makers and vendors we deeply admire are integrated throughout, reflecting not only a finished aesthetic, but also our process, influences, and personal history.

Q: Looking ahead, what feels important for Studio Roslyn to explore?

We are currently in construction on our first fully residential home, where we are leading both the architecture and interiors. Exploring what is possible within that world feels like a natural direction for us to continue investing our energy in as opportunities arise.

We would also love to expand into boutique hospitality, projects overseas, and even theatre, spaces where narrative, atmosphere, and experience can be pushed further and explored in different ways.

At the same time, our interests extend well beyond interiors alone. From textiles and clothing design to printed matter, objects, bumper stickers, and more intentional making through the Roslyn Shop, we are inspired by the full spectrum of design and how it can live across mediums.

What continues to excite us most is the freedom to move between disciplines, creating thoughtful, small-run capsule collections across physical products, spaces, and experiences as they emerge organically over time.

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