Today we’d like to introduce you to Connie Wittich. 

Hi Connie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today? 

From a very early age, art and design have influenced my life in the most impactful way, personally and professionally. I grew up in Roanoke, Virginia, and frequently traveled to New York City to visit my relatives. 

My grandfather, Dr. Theodore J. Edlich Jr, was a prominent New York City Physician whose practice was located at No. 2 Fifth Avenue in Greenwich Village a block down from the famous arch in Washington Square Park. Among his many patients were famous, influential artists. My grandfather’s life was deeply enriched by the world of art and he became a benefactor to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Whitney Museum of American Art. 

I remember visiting my uncle’s art studio, which was fashioned from a renovated warehouse on Broadway across from Cooper Union well before this became a trendy and popular cultural addition to city living. My grandfather and Uncle Steve had a talent for using art to bring beauty and excitement to everyday life. As I developed my own business of design, I wanted a name that reminded me of my early experience of being thrilled with the power and beauty of art that transformed one’s personal experience. 

I have built my business over the past twenty years to bring my clients the same power and beauty through design, transforming space, and human experience. The name Metropolitan Studio® is a brand growing out of my own lived history and sets a standard that I seek to emulate as I work with my partners and clients.

As our projects and team members expanded globally, I found myself drawn to Utah and founded a second office. We are so fortunate to have worked with incredible clients out here in Utah and are extremely proud of the work we’ve done. From large senior living developments in Salt Lake City: Summit Vista, The Legacy Village of St. George, Park City, Blackstone Flats and stunning projects throughout the west. We’ve had the pleasure of drawing inspiration from the striking Utah and western landscapes and incorporating the outside world into buildings. When asked about the interiors of our projects, residents spoke about the deep enrichment our designs and colors pallets have had on their lives. Senior living in particular, our goal is to always design a building for a place to grow young, not old. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

When starting and growing a business, there are always pain points and struggles you must overcome. Like any company, you have to figure out the best processes that work for our clients and team members. Luckily with my background in Interior Design, working at smaller start-ups in senior living, and surrounding myself with brilliant people, we had a fairly great blueprint on how to be successful and grow. We face different challenges every single day and continue to evolve, grow, problem solve, think creatively, leading Metropolitan Studio® to success. Surrounding yourself with motivated and dynamic people is truly the best way to overcome any obstacle thrown our way and what continues to drive success. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do? 
Our services include Interior Architecture, Interior Design, Purchasing, Space Allocation, Workshops and Visionary Sessions, Procurement Domestically and Internationally, Public Speaking Arrangements, Art Selection and Packaging, Branded Interior Design, Installation Packages, and Custom Carpet Design. 

We work on projects that stir our passion and transform environments to elevate businesses, families, attract highly skilled employees, and easily entices new clients. We use our proprietary ten-step process to create inspirational environments and our projects and clients win national and international awards. Our clients are routinely listed in INC magazine and Fortune magazine as the best places to work, which is something we are extremely proud of. 

Metropolitan Studio® is more than just a traditional design firm. We elevate spaces through the inspiration of culture, life, and community while branding design that tells a story. Using our 10-step design process, we create one-of-a-kind spaces for residential living, senior living communities, multi-family, higher ed, corporate, resorts, hospitality, along with cool projects that spark our interest. 

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?

Networking is the bread and butter to any business. Expanding your network is essential for growing and understanding different spaces within the design and development field. My advice would be to talk to as many people as possible, attend every networking event you possibly can and never be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. One of my favorite parts about being in this business is meeting so many different brilliant, fascinating people. Go into a networking event with the intention of having genuine interest in meeting others. Networking events are more than just generating project leads, it’s about getting to know people in your community and creating valued relationships. 

We are thrilled to showcase another publication that Metropolitan Studio® was recently featured in, Voyage Utah Magazine. This interview represents Metropolitan Studio®’s thought process, core values, and business culture along with origin and history. Please check out the article on Voyage Utah Magazin’s website.