Nicole Maier is the principal and lead designer along with Crys Olig at Threshold Goods & Design. She holds a Master of Arts degree from the New England School of Art & Design at Suffolk University. She also worked personally on HGTV design projects as well as restaurants such as 88 Wharf, Petit Robert Central and Whiskey Republic. Nicole offers her clients a service that is comprehensive and thoughtful, designing for the way people live. So we are proud to bring you the Designer Insights of Nicole Maier.
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1) In your own words describe your unique style and creative aesthetic?
It’s difficult to summarize my style, as it’s always evolving and reshaping, and I have an appreciation for all styles. Often, I like to pair strong modern lines with more eclectic and delicate pieces.
2) When starting a new project, what is your creative process?
Our clients spark the aesthetic from the get-go. There is no such thing as design in a bubble, and the key to a successfully-designed space is the occupant’s fluidity within their surroundings.
3) Out of the creative people you have worked with, who is it that you respect and admire the most?
In addition to my business partner, Crys Olig, I had the privilege of starting my career as an assistant designer for Taniya Nayak, of television design acclaim. She is easily the most confident and optimistic person I’ve ever met, so every project we took on came alive with fantastic energy. This was no easy feat, as we designed spaces for television with very limited budgets and time frames. Despite some incredibly restricting parameters, we always managed to walk away from projects with a sense of satisfaction and enjoyment. In a creative field (and in any field, really), maintaining a love for what you do is paramount.
4) When looking for inspiration is there a particular thing you do to get inspired?
After assessing the needs and tastes of a space’s occupant(s), I like to pull from the community for inspiration. A loft on the Hudson River, for example, should pull in the surrounding energy of Manhattan. The vibe can be big, bold and metropolitan. Perhaps local artists can be incorporated. It should never be a space that would work just as well in suburbia. Otherwise, we’ve missed the mark.
5) What has brought you to this point in your career? And what is your advice for people looking to follow in your footsteps?
I owe a lot to the opportunities I had just outside of graduate school—working for an acclaimed designer (Nayak) in very public forums. It gave me the confidence to form Threshold and continue to build spaces for which I feel proud. I would tell an aspiring designer to push themselves outside of their comfort zone and take on new opportunities as they arise. No matter what happens, you’ll never regret paving that path for yourself, but you will wonder what would have happened if you don’t.
