Employee Spotlight: Dain Carlson, Lead Architect

Meet Dain Carlson, Lead Architect

Factor Design Build is unique in a number of ways. But at the end of the day, it all comes down to one thing: the people. Every member of the Factor team shares a passion for creating inspired spaces that improve people’s lives. Our commitment leads to happy clients—and a happy us as we work toward a common goal.

With this in mind, we are excited to announce a new blog series highlighting our Factor team members. We will use this series as a way for you to get to know us as you move through the design-build process with Factor.

Dain Carlson, our lead Denver architect, is the first team member in our series. He’s a licensed architect with over 15 years of experience in a full range of project types. We sat down with Dain to learn more:

What attracted you to Factor Design Build?

“A few things, really. I liked the idea of being able to work on residential projects. I had been working on commercial projects, but residential projects are much more personal. I was excited about that aspect. I also liked the culture. I could tell right away that the people were going to be great and it’d be a fun place to work. Lastly, I was excited about the construction aspect of it. It’s great to be an architect in design-build because you can see the whole project through all the way to the end. It’s great to see your designs turn into a home.”

What is your favorite place to look for architecture and design inspiration?

“Instagram is always a good place to start. It helps get some ideas flowing. I also find inspiration from the spaces themselves. Houses and buildings should be connected and inspired by that setting. But most of all, I always find inspiration from the natural environment. I go hiking to find ideas from natural materials and different textures.”

What advice do you have for people looking to start a remodel process?

“Start collecting ideas and inspiration. Look at architecture and homes that inspire you. Sit down and come up with a list of dreams that you want to be in your home. Imagine what you want the space to be and how you want your lives to look in that space. Also, get excited about the process!”

What is your favorite travel destination? 

“Definitely Japan. I’ve been a few times and studied there in school for a while. I love that everything is done well, no matter what it is. The architecture, the food… everything. The people are so dedicated and want to do a great job. I also love the mix of architecture. You have a really modern building next to a 600-year-old temple. It’s all really inspiring!”

Next time you visit our office, you’re sure to find Dain hard at work designing a beautiful home to fit your family and lifestyle. You can also find Dain skiing, running, hiking, and enjoying the company of his wife and their two Bouvier des Flandres.