When Australian coffee brand Toby’s Estate expanded to New York City, the goal was to create a space that captured the brand’s relaxed authenticity while handling the complex logistics of a working roastery, café, and office in one building.

I supported the design development and spatial planning to ensure both function and flow — with the café welcoming guests at street level and the roastery and offices seamlessly integrated into the warehouse behind. The design balanced raw industrial textures with refined details that reflected the brand’s understated style.

The project taught me how design can bridge storytelling and operations — how a space can smell like roasted coffee, feel like a neighborhood spot, and still function like a precision-run roastery. It was a reminder that good design connects both the people who visit and those who work behind the scenes.