A smiling woman with long, wavy blonde hair wearing a black top against a black background.
Logo of Jennifer Hughes with a large yellow T on the left and black text to the right.

Distinct | Divergent | Daring

Creator of marked and memorable spaces and experiences.

Interior, Set & Experiential Designer

Full Portfolio
Full Portfolio

Holy Dough Doughnut Shop

Architecture | Interior Design | Commercial

Objective: Develop the functional space for a Donut shop using the intersections of two shipping containers. Utilize CAD to create floor plans and elevations to then create a scale model. 

This project was comprised of several steps; a massing model and space planing, orthographic plans, and finally, an architectural model.

Using two shipping containers we were to design, and build, an architectural model of a doughnut shop with a maximum capacity of 16 people. We were required to research and adhere to Vancouver’s building and design guidelines for food establishments, and include all necessary equipment. We were expected, as always, to meet drafting standards, include callouts and use sections and elevations appropriately.

Massing Exploration

Rendering of an architectural structure made of shipping containers, with some containers stacked at different angles and a shaded area underneath.
Isometric illustration of four metal shipping containers arranged in a cluster with shadows cast on the ground.

Program Development

Layout diagram of a retail space showing areas such as supplies, employee stores, a cashier, barista station, on-tray storage, display, and checkout. Entrance and exit points, along with seating areas including bench and counter seating, are also depicted.

My focus was on creating a functional space for the employees, since they’re the ones who spend their days in the space. I also believe that folks are more productive, happier, and are better able to provide great customer service when their needs are taken care of. The shop has some seating, but is meant to be a grab-and-go establishment. Some of the features I included, aside from ample space, are; a barista sink and glass rinser next to the espresso machine, a garbage can within arms reach, a dedicated bar fridge and plenty of storage space.

Floor plan of a restaurant with labeled sections including entrance, take-out window, barista area, cashier, counter seating, bench seating, and various service stations.
Cardboard architectural model of a bakery shop interior with display counters, shelves, and bakery signage.
Architectural blueprint of a tiny house with detailed floor plans, elevations, and interior layout views.
Miniature furniture pieces in various stages of assembly on a cutting mat, including cabinets, screens, and small accessories, along with transparent circular containers and tools.

Using acetone, I transferred inkjet prints of component faces onto taskboard. It took a number of attempts of yield sufficient transfers, but I was ultimately successful, and used tacky glue and a lot of precision for assembly.

Miniature model of a kitchen with cabinets, a stove, and a menu board, made from paper or cardboard.
Paper pieces with architectural drawings on a cutting mat, tools including a yellow utility knife, a black marker, and markers in a container.
Unassembled miniature model of an interior room on a grid cutting mat, with small building walls, drawing tools, and materials scattered around.
3D floor plan of a modern apartment with a living room and balcony, kitchen area, and seating area with bar stools.

Lazer Cut

Blueprints or technical drawings of furniture and fixtures, spread out on a table, with a green cutting mat underneath.
Diagram of a restaurant layout showing entry, seating areas, kitchen, takeaway window, cashier, and storage spaces, with labels for each section.
Miniature furniture pieces and crafting tools arranged on a cutting mat, including a ruler, a pen, and small containers, for wedding or dollhouse decoration projects.
A black and white line drawing of three shipping containers stacked and arranged on a surface.

Architectural Model

Architectural Model

This is a black and white illustration of an indoor living space with a kitchen area, a countertop with three bar stools, and a lounge or seating area featuring a couch, a small table, and a work desk. The space is enclosed with a deck or porch area with a railing.

Acetone Transfers

Architectural Model

Digital Model

3D black-and-white floor plan of a small apartment with a balcony, a bedroom, a bathroom, and a combined living and kitchen area.
  • Architectural drawing of a small bakery shop called Holy Dough Bakery, with colorful interior, seating area, counter, and large glass windows.

    Isometric View

  • Architectural floor plan of a customer service area, including kitchen and service area, seating, and designated window and door schedules with measurements and labels.

    Plan View

  • Floor plan of a bakery's back house including a workspace with sink, storage, and equipment, a counter space, a doughnut display, and a delivery window with detailed measurements.

    Kitchen & Sevice Area Plan View

  • Architectural drawing of kitchen storage cabinets and shelves with measurements and labels.

    Kitchen Elevation

  • Architectural blueprint of a kitchen back counter elevation with dimensions and labels for various appliances and fixtures.

    Service Area Elevation

  • Architectural drawing of a front counter for a house, showing dimensions and layout including a logo, barstools, a workspace with a computer, and shelving area.

    Customer Area Elevation

Bauman Barber Shop

Interior Design | Materiality | Commercial

Objective: Create a 3D model of an 8’x12’ floor with 4.5” thick 12’ high walls mini salon/barbershop based on Japanese, Modernist, 50’s Scandinavian, California, Boho or Hipster themes. 

3D rendering of a modern office space with desks, shelves, a chair, and decorative lighting fixtures.

Using Sketchup, we were tasked with designing the interior of a barbershop inspired by Bauhaus. The space was 8'x12' with 12' high ceilings, and the beauty station had to be entirely of our own design. The remaining element had to be sourced from existing brands or manufacturers and were to be documented using FFE and Material boards. Lighting, material interaction, functionality and business operations were all to be taking into consideration.

I believe folks default to De Stijl when they think of Bauhaus, and personally I’m not a huge fan. I tried to do something different while still adhering to the criteria. This project was challenging for me because this design style is not what I’m drawn to, so it was difficult to create a vision for the final design; my inner compass wasn’t landing on a direction. This proved to be an excellent opportunity to work outside my comfort zone, and I believe it’s in these kinds of projects that real growth happens. I am happy with the outcome, and feel I was able meet the requirements and still make it my own. In addition to the aesthetic design, I’m happy with the layout of the space. Functionality is a priority for me and designing spaces for the service industry is of particular interest. I’ve worked in the service industry for the majority of my life. From serving to housekeeping, customer service and retail, I’ve done it all, so improving the quality of those working environments is very satisfying. I tried to organize this space so that tools and supplies were easily accessible, and that there was a comfortable amount of space, despite the limited square footage.

Interior of a modern barber shop with shelving for hair products, a barber chair, and a workstation, featuring shelving full of bottles, a large sign reading 'Bau-man', and hanging lighting fixtures.
  • Swatch samples of materials and finishes for interior design, including fabric, paint, wood, and tiles, along with a layout plan and a legend for their use.

    Materials

  • Line drawing of a small retail space with a curved display wall, shelves with bottles, a counter with a cash register, and a seating area with a chair, table, and a TV mounted on the wall.

    Plan

  • Interior of a modern coffee or retail space called 'Bau-man' with shelves of bottles on the left, a concrete counter with a sink and equipment, a chair in front, and black vertical panels on the right.

    Station Perspective

  • A modern office interior with shelving units, a wall clock, a reception desk with a tablet, a brown chair, and a large vertical shelving unit. There are bottles on the shelves, a poster on the wall, and a concrete-looking desk.

    Front of House Perspective

  • A barber shop with a workstation, barber chair, shelves with bottles, and a poster on the wall.

    Station Alt. Perspective

  • A modern office with white walls and gray concrete flooring. On the left, a rounded bookshelf holds multiple brown, black, and white bottles. A desk with a gray concrete surface and an ergonomic black office chair is positioned against the wall. On the wall, there is a vintage-style square black clock showing 3:00. A green and white Bauhaus poster hangs on the wall. On the right, a tall wooden cabinet with glass doors displays neatly stacked papers and objects. Next to the cabinet, a brown and white lounge chair with a small transparent side table is placed. Two floating wooden shelves on the wall hold books and green storage boxes.

    Storage & Utility Perspective

  • Floor plan of an interior space showing furniture and fixtures labeled with a numbered legend. The diagram includes elements such as lighting, a kitchen faucet, a countertop sink, a chair, a barbershop chair, a print, a chair organizer, a stool, and a digital register, along with corresponding labels.

    Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment

TWIIG Luminous Object

Lighting Design | Industrial Design | Fabrication

Objective: Design, Document, and Fabricate a small Luminous Object, while exploring the relationship between Narrative, Form, Materiality, and Value— from concept to fabrication. 

This project was assigned for Materials & Sustainability. It was an opportunity for students to go through each step of the design thinking process and gain experience building, and working, with different materials in the shop. The criteria were to create a “luminous object” using a light source and what was available through the Design Formation studio. We brought our objects to life through concept sketches, scale cardboard prototypes, orthographic plans, and finally the finished product.

We were required to create a narrative that would inform our final concept, however, to be honest, I did the opposite. I had ulterior motives. There is a corner in my apartment that is very dark, and there are no outlets anywhere near it. I’m sure you can empathize with my sentiment that power cords are visually offensive, let alone extension cords running along the baseboard of a room, so that wasn’t an option. My vision was to create a long, narrow, cylindrical light source that I could lean up against the wall - and that was, of course, cordless. I couldn’t find a product that met all of those requirements, and so when this project was presented it was like the universe said, “you shall have you’re light, child!”

Although I had researched all the woodworking methods and materials I would need to realize my vision, they were too advanced, and would take too much time, for the purposes of the project. I wanted my object to have a 2" diameter, stand a minimum of 6' tall, and be completely cylindrical with an inset light source. The compromise I reached with my instructor was a 4" hexagonal shape, standing 4' tall, and would be cut at a 10 degree angle so it could lean against the wall and still have a flat base

Close-up of two wooden LED light bars mounted on a kitchen island, with a modern kitchen background, caption describing the TWIG product's features.
  • Interior of a living/dining room featuring a wall with a round mirror, framed black-and-white photos, a radiator with decorative bottles and plants, a lit vertical light panel, a dining table with black chairs, and a window with white curtains.

    The Inspiration

  • Technical engineering drawing of a small mechanical part, showing front and top views with dimensions, including 3-inch length, 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch features, with labels for measurements.

    Ortho. Example 1

  • Technical drawing of a hexagonal bolt head with dimensions indicating 4 inches total width, 2 inches inner width, and 2 1/4 inches height. The drawing is labeled 'top view'.

    Ortho. Example 2

  • Woodworking project with six carved wooden pieces, rulers, and tools on a workbench.

    First Step- The Bones

  • Worktable with woodworking supplies, small wooden frames, a pneumatic nail gun, and a bottle of glue in a workshop.

    Second Step - The Skeleton

  • A woodworking jig with a sliding laser level mounted inside a wooden frame on a workbench.

    Third Step - The Insides

  • A woodworking project in progress shows a long wooden piece with a shaped end on a workbench, with wooden shelves filled with various wood pieces and planks in the background.

    Four Step - The Head

  • Close-up of a woodworking project with cut wood pieces assembled, with more wood and paper in the background.

    Fifth Step - The Foot

  • Wooden table with a long rectangular light fixture emitting warm light, a remote control, and various tools and supplies on it, in a woodworking workshop.

    Final Product

The Agora Parklet Design 1.0 & 2.0

Architecture | Public Space | Community

Objective: Design a small Architectural Public Space: a Parklet. Review, apply, and strengthen skills with 3D modelling and 2D drawing tools, both in the design development and communication processes, while exploring design principles and spatial awareness concepts. 

Design proposal for The Agora, a public open gathering space inspired by West Coast design, featuring cascading planters, stepped seating slabs, and an enclosure that opens onto the street for community events, with sketches and a photograph of a waterfront park with buildings in Vancouver.
Design concept board for Agora parklet with seating areas, informational displays, and landscaped greenery.
Conceptual design of an outdoor public gathering space called The Agora, featuring wooden parklets, benches, planters with flowers, trees, and pathways for community interaction, with surrounding urban buildings and parked cars in the background.
A flyer showcasing modern architectural designs, featuring images of a wooden pavilion, a multi-story wooden residential building, and a waterfront house, emphasizing natural materials and community spaces.

In my research phase I was able to connect with a friend’s colleague who has designed parklets for the city of Vancouver who was kind enough to offer his insights and advice. It was very helpful as it shed light on many things I wouldn’t have thought to consider. For example, how the parklet interacts with water drainage and flow, how the public interact with the structure, and the consideration of whether it will have to be built off site and transported, to name a few. I took all of these factors into consideration in my design. It was during this project that I also learned a lot about working in Sketchup, a software I’ve come to appreciate, and enjoy!

A 3D rendering of an outdoor plaza with a small building, seating area, plants, and trees, with people walking and sitting.

During the first semester of second year we placed our parklets in a 3D rendering of the Langara-49th Canada Line station, and created poster graphics to explain our concepts. We designed two posters; one larger, and more visible with a more detailed description of our project, and a second smaller poster explaining the assignment as a whole. I designed the graphics so that when a pedestrian is looking at them head-on the mountain range is one continuous line.

Langara - 49th Canada Line Station

Parklet Placement & Communications

Moodboard

This is my initial parklet design from first year of Design Formation. The initial assignment was to design a parklet that would suit the needs of a specific Vancouver neighbourhood. I chose the West End. I wanted to design something that would allow plenty of light, but would also provide partial coverage from the sun and rain, and fit with the aesthetic of the neighbourhood.

Concept Development & Research

Augmented Reality Parklet Design 3.0

AR & VR | Experiential Design | V

Objective: Maintain design intent in the face of new technology. Using SketchUp, Blender and Apple Vision Pro, create an AR experience from a first term design project of an urban Parklet. 

Outdoor garden seating area with wooden decking, concrete benches, a wooden structure with plants climbing on it, and a signage board titled 'Agora' with project description.
Top-down view and three perspective views of a small outdoor patio with wooden deck flooring, planters with green plants, and a wooden pergola.

Learning to render in Blender

Parklet Rendering

Using Blender we elevated our parklet designs by adjusting and changing textures, using HDRI backgrounds and creating realistic lighting. We also brought in our Communications posters, and rendered both. Using Aero, we added animated elements, and created anchor points using prints of our posters with QR codes embedded.

Parlket brought to life

Augmented with Aero

Mixed-Use Laneway House

Architecture | Interior Design | Spacial Design

Objective: Design laneway houses that reimagine the potential of Vancouver’s urban fabric by integrating nonresidential programs to create dynamic, mixed-use corridors. Explore how these often-overlooked spaces can evolve into vibrant community hubs, balancing residential living with broader neighborhood engagement. 

A modern house situated on a lush green hillside with snow-capped mountains in the background.
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