The Company We Keep: Alix and Wes from One and One

One and One, founded by Wes and Alix McDonough, is a dynamic creative venture driven by their collective expertise amassed over 15 years in diverse industries. Renowned for their exceptional work across various design mediums, the company embodies a steadfast dedication to excellence. Join us as we sit down with Wes and Alix to explore their daily routines in the studio and gain insights into the intricacies of their business operations.

Wes and Alix, can you share a bit about yourself and what's been filling your days lately?

We are design enthusiasts and lovers of all forms of creative expression. From young ages, we both pursued lives that were immersed in creative exploration, Alix through mediums like paint and ceramics, Wes through photography and apparel design. We also met while both studying forms of design and that shared interest has always been one of the cornerstones of our relationship.

Currently, we’re between a handful of exciting new client projects, as well as starting renovations on a townhouse we’ll be moving into at the end of the year and training for a running event next month :)

We've had the pleasure of collaborating with you on an incredibly exciting project set for unveiling in June. Your brand is defined by a relationship-focused approach that consistently yields optimal design solutions. Could you walk us through the journey that led to the establishment of One and One?

Yes, we are very excited for the launch of the upcoming project! It’s been such a pleasure working with the McMullin team.

One and One was a dream we carried together for nearly a decade of our relationship. It was the culmination of all our experience, skills and interests under one banner. In 2021 we finally bit the bullet and put all our eggs in the one basket. Nearly 3 years later, we’re still here and we are humbled that we get to spend our days doing what we love: creating, designing and working with like-minded individuals. We are very blessed and aim to never take any opportunity for granted.

As not only business partners but also partners in life, how do your respective roles complement each other in running a multidisciplinary design studio?

There’s no denying working with your spouse can come with its challenges, but we work hard to maintain high communication and a harmonious environment (not always easy and not always achieved ha!).

In terms of complementary skills, Alix is more of a traditional ‘graphic designer’ with a decade of experience working in agencies, as well as her own freelance work. She is also the more logistical and strategic one. Wes’ design pathway has been less linear, working as a fashion designer, art director, photographer and animator before coming over to graphic design. This combination means we end up with a very unique and diverse skill set and helps us solve creative problems with a multidisciplinary approach.

What sets your approach to design apart from others in the industry?

We’ve never claimed to be the best designers out there and probably never will. We feel that what makes us great is the sum of all our parts: executing high calibre work, forming unique ideas, staying consistent, meeting deadlines, having good communication and focusing on client relationships.

Other than that, as mentioned, we have a unique set of skills and experience that we believe helps us achieve top-tier results for our clients.

In an ever-evolving field, how do you manage to stay inspired and informed about emerging trends and technologies in design?

It’s definitely an interesting design landscape at the moment, with the introduction of AI, as well as new softwares and tools to learn. For us, we think it is just a constant reminder that we can’t get comfortable and we need to keep challenging ourselves to grow as designers and produce the best work we can.

Regarding trends, we actually do our best to stay clear of major design trends. We pride ourselves on finding tailored solutions for our clients that are not based on what others are doing in the market, but on what is going to achieve the best result for each specific project. 

Looking ahead, what are your aspirations and goals for the future of your design studio?

We’ve never had a desire to grow an empire, we’re more interested in working on aspirational projects that get us excited. So, the plan is to keep doing what we’re doing to the best of our ability and we’ll see where it leads.

In saying that, we do have an exciting new company/service we are planning to launch in the next 6-12 months. So keep your eyes peeled for that!

 

Your studio exudes a sense of calm and beauty, evident in the carefully curated pieces that adorn the space. Was there a key theme or inspiration that guided the transformation of your studio into what it is today?

Wow. It’s an honour to receive a compliment like that from an interiors company like you guys! Though we do think our new McMullin coffee table is doing a lot of the hard work.

Our goal with the office was really just to make it a welcoming and inspiring space for us to work from and for our clients to enjoy visiting. 

How do you encourage creativity and innovation through the design of your office environment, including the selection of furniture and decor?

We’ve always aligned with the belief that you are a product of your environment. If your space is uninspiring, you’re going to feel uninspired and vice versa. The same goes for our home, we want to foster a space that gets us enthused about our days.

Can you share any future plans or aspirations for further evolving the design and furniture within your creative office space?

No major plans at this moment, but we often like to change small things up, like the plants, the wall art or even just an incense fragrance to keep the space feeling fresh.

Lastly, who are your favourite designers right now? Up-and-coming, local, or international.

Wes - Coming from the fashion industry a lot of my favourite designers are apparel designers. At the moment I’m particularly following Teddy Santis, creative director of Aime Leon Dore and recently New Balance. I also have a soft spot for dance music art and have recently been keeping up with the works of DJ and designer Luca Lozano.

Alix - So many different types of designers inspire me, but if I had to choose two at this very moment,  I would say -  Noemie Le Coz. She is an art director and graphic designer, who has produced such unique work. All of her designs are genius, yet they have this playfulness to them - I am always inspired!

I also love Ditte Reffstrup, the creative director of Ganni. She has stayed true to her vision for the brand. Everytime I walk into a Ganni store or put on one of their pieces, I can’t help but smile.