‘Nice’ is not a four-letter word.

At IDa, we're all about good design and good relationships. We believe that good relationships make good design even better, so our process is inclusive and collaborative — with our clients, and one another. Our best clients bring us in early and keep us late, seeing the project through from user research to launch. For us, the design process is an enjoyable journey. Our clients agree.

Left to right: Zach Raven, Cara Danis, Jennifer Wammack, Mitch Bakker, Amy Cheyne.

Our Team

“Grace, our youngest child, has really changed our lives in a significant way. Bringing a little girl from China into a family of four boys has changed our lives for the better.”

“I like to sketch, read, and journal, both to articulate ideas and just as a creative outlet. As our children leave the nest, I plan to get back into writing and painting even more.”

Mitch Bakker

A good design often needs to do more than one thing. So does a good designer. IDa Design principal Mitch Bakker has done many things throughout his career, all of which add to the culture of the firm. He founded IDa Design after spending years sitting “on the other side of the design desk,” as head of product design for leading furniture manufacturers. Mitch understands the importance of putting the client goals on par with the designer's vision and pushes our team toward results that realize both. A highly respected designer in his own right, Mitch remains very hands-on in the design process. Outside the studio, trips to Zambia and Haiti have strengthened his faith, deepened his passion, and inspired an ongoing commitment to action in the area of social justice. Mitch holds board positions with various design and humanitarian organizations, including Poetice International.

Contact

mitch@id-adesign.com 616-748-1572

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“I just love this tile, the way this amazing color is embedded into it like a fresco. I picked it up in Brussels. To me, it represents craft, design, commercial work, materials, and color.”

“I'm a hand-weaver, but I'm not weaving much these days. But what I have been doing around textile arts is embroidery. I really get a thrill out of the blending of beauty and utility.”

Jennifer Wammack

The impact of materials goes deeper than the surface of a designed object. Likewise, the impact made at IDa by Jennifer Wammack goes well beyond her extensive background in textiles. Behind the scenes, Jennifer works closely with Mitch to shape the firm's strategic direction. On the product side, she's a tireless advocate for improving the user experience and the life cycle of our designs. Before joining IDa, Jennifer served as director of design for Guilford of Maine, the textile manufacturer formerly owned by sustainability pioneer Interface. That experience ignited her passion for sustainability, inspiring her to earn a Masters of Management in Sustainable Business. Jennifer is also our link to the local community, currently serving as vice-president of the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum.

Contact

jennifer@id-adesign.com 616-748-1572

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“I design and make wrist watches using the same rapid prototyping techniques we use in the studio. I'm working with a charity on a special edition watch, sales of which will help fund their work building wells in Africa.”

“I really enjoy reading, and I spend a lot of time with design books, blogs, and magazines, just seeing what's out there, what's current. I think it helps me stay up on trends.”

Zach Raven

Is there a better possible beginning to a story about an industrial designer than being born the son of a millworker? Not likely. He attended Kendall College of Art & Design and never looked back. His past product design work ranges from floor sweepers for Bissell to a bouncy seat for Sassy, not to mention several award-winning commercial furniture products. Zach worked with an ex-NFL player to develop a concussion-reducing helmet and he still burns the midnight oil making his signature rvndsgn watches. Of his role at IDa, he says, «I'm kind of doing my dream job.;» His IDa colleagues might think of Zach as a younger brother, but their respect for his talent and his natural curiosity is immense.

Contact

zach@id-adesign.com 616-748-1572

“In 2010, I co-founded a community garden in our neighborhood. We adopted a lot where a house had burned down, and everyone who volunteers receives a share of the harvest.”

“Travel and an appreciation of different cultures are values that my husband and I have worked to instill in our family.”

Cara Danis

At what point in her career did Cara Danis realize that designers needed to be well organized? “Like, day one,” she says without hesitation. Her education and work experiences have helped hone both her design and organizational skillsets over the years. Cara studied industrial design at Western Michigan University and Denmark's International Study Program, which sparked her love of Scandinavian furniture design. Her professional career began in the RV industry, where she coordinated teams of designers, engineers, model makers, and suppliers. Since joining IDa, she has seamlessly integrated herself into our collaborative culture, contributing to ideation, design, model making, and project management efforts. She also assumes full responsibility for getting the rest of the studio addicted to wasabi peas.

Contact

cara@id-adesign.com 616-748-1572

“Water is one of those things that comes so easily for us, and yet is life-threatening for so much of the world. So a big chunk of our spare time and resources have gone toward non-profit water harvesting and filtration projects.”

“Cooking is a wonderful creative outlet for me. Cooking really good food as a family is one of the ways I try to build a healthy lifestyle and creativity into my kids.”

Amy Cheyne

Amy Everything, as she is affectionately known by her IDa Design colleagues, does pretty much that: everything. As our studio manager, she's the IT department, the legal department, the accounting department, the HR department, and the hospitality department. She facilitates the creative process by containing potential wildfires during times of high activity and stoking the embers so ideas don't fizzle. She does a considerable amount of running outside the studio, too, but that's mainly for fitness. Amy credits her experience as the wife of a business owner and 15 years of being a stay-at-home mom as the best training she could ask for.

Contact

amy@id-adesign.com 616-748-1572

News

Guilford of Maine Consultation 9/4/2012

Jennifer recently collaborated with the marketing department of Guilford of Maine/True Textiles on the release of a new series of textile patterns.

View work
Haworth Member Garden Project 8/24/2012

Jennifer's work with the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum connected her with the Haworth Member Garden Project.

Watch the video
Silea™ Open Office Wins Best of NeoCon 6/11/2012

IDa Design and The Gunlocke Company were honored to receive a Best of NeoCon Gold in Casegoods and a Best of NeoCon Silver in Furniture Systems for Gunlocke's new Silea Open Office collection.

Read press release
Gather™ Wins Best of NeoCon and Grand Prize 6/13/2011

IDa Design in collaboration with HOK and Allsteel was honored to receive a Best of NeoCon Silver in Educational Solutions, Silver in Sofas & Lounge and an Editor's Choice Award. Gather also won Building Magazine Grand Prize in Furniture Systems and Accessories.

More news ↓

Awards

Interior Design Best of the Year Honoree
Harvest Table
Furniture: Contract/Tables
2012
NeoCon Gold Award
Silea Open Office
Casegoods
2012
NeoCon Silver Award
Silea Open Office
Systems
2012
NeoCon Silver Award
Gather Collection
Education Solutions
2011

NeoCon Silver Award
Gather Collection
Seating: Sofas & Lounge
2011
NeoCon Editor's Choice Award
Gather Collection
Seating: Benches
2011
Buildings Magazine Grand Prize
Furniture Systems and
Accessories: Gather
2011
Good Design Furniture Award
Stride Benching & Sit-to-Stand
2010

Good Green Design Furniture Award
Stride Workplace
2010
NeoCon Gold Award
Stride Benching Furniture
Systems Enchancements
2010
NeoCon Silver Award
Stride, Work Surfaces:
Height Adjustable
2010
Good Design Furniture Award
Stride Workplace
2009

NeoCon Silver Award
Stride Desking/Panel
System
2009
NeoCon Silver Award
Silea Casegoods
2009
Building Magazine Best of Show
Workplace Aesthetics:
Olla Chair family
2008
NeoCon Gold Award
Converge Conference
Grouping
2007

NeoCon Best of Show Runner up
Converge Conference
Grouping
2007
NeoCon Silver Award
Converge
Casegoods
2007
NeoCon Silver Award
Saber
Training Tables
2005
NeoCon Silver Award
Saber
Conference
2004

NeoCon Gold Award
AVID Conference Table
2003
NeoCon Best of Show Runner up
AVID Conference Table
2003
Kendall College of Art & Design Alumni of the Year
Mitch Bakker
2000

Speaking Engagements

Out in the Open
Live Twitter panel Discission with Metropolis, Gunlocke and IDa
09/12/2012
Spotlight on Sustainability: Furniture
Bioeconomy Institute
07/25/2012

Press

3rings covers Silea Open Office 7/24/12
The Economist interviews Jennifer for video article 7/11/12
WVGU Interview with Mitch 7/10/12
MLive covers West Michigan winners at Neocon 2012 6/6/12
Contract Magazine covers Gather 8/11/11
Buildings magazine covers Gather 7/6/11
Fast Company covers Gather 7/6/11
Contract Magazine covers Gather's People's Choice Award nomination 6/23/11
Contract Magazine covers Stride Bench 6/1/10
Officenewswire covers Stride System's Good Green Design Award 10/22/10
Office Furniture Trends covers Stride Desking's Good Design Award 1/13/10
Officenewswire covers Stride Desking's Good Design Award 1/8/10

IDa Design
201 West Washington Suite 260
Zeeland, Michigan, 49464

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IDa

We design in the sweet spot between accessible and desirable.

Lumen

IDa

Our next idea is our best idea.

Gather

Collaborative

Allsteel

Silea

Desking

Gunlocke

Silea

Systems

Gunlocke

Stride

Systems

Allsteel

Stride

Desking

Allsteel

We enjoy the journey.

Gather

Collaborative

Allsteel

Silea

Desking & Systems

Gunlocke

Stride

Benching, Systems & Desking

Allsteel

Converge

Tables

Gunlocke

Olla

Seating

Gunlocke

Saber

Tables

Nucraft

Avid

Tables

Nucraft

Our designs have market success.

Desking

Silea Private Office

Gunlocke

Stride Private Office

Allsteel

Equate

Nucraft

Systems

Stride Benching

Allsteel

Stride Systems

Allsteel

Silea Open Office

Gunlocke

Chameleon

National Office Furniture

Seating

Scape

Source International

Prodigy

Artco Bell

Olla

Gunlocke

Scooch

Allsteel

Linger

Allsteel

Take-5

Allsteel

Tables

Stride Height Adjust

Allsteel

Converge

Gunlocke

Saber Training

616-748-1572
amy@id-adesign.com