Design Bureaux is an inventive multidisciplinary design studio focused on creating hospitality, retail, residential and work place projects of the highest quality. We take a fresh holistic approach to every assignment without preconceived ideas or a house style resulting in unique custom tailored results. We work to realize projects that are experientially and visually engaging, culturally relevant, environmentally and economically responsible, informed by function and context, and that achieve the highest level of craft and design excellence. Rigorous conceptual, spatial, formal, and material research, close client collaboration and intensive study of the user’s needs are considered key to achieving innovative, poetic, and humane projects that are perfectly suited to those who will live, work and recreate in the realized environments.
Thomas Schlesser founded Design Bureaux in 2006. A celebrated designer with over 25 years of experience in Architectural, Interior and Product Design he has been responsible for an extremely diverse range of projects that have provided him with a wide breadth and depth of experience. Gaining a broad multicultural perspective from having lived, studied and worked in urban settings around the globe he blends his extensive experience and diverse interests to create fresh yet timeless results. Prior to opening Design Bureaux he held the position of Senior Associate at KPF in New York where he was responsible for the Design of a number of large scale commercial Architectural projects. Before this he was a Senior Designer at Din Associates in London and Design Director at Niedermaier in Chicago. He is also a licensed structural engineer.
Claire Schlesser has been with Design Bureaux since its inception. As Creative Director she brings her years of experience in shaping the conceptual approach to the projects. Her expertise in culinary history and culture brings an uncommon depth to her hospitality work while her background in film making gives her a unique perspective on interior design and the visual arts. Prior to the launch of Design Bureaux she studied and worked in the film industry specializing in cinematography and production on independent films in New York and Chicago.
Select Client List
Blau + Associates, Las Vegas
David Burke Group, New York
Denihan Hospitality Group/ the James Hotel, New York
The Dinex Group, chef Daniel Boulud, New York
Fatty Crew, chef Zakary Pelaccio, New York
Frontera Hospitality, chef Rick Bayless, Chicago
Henriot Champagne, Reims France
Holowesko Ltd, Nassau the Bahamas
JD.Com (Jingdong) Beijing China
Lotte Co. Ltd, Seoul Korea
Major Food Group, chefs Rich Torisi & Mario Carbone, New York
Marcus Samuelsson Group, New York
MGM Resorts International, Las Vegas
Momofuku Restaurants, chef David Chang, New York
One Off Hospitality, chef Paul Kahan, Chicago
Ronsisvalle, Geneva Switzerland
Sands Corporation, Las Vegas
Shinsegae Corporation, Seoul Korea
Starr Restaurants, Philadelphia