Meet the Founders
Ted & Laura Powell
For more than thirty years, Ted and Laura Powell have worked together as an integrated design team, combining architecture, environmental design, graphic communication, branding, and digital media to create places, products, and experiences that are both timeless and deeply connected to nature.
Ted Powell, NCARB, NCIDQ
Architect • Environmental Designer • Visionary
A Little Bit About Me…
For more than three decades, As a licensed Architect, I have had the privilege of helping clients transform ideas into places that enrich everyday life. From custom residences and hospitality venues to commercial developments and community planning, my work has always been guided by a simple belief: exceptional design begins by understanding the people who will experience it.
As founder of Dezign2the9z, Inc., I approach every project as a unique opportunity to create environments that are functional, timeless, and deeply connected to their surroundings. Whether designing a family home, a restaurant, a mixed-use development, or a specialized commercial space, my goal is to create places that people remember—not simply because of how they look, but because of how they feel.
Throughout my career I have been fortunate to work on more than eighty hospitality projects, along with residential, commercial, and planning commissions across North America. Each project has reinforced the importance of listening carefully, collaborating openly, and balancing creativity with practical solutions that respect budgets, schedules, and long-term value.
My work today continues to evolve through an exploration of biophilic design, sustainable building practices, advanced materials, and emerging technologies. I believe the future of architecture lies in creating environments that strengthen our connection with nature while embracing innovation to improve comfort, efficiency, and resilience.
That spirit of exploration extends beyond traditional architecture into furniture design, environmental graphics, sustainable community concepts, and product development. These parallel pursuits continually inform my architectural practice, allowing ideas developed in one discipline to inspire creative solutions in another.
None of this would be possible without my creative partner and wife, Laura. For more than three decades we have collaborated through Dezign2the9z, combining architecture, landscape design, graphic communication, and visual storytelling to provide clients with a thoughtful and integrated design experience.
Every commission begins with a conversation. We enjoy working with clients who value curiosity, collaboration, and craftsmanship—people who see design as an investment in the quality of life for those who will use a space for years to come.
Architecture has never been just my profession; it has been a lifelong pursuit of creating places that inspire, welcome, and endure. I remain as passionate today as when I began my career, and I continue to seek opportunities to design environments that make a meaningful difference for my clients and the communities they serve.
Ted’s Skills
Below is a breakdown of my skills in both design and programming.
Credited with numerous university level courses in subjects spanning the spectrum of post-secondary learning, Ted holds a Diploma in Architectural Technology from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and he is currently enrolled in the third year of the NAIT Bachelor of Technology Program — major: Engineering Systems. He plans to complement these studies with a Bachelor of Communication and a Masters Degree in Architecture.
Ted is a master in the art of computer modeling. Resourcing countless software enablers, he creates dramatic 3-d colored renderings and visually enhanced animated movies to underscore his creations.
Specialties include:
Architecture, Planning, Interior & Furniture Design, Engineering Specializing in au courant technologies. Specialties include:
Restaurant, Brewery & Club Design
Market Design
Retail Design
City Infrastructure Planning and Design
Automated Parking Design
People/Freight-Mover Design
Solar and Wind Turbine Energy Concepts
Outdoor Exercise Equipment
3-d Stage and Lighting Environments
Animated and Modeled Presentations
Laura Powell
Creative Director • Certified Landscape Architect • Biophilic Interior, Graphic & Web Design Specialist
Vivariums – A Glass enclosed Rainforest.
Hi! I’m Laura Powell
I created this space to showcase the skills and expertise I’ve built over the years. Below, you’ll find a contact form, and my social links are in the header—please feel free to connect. I’d love the opportunity to hear from you!
A Little Bit About Me…
I was a certified UCCE Master Gardener of Ventura, CA. for 5 years. With over 20 years of experience in interior design, I also earned an Advanced Certificate in Web & Graphic Design from Sessions Professional School of Design.
I’m a biophilic designer, passionate about strengthening the human–nature connection in built environments. I believe that incorporating nature into design nurtures both the soul and the body. I live this philosophy every day, surrounding myself with exotic plants and animals, creating vertical and rooftop gardens, freshwater aquascapes, natural ponds and pools, and glass-encased rainforest vivariums inhabited by dart frogs, geckos, and more.
As an aviculturist, I spend much of my time with my toucan, parrots, and small songbirds—and with my beloved furry companion, Rutland’s Grrizzwald, an Australian Cobberdog (the modern version of the Labradoodle). I study animal behavior first-hand, learning about their unique adaptations, social structures, and ways to create environments that give them purpose and enrich their lives.
I’m endlessly curious about landscapes and have a special love for rare and exotic plants that can be adapted to interior “plant-scaping.” I strive for sustainable solutions that balance the man‑made environment with nature’s vitality, blending earth, fire, and water in my designs. My specialties include vertical and rooftop gardens, native habitats, and a deep passion for tropicals.
Beyond design, I’m a web and graphic artist with a mastery of digital tools. I create visually engaging websites and organize complex, interrelated content into intuitive experiences for clients. My keen designer’s eye for color allows me to recall a hue from memory and match it perfectly, building harmonious and intriguing color palettes.
From production to presentation, I work primarily on a MacBook Pro, using a wide array of professional design software to bring my creative visions to life.
Hobbies: Aviculture, vivariums, aquascaping, culinary arts, wine tasting, dance, film, literature, and enjoying a simple, rural lifestyle.
Laura’s Specialties include:
Landscape Architectural Design and planning, Exterior & Interior Planting Design, Vertical Wall& Roof Gardens, Biophilic Interior & Furniture Design, Web and Graphic Design , Animal Environments – Aquascaping & Vivarium builds, Restaurant, Brewery Markets & Club Design • Retail Design, Web Design • Ecommerce • Web Layout • SEO • Adobe Creative Cloud Suit • XHTML • HTML 5 • CSS5 • CSS3 • Responsive Web Design • PHP • MySQL • JavaScript •
Graphic Design and Software Applications:
Adobe Creative Cloud – Photoshop • Illustrator • InDesign • Fireworks • Digital Painting • Dreamweaver • After Effects • Color Theory • Typography • Logo Design • PHP Form Validation • Photo Manipulation • Book and Poster Illustration • Landscape Freestyle Sketches • Flash Animation • Flash Character Animated Design • Flash Banner Ads • Flash Video • Garage band • Procreate • Blogging Technology – Wordpress with Themify, • Blogger • Ecommerce • Maya • 3D Modeling (BIM) • ArchiCad • AutoCad • SketchUp • VectorWorks Landmarks • Motion Graphics • Digital Photography • Product Photography • Video Editing • Everything Apple – Pages, Keynote Presentations, OS, IOS• Microsoft Office and Powerpoint • Social Networking Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google • Wix Website setups • Shutterfly Share Sites • Canva • Wacom tablets
Portfolio
Contact Us
Our headquarters is located in the Tehachapi, CA. an idyllic mountain town. The downtown area has art galleries, and Restaurants.
Contact Form
If you would like to leave us a message or set up an appointment to discuss what we can do for you, please fill out the form and we will get back to you shortly. Thank You, Laura & Ted Powell