ABOUT US

OUR approach

WE TAKE A comprehensive approach to renewal for every project regardless of size.

The Church’s mission of evangelization calls every person to discipleship in Christ – individually and as members of his Body the Church. This encounter is both a spiritual and a material reality – it is sacramental.

Through the sacramental lens and Catholic worldview of St. Thomas Aquinas, Pope St. John Paul II, and Pope Benedict XVI, beauty is defined as the attractive power of the truth and an objective revelation of the love of God. Beauty is integral to the human identity and interior longing. It can foster a transforming personal encounter for the sanctification of the baptized and evangelization to all the world.

Our clients are devoted to a transforming encounter with Christ as the basis for renewal in the Church,
as well as a commitment to forming faithful disciples and re-establishing a wider culture of beauty
as a means of providing this encounter for the Church and the world.

OUR MODEL

BEYOND MERE PROFESSIONAL DESIGN SERVICES, OUR MODEL PRIORITIZES DISCERNMENT AND PROVIDES THE MOST FREEDOM TO THE PROCESS IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE THE FRUITS OF RENEWAL.

COSMETIC REMODEL / RENOVATION & BEAUTIFICATION

For projects where we will serve as the sole/prime design professional (sacred art/furnishings, renovation/beautification, conceptual design and campus planning), we offer a highly flexible approach, involving unlimited combinations of vendors, artisans, and other professional consultants as needed to uniquely fit the scope of every project. We do not have pre-determined or forced relationships with any the many studios and firms we utilize, so finding the right fit for the client is our principal objective.
For renovation and beautification projects, the client is in the driver’s seat to form the ideal project team.

MAJOR RENOVATION / EXPANSION & NEW CONSTRUCTION

For projects where we will partner collaboratively with and direct design for a team under the leadership of an Architect of Record (major renovation/restoration, expansion, new construction), we strive to utilize an Architecture firm that is local – with or without experience in sacred architecture and/or traditional design. We love working with great architects who thrive on collaboration! This partnership is not simply a hand-off of a conceptual design, nor is it merely asking for a seal. The process involves an alignment of vision and values and careful teamwork throughout each phase. While sometimes an overlap in traditional design and liturgical knowledge skill sets between firms can undoubtedly serve as an asset, other times is not needed – we have found that every situation is unique. Either way, we firmly believe in the unparalleled value of a local Architect of Record who strives for excellent customer service. Having command of local jurisdiction, building codes and ordinances, construction products, subcontractor market, and so on from a party who is willing to collaborate with our team is ideal, allowing Studio io to shepherd the design effort from the standpoint of maintaining the integrity of the vision and how it will apply to sacramental life and transformation of the wider culture. The practical aspects of leading a consultant team, coordinating with a general contractor, and working with the necessary permitting and approval authorities, all in service to this mission, are the expertise we rely on from a good Architect of Record partner. The extent to which all team members are enthusiastic about the requisite roles and responsibilities determines the successful outcome of the project.
For major construction projects, the client receives the best of both worlds:
proven, trusted know-how in a local architect of record,
and an experienced Catholic design firm whose mission is steeped in the principles of the liturgy and traditional design.

OUR MODEL IS ADVANTAGEOUS FOR MANY BUT IS NOT FOR ALL.

As specialty liturgical designers and consultants, the large majority of the projects we regularly take on are sacred or devotional in nature – churches, chapels, oratories, grottos, prayer gardens, and even schools and retreat centers. Our services are purely design, consultation, coordination, and formation based – while we collaborate with a wide variety of qualified artists, artisans, and other skilled craftsmen, we do not produce or sell any physical goods of this type through Studio io and do not earn any commission.

Not every project is the right fit, even if sacred in nature – we prayerfully approach each potential project to carefully discern the right relationships and team dynamics, priorities and project goals, and timing. Striving for obedience in faith wherever we are called is our commitment; alignment of vision, mission, and values outweigh any other aspect of a project for our team. Studio io’s role, while flexible, is unique and requires certain parameters to work properly; these may not be the right fit for many clients. Often, difficult decisions are reached regarding the pursuit of our model and the other sacrifices it might entail for the long-term good of the project. We wholeheartedly understand in some cases requirements for our model to be used may not be feasible.

We utilize a variety of flexible and collaborative professional design team models that scale to the needs and size of every project. While our role may change slightly from project to project based on particular circumstances, our primary job is to understand the God-given mission of each client and to help form and safeguard the integrity of a design vision to its completion. This is different from the way that many pastors, committees, and professionals have encountered other liturgical design professionals. It is a beautiful thing to see others understand and take ownership of their own part of this process. We strive from the onset to avoid a competitive or combative mindset that results from an unclear outline of responsibilities or lack of understanding of our model and role it entails for us to direct the formation of a vision and oversee its implementation.

We strive to maintain a service model rooted in humility, while also endeavoring to offer a bold and challenging vision for the Church that addresses the culture’s need for joyful evangelization through beauty and intentional fidelity to liturgical piety. The model for every project should mirror the model for the Church – the mystical Body of Christ that is made to serve. Every part has a place and a function and must work together for the overall good. To this end, we believe discernment, not competition or ambition, should be the guiding principle of determining the best players for a project team and serve to inspire the actions of each.

WHERE WE WORK / WHO WE SERVE

We work in all 50 US states and have served clients in every region of the country: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, Central / Great Plains, Southwest, and Pacific Northwest.

We serve all kinds of Catholic clients: parishes, campus ministries, schools, seminaries, religious communities, retreat centers, and other apostolates. We consider involvement with non-liturgical projects for our clients on a case-by-case basis.