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ARC BAE

@arc.bae_design

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MURALS + SPACES🎨 Art + Design practice. Co-creating spaces and narratives through art and design that inspire kinship
Principal @torri_e.smith
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People often see the finished piece and assume the process was clear from the beginning. Most of the time, it isn't. Design is a cycle of testing, editing, questioning, repainting, stepping back, trying again, and trusting that the pieces will eventually come together. The same is true for architecture, art, and honestly, life. This mural started as a concept, evolved through sketches, changed on the wall, and continued to shift as each layer was added. What looks intentional in the final piece is often the result of countless small decisions, adjustments, and moments of uncertainty. One of the things I love most about creating is that it continually reminds me that progress rarely happens in a straight line. Trust the process. Keep showing up. Keep making the next mark. 🎨 DBI Mural Detroit, Michigan #MuralArt #PublicArt #DetroitArt #CreativeProcess #ArchitectureAndArt #DesignProcess #TrustTheProcess #ARCBAE by @arc.bae_design
After an exciting season of projects, travel, teaching, and creative exploration, I'm opening up availability for remote design collaborations and consulting support. ARC BAE operates across spatial design, interiors, public art, visualization, conceptual design, community engagement, co-creation and creative strategy, helping clients transform ideas into thoughtful and impactful experiences. Whether you're developing a project, exploring an early concept, seeking design support, or looking for a creative collaborator, I'd love to connect. 📩 torri@arcbaedesign.com #DesignConsulting #ConceptDesign #RemoteWork #InteriorDesign #PublicArt #CreativeStrategy #ARCBAE by @arc.bae_design
Good cities are built one infill project at a time. Through ARC BAE, I partnered with J29:7 Development to create the conceptual design vision for 136 North Washington Street - a mixed-use housing proposal in the heart of downtown Ypsilanti. Located adjacent to the city's transit center, the project explored how an underutilized site could be transformed into a vibrant urban destination that strengthens walkability, supports local businesses, and expands housing opportunities within the downtown core. The proposal included: • 60 residential units
 • Ground-floor retail space
 • Mixed-income housing strategies
 • Indoor and outdoor resident amenities
 • Transit-oriented development principles
 • Sustainable design opportunities I believe some of the most impactful architectural projects aren't necessarily the largest - they're the ones that thoughtfully fill gaps in the urban fabric and help communities grow more connected, resilient, and accessible. Architecture has the power to create not only buildings, but opportunities: for housing, for local business, for community, and for the future. Client: J29:7 Development
Design Lead: ARC BAE
Location: Ypsilanti, Michigan #Architecture #UrbanDesign #HousingDesign #MixedUseDevelopment #TransitOrientedDevelopment #CommunityDevelopment #Ypsilanti #MichiganArchitecture #ARCBAE #DesignForPeople by @arc.bae_design
THE NEW SCHOOL is a group of Detroit-based architecture and landscape designers that share resources and design projects grounded in the communities we partner with - with a focus on reuse, sustainability, community and mentorship. Members are Salam Rida of @9xsdesign Design, Laura Marie Peterson of @oneplusoneplusoneplusoneplus , Kimberly Dokes of @dokes_design_architecture , Elise Dechard of @e.n.d.studio , Mollie Decker of @subject_studio , Laura Walker of @otherwork__ , Ujijji Davis Williams of @jimastudio and Torri Smith of @arc.bae_design . The New School, is a loose tongue-and-cheek reference to the New York Five, a group of “old-school” white male architects popular in the 1970s. Together, THE NEW SCHOOL is working towards a more inclusive, equitable and beautiful city and state. Read more about us in HOUR Detroit’s May 2025 issue! Thank you Khristi Zimmeth and Kate Walsh for highlighting the work we do! @hourdetroitmagazine thank you @johndangelophoto for the photos! by @arc.bae_design
A year ago I spent weeks standing on ladders painting this lioness. At the time, I was focused on deadlines, paint colors, details, and getting everything finished before opening day. Looking back now, I see something different...I see all the things I was trying to paint into the work without fully realizing it: strength, resilience, community, femininity, protection, growth, and pride in where I come from. This mural was created for Hip & Humble DTW and remains one of the largest and most personal pieces I've painted. It combines Detroit landmarks, native flowers, local wildlife, Art Deco influences, and a lioness leading the next generation forward. It's funny how artwork sometimes teaches you what it was about long after it's finished. Still proud of this one. 💛 Detroit forever. by @arc.bae_design
Architecture is ultimately about possibility. In 2023, through ARC BAE, I partnered with J29:7 Development to create the conceptual design vision for 301 W. Michigan Avenue - a proposed mixed-use development in the heart of downtown Ypsilanti. The project explored how an underutilized site could be transformed into a vibrant, community-centered destination featuring housing, retail, shared amenities, and opportunities for both affordability and long-term neighborhood investment. The proposal included:
 • 216 residential units
 • Ground-floor retail space
 • Shared indoor and outdoor amenities
 • Mixed-income housing strategies
 • Sustainable design opportunities
 • A walkable, urban development approach For me, architecture has always been about more than buildings. It's about creating places that support people, strengthen communities, and help shape a more equitable future. Projects like this remind me why I love working at the intersection of design, development, and community impact. Client: J29:7 Development
Design Lead: ARC BAE
Location: Ypsilanti, Michigan #Architecture #UrbanDesign #MixedUseDevelopment #HousingDesign #CommunityDevelopment #DetroitDesign #MichiganArchitecture #ARCBAE #Ypsilanti #ConceptDesign by @arc.bae_design
Detroit is defined by its people and larger community. In 2022, I designed and painted a series of murals for AECOM's Detroit office that explored the intersection of community, culture, infrastructure, and place. The work brings together Detroit landmarks, Motown history, grassroots activism, natural systems, and local icons while incorporating AECOM's brand language into a cohesive visual story. The last photo is a conversation between myself and former mayor Mike Duggan at the AECOM ribbon cutting and sharing why community voices and grassroots organizing were such important themes throughout the design. Cities are shaped by the people who invest in them every day. This mural was my attempt to celebrate that. by @arc.bae_design
ARC: Architecture. Art. Design. Welcome to ARC BAE—a Detroit-based art and design practice reimagining the connections between architecture, art, and design. Rooted in the energy of Detroit’s creative scene, we craft bold, transformative spaces that celebrate community, harmony, and storytelling. At the heart of ARC BAE is the belief that creativity has the power to transform spaces and stories. “ARC” symbolizes the fusion of architecture, art, and design—a reflection of the craft that shapes our world and connects people to place. It’s about creating work that resonates deeply, honors its surroundings, and bridges the natural and built environments. #DetroitDesign #DetroitInspires #EquitableDesign #KinshipThroughDesign #InspiredByDetroit #ARC BAE by @arc.bae_design
One of my favorite things about public art is that it has the ability to shape a space long before people begin to occupy it. 'Across the River' was co-created for the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP), a mentorship-based third space serving students in the South Bronx. From the beginning, this mural was designed to be a collaborative effort - not just a finished artwork installed in a community, but something created with the community itself. Working alongside the ELP staff team, we invited students to participate in the design process through feedback sessions, discussions, and voting on the mural's overall theme, style, and color palette. Their input helped shape a vision that celebrates the vibrancy of the South Bronx through a blend of cityscape, nature, movement, and community. Spanning three interconnected walls, the mural was designed as one continuous landscape; bringing together familiar landmarks, layered plant life, and scenes of people gathering, learning, and growing together. During installation, students and staff were invited to pick up a paintbrush, learn about the mural-making process, and leave their mark on the space. Completed over four days in July 2024, just before the center opened, the project became more than a mural. It became an opportunity to build ownership, creativity, and connection within a space dedicated to the next generation of leaders. Grateful to the ELP team, staff, and students who helped bring this vision to life. 💛 #ARCBAE #PublicArt #CommunityDesign #MuralArt #SouthBronx #EmergingLeadersProgram #CreativePlacemaking #CommunityEngagement #YouthLeadership #ArtAndDesign #DesignForImpact by @arc.bae_design
Lately I've found myself returning to the same subject over and over again: koi & water. After months of traveling through different countries, spending time in the ocean, learning to surf, getting lost, finding myself again, and eventually taking a leap into a completely new chapter of life, these koi somehow felt like the right thing to paint. Koi are often associated with perseverance and transformation—moving through currents rather than resisting them. I didn't set out with that symbolism in mind, but somewhere along the way I realized that's exactly what these paintings had become about. Three koi.
Three different paths.
The same water. Oil on canvas + wood panel | 12" x 12" by @arc.bae_design
BAE: Love + Passion. ARC BAE isn’t just a design studio; it’s a labor of love. “BAE” represents the deep passion and care poured into every project—a love for design, community, and the environments we inhabit. It’s about crafting meaningful work that inspires connection, celebrates resilience, and uplifts the spirit of every space it touches. #DesignForCommunity #DetroitDesign #ARCBAE #EquitableDesign #InspiredByDetroit by @arc.bae_design
Queendom Nail Bar explored how branding, hospitality, and interior design can come together to create an experience rather than simply a service space. Inspired by vintage glamour and contemporary luxury, the concept paired rich emerald tones, ornate detailing, layered textures, and theatrical lighting to transform a standard commercial tenant space into a destination. From conceptual space planning and branding strategy to material palettes and visualizations, the project imagined a bold environment designed to make every guest feel like royalty. ✨ Services: • Concept Design • Interior Design • Space Planning • Branding Integration • Visualization + Rendering #InteriorDesign #HospitalityDesign #DetroitDesign #ARCBAE #ConceptDesign by @arc.bae_design

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