WHAT WE DO IS WHO WE ARE

Form + Field promotes joy and well-being through the design of empathetic and creatively integrated interiors. With an emphasis on art, architecture, and eclectic modernism, the firm cultivates every project as a partnership.

Led by Christine Lin, a multi-disciplinary creative with degrees in architecture, engineering, and business from MIT and UC Berkeley, Form + Field is based in San Francisco with projects spanning both coasts. Our outstanding professionalism ensures that we operate at the high level you’re accustomed to working.

 

 

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

We believe that well-designed spaces help people become their best selves. The quality of our work is driven by our design principles:

Empathy. 
Do what feels true to the client’s identity and way of life. Embrace the unconventional.  

Integration. 
Work holistically with all senses, the architecture, and surroundings, both physical and cultural.

Balance. 
Create balance through juxtaposition.

Longevity. 
Craft environments and select materials that stand the test of time. 

 

 

CHRISTINE LIN / PRINCIPAL

 
 

With a lifelong penchant for arts and crafts, Founder and Principal, Christine Lin, studied architecture and mechanical engineering at MIT where she also gained knowledge in furniture design, product design, and art history. Her rigorous training in corporate and startup tech environments coupled with her MBA from UC Berkeley gave her expert management and execution skills; while her well-honed eye is a result of extensive study and global travel to nearly 40 countries in search of inspired art, design, and architecture.. 

Christine lives in the Potrero Hill neighborhood of San Francisco with her husband Ankur, their son Apollo, and cavapoo Zoe. When not engrossed in art and design, she’s taste testing the latest gluten-free foods, mastering the Megaformer, and reading sci-fi, fantasy, and psychology books. Christine sits on the Board of Directors for Access Institute, a San Francisco-based nonprofit providing vital mental health services to those with the most need.

THE TEAM

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CAROLINE BRENNAN / OPERATIONS MANAGER

Caroline was born in San Francisco and raised in Marin and Sonoma County. Inspired by a wonderful teacher, Caroline developed a passion for the French language, which in turn deepened her appreciation for tasteful fashion and design. While earning her Bachelor's Degree in Foreign Language at the University of New Orleans, her curiosity for design and historical architecture expanded. Upon returning to California, she joined the students at UC Berkeley Extension and began drafting courses.

Stepping into the industry with the intention of becoming a draftsperson, she found that her true interest was in business. Caroline has been building her career "behind the scenes" for several respected designers, honing her skills and business acumen. She joined our team in 2021 and looks forward to continuing to develop the firm’s strong business performance.

Caroline lives in Larkspur along Corte Madera Creek. She loves to travel, sing, and play piano. Her weekends are spent with family, friends, and her chihuahua rescues, Birdie and Piglette.

CLAIRE RIORDAN / DESIGNER

Claire’s interest in design took shape during her undergraduate education where she applied race and gender theory to her practice in film photography and mixed media sculpture. After completing her undergraduate degree, Claire worked as a Clinical Assistant at a mental health and addiction hospital, ultimately bridging her interests between the built environment and the human mind-body connection. In 2018, she pursued the intersection of these interests with her enrollment in the Pratt Institute Interior Design MFA program.

Claire’s accomplishments in interior design include an exhibition at the Noguchi Museum in New York and a profile in the Dezeen Virtual Design Fair 2021 featuring her graduate thesis. Claire’s goal is to continue to cultivate a relationship between user and material by layering narratives of art, architecture, and interior design in space.

Beyond the realm of design, Claire enjoys expanding her knowledge of plant species and sewing her own clothes.

REBECCA ESH / DESIGN MANAGER

Growing up in a small town in Pennsylvania, Rebecca was always fascinated by historic homes and their interiors. Her interests led her to pursue a BS in Interior Design from Philadelphia University and spend a semester abroad studying design in London. Over the past 16 years, she has gained a wealth of knowledge in all disciplines of design, from leading retail design for major global and independent retailers; to designing both hospitality and high end residential projects around the world. This well-versed background gives Rebecca a unique perspective and a wide range of conceptual and technical skills to draw from. Rebecca lives in San Francisco and loves to spend the weekends hiking in the redwoods or relaxing at home with her partner, Chad, and their cat, Purl.

SYDNEY JANSON / DESIGNER

Growing up in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, Sydney’s creativity was influenced by the surrounding landscape. Her attention to detail and love for all things art and design led Sydney to follow her passion for Interior Design, studying Interior Architecture at The University of Tennessee. Sydney’s interest in creating interiors that are a reflection of the people inhabiting them inspires her design approach. Her career began with roles at high-end residential design firms in both Hilton Head and Los Angeles, where she was able to cultivate her conceptual and technical skill set and eye for design, before joining the Form + Field team in San Francisco.

Sydney lives in the Marina District of San Francisco. On the weekends you’ll find Sydney spending time outdoors, taking photos around the city, or attending a yoga class.

OUR CULTURE

We aspire to four core values that serve as our foundation in how we how we relate to our team, partners, and clients. Our priority is to create an environment that supports our team’s mental well-being by practicing a healthy work-life balance; we believe that leading healthy and balanced lives allows for the most productive and creative work.

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Radical Transparency

  • We’re direct and honest in our communication to each other and to clients and collaborators.

  • We freely and openly share and discuss information, ideas, opinions, and disagreements. We promptly bring challenges and issues to light and admit mistakes.

  • We treat people with respect independent of their status or disagreement.

Independent Thinking

  • We’re curious, open-minded, and love to learn new things. We seek alternative perspectives and feedback in order to push boundaries.

  • We take the initiative in seeking the best solution for a given situation, questioning what we know and not relying on past experience or how others do it.

  • We continuously look for new ways to improve our work and processes to enable us to perform our best work.

Service-Oriented Adaptability

  • We seek to understand our clients and collaborators and how best to work with them. We value flexibility in crafting solutions that maintain our high level of service and quality.

  • We respond to changing conditions and opportunities, updating processes and priorities to what’s most crucial and valuable for the company at any given time. We do whatever tasks are necessary to help the company even if it’s not in our job description.

  • When given new information or perspective, we’re open to changing our minds and previously-made decisions to get to the right decision.

Healthy Community

  • We inspire each other with our tenacity, optimism, and passion for design, service, and excellence. We seek what is best for our company and colleagues, while taking into consideration individual needs and boundaries.

  • We make decisions based on the long-term, identifying the root causes of issues and treating the root causes, not just the symptoms.

  • We are engaged with and contribute to our broader community in and outside of the design industry.