Over 40 years of combined experience

Mark A. Ford, AIA

President

The founder of The Ford Studio, Mark is a Licensed Architect in the State of Colorado with over 30 years of experience designing a wide variety of building types including high-end custom homes, educational facilities, veterinary hospitals, small commercial buildings, and mixed-use projects. Maintaining affiliations with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) gives Mark the credibility and pedigree expected of high profile clients who demand exceptional design at all levels.  

Mark began building his career with Bowie Gridley Architects, an award-winning firm in the District of Columbia that specializes in public and private schools, hospitality and entertainment projects, and high-end custom homes. After moving to Boulder, Colorado in the Fall of 1995, Mark began working for Gates Hafen Cochrane Architects, specializing in veterinary hospitals, animal shelters, and pet resorts. Mark enjoyed the opportunity to be involved in the conception to completion of several family-owned hospitals and clinics, as well as large-scale animal facilities for organizations such as the MSPCA and The Seeing Eye.  In 1998, Mark was offered an opportunity as a lead designer for Sparn & Associates in Boulder focusing on high-end custom homes and mixed-use projects. For over ten years, Mark honed his skills designing and detailing many custom homes throughout Boulder County and the Front Range. In 2008, Mark was recruited to join Mosaic Architects in Boulder as Project Manager and was elevated to Partner in 2011. As Partner, Mark further developed his skills as a designer, incorporating sustainability, project management, and interior design into his projects. His residential experience includes high-end custom homes, additions, remodels, and mixed-use.  

Having such varied experience creating many different styles of buildings; Mark leverages a deep understanding of how to blend the architectural virtues of aesthetics, sustainability, and high-end design. With a calm, genuine demeanor and an honest, trustworthy character. Mark’s intuitive nature and light-hearted approach allow him to effortlessly guide clients through the design and construction process. His keen interest in understanding the needs and desires of the client, and transforming those needs into reality is accentuated by his attention to detail, and his ability to diplomatically communicate challenging issues facing every project. Dedicated to exceeding his client’s expectations, Mark believes in a “never say no” design philosophy that encourages the evolution of the design throughout the architectural process.

Kayleigh Walker, AIA

Architect + Interior Designer

Kayleigh is an emerging architectural professional with an M.S. in Architecture and a B.S. in Interior Architecture from Lawrence Technological University in Michigan, where she graduated with distinction. She spent time during schooling working in both the architecture and interior design-focused realms within the residential industry while developing a thesis on the impacts of urban design policies in Detroit. Passionate about the history and continuous development of architecture and its effect on the everyday life of various communities, she intends to continue her education with a Ph.D. in Architecture and teach empathetic design.

Kayleigh actively works to discover the relationship of both architecture and interior design to the human form and mind, highly interested in creating not only an aesthetically pleasing space but also a positive impact on our day-to-day lives. A theory that has a significant influence on her love for architecture and design comes from Henry David Thoreau. In his writing, "Walden," he describes the essentials of a house and its function of solitary confinement and freedom. Elements from the colors of a wall to the flow of a kitchen to the urban design of a major city impact a person's emotions, physical senses, motion, and sense of belonging. Kayleigh's goal is to create a space that understands the client's needs with a proper play of form and materials. Kayleigh enjoys the opportunity to connect with clients to discover their understanding of their own lives and assist in a design that positively influences the way they live, creating a space with integrity and character.

Throughout her professional career, Kayleigh has encountered many project types - hospital interiors, online interior design, in-home consultations, multi-family projects, and residential architecture. During school, she was an intern at Cuningham Group in Denver, Colorado, and a contract employee at AZD Architects in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. She has also worked with the International Design Clinic for the past three years. The IDC is a non-profit architectural organization now partnered with an architect in South Africa. Each year, the project grows from the resourcefulness of reclaimed materials and ingenuity to establish a place for locals to access materials and experiment with innovation. Outside of architecture, Kayleigh is passionate about hiking, the gym, hockey, photography, and snowboarding. 

Sana Kareem, Associate AIA

Architectural Designer

Sana graduated from CU Boulder in 2022 with dual degrees in Environmental Design with an emphasis in Architecture, and a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Real Estate. Born in Baghdad, Iraq, Sana brings a unique and diverse perspective to design solutions. Sana is well-rounded in Business with Marketing, Accounting, Management, and Finance knowledge. She is also multilingual in Arabic, Spanish, and English.

Before joining The Ford Studio, Sana briefly interned at Kari Whitman Interiors, where she gained valuable exposure to Interior Design and a high-paced work environment. Additional work experience includes interning at Teamworx Health where she strengthened her Excel skills and was introduced to successful company structures in business. At CU Boulder, she took on leadership positions such as Resident Advisor and Teaching Assistant. Outside of classes and work, Sana was involved in multiple school organizations, such as Designers Without Boundaries, Real Estate Club, and a board member of the Muslim Student Association as a Graphic Designer. 

Sana also has experience working with newcomer minority groups and values design that accurately represents community diversity. She hopes to further explore Inclusive and Universal Design at Architectural and Interior scales. The next steps for Sana include pursuing a Master's Degree in Architecture and continuing to gain valuable work experience.

Natalie Goodman, NCIDQ, NEWH

Interior Designer

Natalie's story is not unlike others in the interior design industry. Consumed by her surroundings, visually digesting all that is around her to reimagine new spaces, interior design has always been a part of her life.  

Natalie's experiences have been vast, from working in high technology in California, non-profit work in Massachusetts, and interior design in Colorado. She has worked  for some of Colorado's best interior design  firms and is a valuable member of The Ford Studio. Her design philosophy is to gain a deep understanding of the clients goals and aspirations, which allows her to dig deep and create spaces that are thoughtful and appropriate.

Natalie's approach to design is systematic, thorough, and imaginative. A stickler for detail, with the goal and focus to provide the best customer service to the client, while maintaining the vision and integrity of the projects.  Natalie always advocates for the client and champions delivering results that meet or exceed expectations .