We met at the University of Michigan College of Architecture and Urban Planning, and the rest is history.

We earned our Master of Architecture degrees, got married, moved to North Carolina, found jobs, passed our architecture licensing exams, bought our first house, had two children, and moved back to West Michigan.

Life events and career opportunities led to Carol diverging into graphic design or, as she calls it, "two-dimensional architecture." After working for others for several years, she founded derkstudio.

Jim pursued his passion for creative problem-solving by working at a variety of architectural firms, designing everything from schools to recreational facilities, custom homes to tree houses.

Working together, we bring a unique set of talents to our clients. We listen. We respond — combining our artistic and technical skills to create solutions that fulfill your needs with beauty and grace. Whether it's a printed page or your forever home, we seek to make efficient use of all resources, including your budget.

We love what we do. We hope you will too.