WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS

Echo Eaton-Thorne

Interior Designer, D.I.D.

Echo designs because it is a creative outlet that also lets her feel like she is helping others live their best life. It’s art with function and purpose.

Born and raised in Victoria, Echo grew up in the world of renovation and general contracting; she received her Diploma in Interior Design from Vancouver Island University’s Interior Design program and graduated with an award in art history in 2006. Interacting with clients, problem-solving, the wonderful team at Meade Design Group, and the ever-changing array of beautiful and inspiring new products are just some of the reasons Echo loves her career. Echo assists in the conceptual development, sketching, drafting, material and furnishing selections and creative aspects of Meade Design Group’s interior design projects for the last 10 years. In her spare time, Echo enjoys entertaining and spending time with friends, painting, photography projects, volunteering, travelling, reading rock biographies and adventures with her husband, Nic, daughters Aurora and Briar, and dogs, Maximus and Sailor.

Beth Brown

Interior Designer, B.I.D.

Beth designs because she believes that our interiors have such a profound effect on us, and that each space should tell a unique story about the people it was designed for.

Born and raised on Vancouver Island, Beth has always had a passion for all things art. She has always been very eager to learn and takes any opportunity she can to explore her interests in the world. At a young age she discovered her love for design, animals, children, and plants, dedicating any spare time to delve deeper into these callings. Beth completed her Bachelor of Interior Design at Vancouver Island University in 2022, graduating with honours. Since being in the interior design program, Beth was inspired to learn about the impact our interiors have on us, and how they can enhance well-being, encourage connection and interaction, and can reflect the individuality of the people it is designed for.

Interior design has given Beth a way to express her creativity in a way that will bring happiness to others. Beth joined Meade Design Group for the opportunity to continue learning about all things design and creating spaces that will inspire those who visit. In her free time Beth can be found exploring nature, tending to her forest of tropical plants, and spending quality time with loved ones.

Alex Young

Graphic Designer, B.Des, C.D.P.

Alex designs because graphic design is an art with a purpose. It is visual communication and aesthetic expression that can be understood in any language, expresses individuality, and surrounds us in everyday life.

Originally drawn to the world of Fine Arts, Alex’s journey took a pivotal turn when she discovered graphic design—a medium perfectly suited to her innate sense of aesthetics and passion for visual storytelling. Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Vancouver Island University, Alex’s dedication to her craft culminated in her CPD certification with DesCan (Design Professionals of Canada) in 2023. This prestigious recognition not only validates her technical skills but also underscores her unwavering commitment to excellence in design strategy, leadership, communication, and creative direction.

As Meade Design Group’s senior Graphic Designer, Alex brings her expertise to bear on a wide range of projects, specializing in brand identities, marketing campaigns, content creation, packaging design, and beyond.

Outside of the design studio, Alex finds joy in the simple pleasures of life—road trips, live music, the perfect crema on her morning americano, and immersing herself in the serenity of nature.

Joaquina Aldrete

Architectural Designer, M.C.H., Arq.

Joaquina designs because she believes that each space deserves to be a unique work of art.

Born and raised in San Luis Potosí, México, Joaquina has always had a deep passion for art, architecture, and music. She has a degree in Architecture and a Masters in Art History, both earned at the Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí.  Joaquina’s design perspective is strongly influenced by vibrant colours and rich folklore of ancient cultures. Without a doubt, Joaquina’s favourite part of design and architecture is creating a unique space that reflects the character and personality of its inhabitant.

To transform a space Joaquina believes it must bring harmony between the environment, its owner, and the design perspective of the designer. Beyond interiors and architecture, Joaquina is also actively involved in the arts and has been the lead in several local stage and musical productions. In her spare time Joaquina can be found spending time with her family and friends, curled up in a comfy chair reading a good book, or just hanging out with her dogs (Cira and Moro).

Jeff Michaud

IT Consultant, MSc, CAPM

Jeff has always had a love for technology and has been coding since the web began. He moved from his hometown in Ontario to enroll in UVic’s Software Engineering program. He now holds two degrees in computer science and is equipped with a broad set of skills and over 15 years of experience in developing web sites and web applications. Jeff finds his work to be both fascinating and creative. Though he is not with Meade Design Group on a daily basis, Jeff is Meade Design Group’s original Web Developer and is still a valuable part of the team. Jeff continues to help on large scale projects as an IT consultant; assisting in complex custom-coding and keeping the studio ahead of the curve with the latest technologies.

In his spare time, Jeff likes to run, read books, play Ultimate-Frisbee with friends, and saving the odd princess through the power of video games.

Jan Pingel

Web Developer

Jan has lived on Vancouver Island more than 17 years and moved to Victoria from Ucluelet with his fiancee to further his career in web development. He has over 14 years of experience in both front-end and back-end web development. Jan assists in all aspects of Meade Design Group’s web development projects including UI/UX, programming, accessibility & cross-browser testing, integration, migrations, e-commerce, deployment and system administration. He is very detail oriented and enjoys the challenge of looking for the best solution to unique requests. In his spare time Jan enjoys keeping up with the latest in web technologies, PC gaming, and likes to treat himself with the occasional cigar and glass of scotch.