About Modern Design Platform
The platform between design intent and physical execution.
Modern Design Platform helps design professionals create distinctive projects with less risk, lower design and product costs, and more time to design.
MDP is a design and execution platform for hospitality and other complex furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) projects. It connects the Design Brief with product discovery, specification, customization, coordination, purchasing and delivery.
Why MDP
Less repeated work. More time for design.
Project information is often scattered across catalogs, PDFs, spreadsheets, emails and purchasing systems. MDP connects the information collaborators need to work together, reducing duplication and strengthening coordination while preserving manufacturers’ product identity and expertise.
- More time for design: Reduce repeated sourcing and administration so designers can focus on creating distinctive spaces.
- Lower design fees: Reduce time spent in duplicated research and specification work to control design fees.
- Lower product pricing: Operating efficiencies and manufacturer volume discounts reduce product costs.
- Less execution risk: Keep design intent, product choices, specifications, estimates and approvals connected throughout the project.
- Discovery & Specification.
- Architects and designers
- Establish the intent; owners and their teams retain control of project decisions.
- Procurement
- Preferred partners
- Continue working with preferred manufacturers, purchasing agents and project partners.
- Production
- Improved systems
- Improve the information entering procurement and project systems while preserving established purchasing arrangements.
- Shipping & Delivery
- Increased capacity
- Manage more complex projects with greater control. Know where products are at all times.
The Origin
Built from the realities of project execution.
Before founding MDP, Neil Somerfield worked through his previous business on Tres Marías, a 45,000-square-foot private residence in Mexico. Product curation, detailed specification, customization, manufacturer coordination, purchasing and logistics had to remain connected to preserve the designers’ intent.
That experience helped shape MDP: a way to keep product decisions and project information connected across complex projects.
Built from experience.
the four stages of execution
Curation is only the beginning.
MDP carries the Design Brief and product decisions through four connected stages, keeping specifications, pricing, production information and delivery requirements tied to the same project
- 01
Discovery & Specification.
Explore products through the Product Library, project curation and Sage. Develop specifications around the project’s requirements, including dimensions, materials, finishes, quantities and available customization.
- 02
Procurement
Request estimates, review project pricing and prepare approved specifications for purchase. Share complete electronic specifications with your FF&E team or purchasing agent, or arrange direct purchasing through MDP where appropriate. Both routes can be used within the same project.
- 03
Production
Carry approved specifications into production with the information manufacturers need. Keep agreed dimensions, materials, finishes and approved changes connected to the products being made.
- 04
Shipping & Delivery
Coordinate shipping and delivery requirements with manufacturers, purchasing teams and logistics partners, using the same product and specification information developed throughout the project.
project first
Curation shaped by project intent.
- Design brief
- Project Intent
- Space & product requirements
- Quantities
- Timelines
- Begin with the design brief: the brief includes the project’s purpose, design direction, spaces, budget, product requirements and planned quantities. This information then shapes a Curated Project Journey, narrowing the product choices to those relevant to the project and each area within it.
Curation throughout: guiding specifications, alternatives and approvals - a single project record keeps these decisions, product information and purchasing details connected as the project develops.
Product First
Discovery can begin with a product.
Begin with a distinctive product in the Product Library, explore its possibilities and add it to a project for specification.
Projects can also include client-preferred manufacturers, brand-standard products. Also products from existing client marketplaces and other authorized sources.
These selections become part of the same project journey, workspace and project record.
Our Role
Sage: Curation, in Conversation.
Sage is MDP’s AI-enabled project guide. It helps turn the Design Brief into a practical path through product discovery, specification and project organization.
Use Sage to start a project, build a project journey, organize saved products, develop your workspace and request estimates and samples. Sage also helps organize the information needed for purchasing and delivery coordination.
Start your next project with Sage.
Explore products or tell Sage what you are working on, to begin.
Design intent to product execution.
in our world
Curation, in Conversation.
That is the work.