Meld Design Brings Full Service Architecture and Design Firm to Utah

Gary Vlasic, a 20-year veteran in event and design production, and Kara DiOrio, founder of interior design firm DiOrio Design, announced the formation of Meld Design, a full-service architecture and design firm specializing in creating both permanent and temporary spaces.

Vlasic and DiOrio have previously collaborated on a range of projects, and recently saw an opportunity to create a new firm that addresses all aspects of design. Meld will offer services across the design spectrum, including interior design, architecture and experiential design – a practice aimed at creating temporary spaces with an emphasis on the user experience. Vlasic has an extensive background in experiential design, having most recently created and produced the ceremony for the grand opening of the City Creek Center in downtown Salt Lake City.

Award-winning architect Stephen Tobler and interior designer Jessica Bender are joining Vlasic and DiOrio to form the core Meld Design team. Stephen Tobler has worked with Richard Meier & Partners, KNP in the Netherlands, and The Getty Center in Los Angeles, among others. He established his own practice in Jackson, Wyoming, Tobler Duncker Architects, which he was a part of for 14 years. Jessica Bender, a graduate of Parsons School of Design, brings great skill and expertise to the Meld team. Meld Design will also work collaboratively with local artists and craftsmen on a project basis to design personalized, unique and imaginative spaces that capitalize on the region’s local talent.

“Our vision was to create a firm that takes advantage of the wealth of talent we have here in Utah,” said Vlasic. “By assessing the needs of each client, we can bring together different aesthetic styles to make sure we are creating the perfect space every time. Collaboration is the heart of this endeavor, and I know that it will bring about some amazing and unforgettable results.”

“The essence of Meld Design is to constantly explore the boundaries between art, design and architecture,” added DiOrio, co-founder of Meld Design. “As our name suggests, by continually bringing in new people with distinctive skills and ideas, we are able to meld these different approaches together to produce exceptional spaces.”

Vlasic is an accomplished artist, performer and art director, and has 20 years of experience in the event and production design arena. His clients have included notable organizations such as the Olympic Games, Novell, Samsung, Sky Vodka, the Sundance Film Festival and the International Sculpture Center. DiOrio began her career as a textile artist producing soft furnishings. In 2000, DiOrio launched a bedding collection that was featured in numerous showrooms across the U.S. Sundance Catalog later commissioned her to design a limited edition bedding collection for its catalog. Her work has been featured in Metropolitan Home, Interior Design, Celebrated Living, My House and Utah Homes and Gardens.

For more information on Meld Design and to view the company’s portfolio, visit: www.melddesign.com.