Creative direction for the built world.
We’re a new kind of creative studio¹ for the built environment², informed by years of experience in real estate development, architectural design, and branding.³
1 We believe a holistic approach to strategy, design, and branding produces the most powerful experiences for the people who enjoy them. This philosophy leads to assets that are narrative driven, commercially successful, community loved.
2 We work on physical spaces, digital platforms, and ideas. Our clients include real estate developers, architects (🫶🏼), municipalities, and founders in proptech.
3 Our expansive collective of creative experts, from graphic designers to filmmakers to photographers, are brought onto projects in a flexible, curated process. This allows us to create teams of sharpshooters tailored to each client’s needs and opportunities.
W H A T W E D O
Strategy
Every groundbreaking idea has a story to tell. Ground Up works with teams to craft the positioning, narrative, and overarching strategy necessary to achieve your goals. Our solutions are always grounded in research, context, and macrotrends, and tailored to your vision.
Design
Ground Up can expertly guide the design of your built project. We direct architectural, urban, interior, and landscape design projects, and oversee design documentation from concept to construction.
Branding
Your aesthetic, tone, and digital presence are the first impression made on your audience. Ground Up partners with you to shape a unique, relevant, and boundary-pushing visual identity. We aim for timeless, unexpected, and emotional.
H O W W E W O R K
Project Direction
We become an extension of your team for the lifespan of one specific project.
Acting as an owner’s rep with a focus on design, we serve as the glue between all members of a team: owner, donor, architect, contractor, subs, and anyone else who has a say. We start by grounding projects in a strong foundation of strategy, research, and mission, and translate it into a creative vision for a space or platform. Once all stakeholders are aligned, we oversee the project until doors are open to ensure our vision becomes a reality.
Fractional Creative Dept.
Consider us your outsourced “in-house” creative team.
Ground Up consists of a collective of creative experts, from graphic designers to filmmakers to photographers, who are brought onto projects in a flexible, curated process. This allows us to create teams of sharpshooters tailored to each client’s needs and opportunities. This option is great for growing teams or those who know they’re ready for a new creative direction, but need help figuring out what that is.
Discrete Deliverables
If you’re looking for a specific creative deliverable, we’re here for that, too. We produce branding packages, print and digital marketing materials, social media direction, and communications direction.
O U R F O U N D E R
Karen Zabarsky Blashek is the Founder of Ground Up and the Editor-in-Chief of Austin Home.
Prior to founding Ground Up, Blashek spent seven years as the Head of Design and Branding for Kushner, one of the largest real estate development and management firms in the country. Blashek is on the steering committee for ULI Americas Young Leaders Group, serves on the ULI Austin Housing Innovations Council, and spearheads the growth of Brick & Wonder Austin.
In 2015, Blashek co-founded The Tanks, a global network of projects transforming decommissioned oil infrastructure into vibrant public spaces. Blashek started her career on the business development teams for SHoP Architects and STUDIO V Architecture after receiving her BA in Architecture and Urban Design from NYU.
She was born in Tel Aviv, raised in Dallas, shaped in New York, and now lives in Austin.
EXPLORE GROUND UP PROJECTS
EXPLORE GROUND UP PROJECTS
