How a Disaster Client Meeting Jump Started Francis D'Haene's Career
Sourcing + Trends
designer takeover
The designer reflects on his career beginnings
By Francis D'Haene
Francis D'Haene, principal at D'Apostrophe.Photo: Aaron Thompson
This is part of AD PRO's Designer Takeover, in which working designers are contributing stories to the site. Here, D'Apostrophe principal and lead designer Francis D'Haene reflects on how a childhood in Belgium turned into a design career in New York.
Early on, in Belgium, I knew from the moment I entered high school that I wanted to do something that was in architecture or design. The question for me was the what and the how? My father owned a small glass and mirror business and mother was involved in the arts, so it came as a surprise when my father tried swaying my interests away from architecture and design to economics. After two years of miserably studying economics in university, I put my foot down and switched my studies to architecture and design.
The Rick Owens store in Soho, for which D'Apostrophe executed Owens's design.
Photo: Courtesy of D'Apostrophe
It wasn't until after my studies when I started freelancing in design (and when I say "freelancing" I mean literally taking anything I could get), that I started gaining real experience. Pretty soon, I got my first "real client"—or so I thought. A guy approached me, knowing I had little experience, to help him design a small clothing boutique. Naturally, I was thrilled, but it wasn't until it came down to negotiating the contract and the fees where things took a turn. He told me that I should be paying him for taking on a designer with no experience. I remember sitting there staring at him in complete disbelief, and that's when I had my "aha moment." I knew exactly what I had to do: I had to tell this guy "thanks, but no thanks" and move to New York. If I was going to get anywhere in this industry I knew I needed a fair chance to get some skin in the game. You see, in New York, there is less discrimination based on age or experience and I was given opportunities at a fair chance.
A Citizens of Humanity showroom of D'Haene's design.
Photo: Aaron Thompson
Now I'm certainly not saying it was an easy decision. I originally planned to come to New York for three to six months to gain New York experience to heighten my career. It was certainly a whirlwind, but it was the best decision I ever made. That's certainly not to say it was all on the up-and-up as soon as I got to New York: During my initial three months, I was working for a Russian architect for who disappeared one day and never paid me. I guess that's a New York lesson everyone learns at one point or another. I was not about to go home after sacrificing all that time and effort so I started freelancing for a gold leaf company and drafted for several decorators. These experiences definitely taught me to be savvier and to advocate for myself. After nine months in New York I was not entirely as discouraged as much as my bank account was, but after struggling for almost a year I was hired by Mark Zeff and eventually decided to make New York City my home—it's been my home ever since.
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