︎

sarah tu
architectural ideation.
sensorial & experimental endeavor.
artistic penchant.

curriculum vitae



Contact

Email hello@sarahtu.com
Phone +1 (514) 839-1045.

Professional experience

2021 to now
Project manager / INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE
SID LEE ARCHITECTURE

Project management for interior architecture, interior design, and strategic repositioning mandates: commercial, hospitality, corporate and institutional.  
  • Concept and design scheme development;
  • Service proposals drafting, professional fees estimation, and client presentation;
  • Elaboration of creative dossiers that are needed for understanding key design elements;
  • Build strong business relationships and remain in constant communication with clients throughout a project;
  • Ensure effective communication between the team, the client and stakeholders;
  • Develop a work plan and share it with the team;
  • Plan the project, divide the tasks and support the work;
  • Do time tracking and make any necessary adjustments;
  • Supervise the administrative aspect of project management, including cost control;
  • Ensure both technical and creative quality control;
  • Ensure that the project management process is constantly improving;
  • Contribute to the team’s progress through knowledge-sharing.

2014 to 2021
Project manager / ENVIRONMENTAL & EXPERIENTIAL DESIGNER
TUX agency

Project management and coordination :
• Internal project management: teams of 2 to 6 people (interior designers, industrial designers, graphic designers and 3d artist);
• General artistic lead;
• Training new team members and junior positions;
• Multi-disciplinary and external coordination between architects, urban designers, and graphic designers (including site visits and workshop visits);
• Management and coordination with suppliers, manufacturers, and contractors;
• Direct liaison to client and coordination with client’s various internal parties.
Environmental & experiential design (focus in retail) :
• Holistic and multi-scale conception of design projects for commercial/retail brands, as to communicate and to strengthen their branding, while balancing strong visual impact and commerciality; 
• Design variation and adaption in scales include Flagship store, department store kiosks, counters, wall merchandising, including branded key elements to be imported into other contexts, and temporary elements such as pop-up shops and activations;
• Interior and architectural design, layout planning, custom furniture design, industrial design, display/POP design, and merchandising;
• Development of technical solutions;
• Constitution of creative dossiers, creative pitches, design competitions, and architectural brand guidelines;
• Production of drawings, complementary documentation and tender pack issued for tender, coordination and/or execution.
Store design consultancy :
• Report and analysis of existing store environments for brands and overall strategic retail and design recommendation.
Post-project communication :
• Constitution of press release dossier including writing and translating;
• Art direction of professional photography for publication;
• Applications for design awards.
Clients include : 1MillionDance Studio (Seoul), Converse, L’Oreal Group (Biolage, The Bodyshop, NYX Cosmetics, L’Oréal Paris, Décléor, Essie, Biotherm, Maybelline); Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation / Loblaws Companies; Coty; Dermablend; Functionalab; Dermalogica, Première Moisson, SÉPAQ, Astral - Bell Media, etc.).

2013 to 2014
Field creative assistant
visual merchandiser
Topshop Québec flagship

  • Development, delivery, and communication of visual concepts and creative strategies to promote the brand; 
  • Management of the store overall visual aspects as to excite customers and drive sales through window displays, mannequin styling, product merchandising, graphics installation, and fixture layout.

2013 and 2014
Teacher’s assistant
Université de Montréal

Course : Espace architectural, cultures, sociétés
Teacher : Thomas Bernard Kenniff
Essay correction for 3rd year bachelor students

2010 to 2013
VM manager, interim
Visual merchandiser
Forever21 Québec flagship 

  • Management of the store overall visual aspects as to excite customers and drive sales through product merchandising, graphics installation, and fixture layout;
  • Visual merchandiser and stylists team management.

    • 2010
    Architectural technician
    Arrondissement du Sud-Ouest, City of Montreal

    • Creation of a reference guide for residents, presenting door and window models with architectural heritage values, and their replacement models that respect urban planning regulations;
    • Indexing and categorization of all types of doors and windows according to architectural housing typologies;
    • Document layout and graphic design;
    • Assisting architectural technicians in the preparation of dossiers for the Comité conseil d’urbanisme (Urban Planning Council) .

    Awards


    2017

    Winner of the Iconic Awards 2017 for Interior category. German-based organization.
    Project: Le Manoir, Montréal, completed in 2016.

    2016

    Winner of the Design Competition, La mise en valeur de la Promenade Fleury, organized by Design Montreal. Design proposition information here.
    Project: La Courtepointe Fleury, Montréal, completed in 2017.

    2016

    Winner of a Grand Prix du Design, 10th edition for the category : Exhibition Stand. Quebec-based organization, see details here.
    Project: Dermalogica Stand for the ABA Fair in Montreal, 2016.

    Training courses


    2023

    Exhibition Design: accessibility and inclusivity (Design d'exposition : accessibilité et inclusion)
    Course given by SMQ (Société des musées du Québec)
    • This  course is designed to teach managers and those responsible for visitor experience to apply the principles of accessibility and inclusion in a museum context. Through case studies, practical exercises, and the testimony of guest experts, the participants learnt how to meet the needs of visitors with disabilities, while respecting their institution’s mission.

    2021 

    Methods, Theories and Tools for Emerging Media Arts Curators
    Taught by Erandy Vergara at Oboro
    • This workshop aims to present the tools and methodologies necessary to accompany artists in media or digital art as a curator, author or agent.

    Education

    2012 - 2014 

    Master Degree in Architecture
    Université de Montréal

    2010 - 2011

    Non-thesis Graduate diploma in Ephemeral design
    Université du Québec à Montréal

    2007 - 2010

    Bachelor degree in Architecture
    McGill University, Montréal

    2009

    Student exchange program
    Bachelor degree in Architecture
    University of New South Wales, Sydney


    Softwares

    AutoCAD +++
    SketchUp +++
    V-Ray for sketchup++
    Rhinoceros +++
    grasshopper +
    V-Ray for rhino ++
    ArchiCAD +
    3DStudioMax ++
    CORONA renderer for 3ds max ++
    Revit Arch +
    Photoshop ++
    Illustrator ++
    InDesign +++
    Word +++
    PowerPoint +++
    Excel +
    Microsoft Project ++


    Profile


    Highly creative & conceptual
    Curious
    Open-minded
    Passionate
    Dynamic
    Funny... Sometimes...

    Attention to details & aesthetics
    Sense of initiative & pro-activeness
    Sense of priorities & good organization
    Team spirit
    Cordialness
    French/English bilingualism


    Penchants


    design & art
    Fashion
    Smells, tastes, and textures 
    Traveling & culture
    plants
    New experiences




    Download cv in pdf format : ENG here. FR ici.

    please feel free to contact me at hello@sarahtu.com :)