You in EWE is our ongoing series spotlighting the distinct style and daily rituals of local creative forces. It’s an honest look at the personalities shaping our culture, seen through the lens of their Framed Ewe eyewear.

If you want to see how our community is styling their eyewear out in the wild, tap into #youinewe on Instagram.

Could you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about what you do?

I'm Kaitlyn Wolfe. I'm an interior designer and product designer in Scottsdale, Arizona. Everything that we do is centered around inspiration from nature. We love to study architecture, I love to travel, and I love bringing unique elements into our clients' spaces, whether it's their homes or restaurants.

How long have you been running your business, and how has it grown since you started?

I started my business in 2016, so almost ten years now, though I've been doing it full-time for about seven. Starting with just me working out of a closet, we've grown the business, expanded our team, and now we have a thriving firm with a retail front, a furniture line, and a team of about 25. We've just been hustling in our own little bubble.

How does living and working in Phoenix influence the way you design and approach your creative process?

I moved to Phoenix from the East Coast, and before moving here, I had never been west of Texas, so I really didn't know the desert. As soon as I moved here, I felt like it was home. I fell in love with the landscape, the sunsets, mid-century modern architecture, Palm Springs, and just being so much more immersed in nature than I was on the East Coast.

Naturally, I bring that into our projects. I love when a home truly blends the exterior into the inside, pulling textures and colors directly from the desert, like terracottas and greens. I think you see a lot of that in our work.

When it comes to local businesses, artists, and creatives, what does collaboration mean to you?

As a designer, I love supporting artists and artisans. That's one of the most amazing parts of my job. I'm not an artist myself in terms of creating an individual piece of art, but I bring artists together to build a space that ultimately becomes my art. When I can support someone in practicing their craft, that feels really special. We work with painters, furniture makers, and artisans in every medium you could think of, both in and out of Arizona. It's rewarding to support their work, let them see their craft through our lens, and watch our clients enjoy bringing all of that together in their home.

How important is intentionality when you're selecting materials and objects for a space?

Using intentional materials is vital for our firm. We avoid mass-produced objects or decor. I would much rather have a blank wall than display something that wasn't made by hand.

What is inspiring you right now when it comes to design and art?

Ceramics and travel. There are so many innovative applications of ceramics happening outside of standard vases—wall paneling done by hand, lamps, and ceramic lampshades. Every show I attend, I find myself drawn to those glazes and crazy textures. We're starting to incorporate them so much more, and there is still so much room to explore, even in items like plumbing fixtures and lighting.

Travel is the other huge source. Last year we traveled to Portugal, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, France, and Chile. All of those places are so vastly different, but observing their distinct landscapes helped us discover new color palettes to bring into our clients' homes back in Arizona. Nature always informs everything

Tell us about your frame selection and what speaks to you about them.

What drew me to these specific lenses was the color. I loved that earthy green tone. Green has always been my favorite color, and because I'm constantly inspired by nature in our work, it felt fitting to choose the green pair.

The gold accent isn't overly bold, but it gives a refined pop that dresses up any outfit. I also loved the subtle curvature along the sides of the lenses. It creates a nice resting spot to hold the glasses and acts as a beautiful aesthetic detail. Even the bridge over the nose has a subtle texture that resembles topography or landscape contours. It naturally ties back to everything I love.

Kaitlyn wears the AKILA Osiris

Any final notes you'd like to share with the community?

Oftentimes people are afraid to go after something they love, whether due to self-doubt or because others don't believe in them. But ultimately, when you have a strong feeling to do something, you should listen to your gut. If you want to be an artist or explore a path you've always been drawn to, just do it.