DEBBIE EVANS

Wine Tasting Room

Vancouver, BC

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, Debbie volunteered to help a friend at a private winery while public operations were temporarily suspended. With only a small team working on-site, she assisted with marketing initiatives and quickly became immersed in the day-to-day operations of the business.

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As conversations evolved, the owner shared his vision of transforming an undeveloped area of the winery into a dedicated wine tasting room and was actively meeting with potential investors to raise the necessary funding. Recognizing the opportunity to help communicate that vision, Debbie developed a conceptual design for the proposed tasting room and created a professional investor presentation and business proposal that combined design, branding, marketing, and business strategy into a cohesive package.

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​Working closely with the winery team also provided a unique opportunity to gain firsthand insight into the wine industry. Debbie learned about every stage of the process—from how vineyard conditions influence grape quality, to fermentation, aging, bottling, storage, distribution, and the business of selling premium wines. Seeing the operation from the inside reinforced the importance of creating visitor spaces that support both the winery's operations and the customer experience.

Inspired by the project, Debbie completed the internationally recognized Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Levels 1, 2, and 3. These qualifications expanded her knowledge of viticulture, winemaking, wine regions, hospitality, tasting methodology, and wine service, allowing her to develop design concepts informed by both operational requirements and the guest experience.

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This project reflects Debbie's belief that the best design solutions come from understanding the client's business first. By combining industry research, business strategy, marketing, and interior design, she helped create a compelling vision that supported the winery's fundraising efforts while laying the foundation for an engaging wine tasting destination.