Hello
Imber Design was founded in Portland in 2025 by Maddy Mackin Freeman. We create thoughtful interior environments that work well for the people who use them. The practice focuses on commercial spaces—workplace, retail, medical office, hospitality, and education—that genuinely function well and feel good to inhabit. The goal is simple: design spaces that people actually want to spend time in; spaces that encourage connection and foster community in the everyday.
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The name Imber comes from the Latin word for rain—a nod to what makes the Pacific Northwest so lush and beautiful. It's a reminder that what might seem like a nuisance to some is also the source of what we love most about where we live.
About
I came to interior design through fine art, studying at Pacific Northwest College of Art here in Portland. That foundation in art-making taught me to see space as something more than function—it's about experience, feeling, and how people move through the world. After working at PNCA and then spending the last twelve years at firms including Hacker Architects and DESIGN+BUILD, I started Imber Design to focus on what matters most: creating environments that honor both place and people.
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My work draws from the quieter, intentional design traditions of the Pacific Northwest, Scandinavia, and Japan—places where interior architecture is rooted in respect for materials, light, and the human scale. What I love about designing in Portland is that empathy is at the fore. Clients are open to innovation and genuinely curious about how design can improve the way people work, gather, and connect.
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Every project starts with the same questions: How will people actually use this space? What will make them want to be here? The thread running through all my work is a commitment to coherent, people-centered design, where every aspect is intentional. I believe good design should feel inevitable, like the space has always been waiting to serve its purpose well.