N° 002 About · Philosophy

Design is a form of argument.

Every building makes a claim about what a place should be. We design for the place — not the portfolio — and we put our argument in writing every time.

Atelier · Chuchubiweg 17 Willemstad · 2024

A profile

Est. MMXXII 12 Hands 3 Islands 4 Disciplines 120+ Projects EN · NL · Papiamentu · ES

N° 002 · I Where we come from

2022

Founded

2026

This site

120+

Delivered

Hands

Founded in a city already fluent in design.

Studio Diseñá was founded in 2022 in Willemstad, Curaçao — a city already fluent in the language of design, with its UNESCO-listed waterfront and four centuries of built history. That context matters to us.

From the start, the studio worked across disciplines. Architecture, interior design, consultancy, experiential design — not because we wanted to be everything to everyone, but because the projects demanded it. A hotel development needs architecture and interior strategy. A commercial space needs consultancy before drawings. The work told us what the studio should be.

In three years, the team has completed over 120 projects — most in Curaçao, with a growing body of work in Bonaire. Most came through word of mouth — a fact we’re proud of, and one we’re now ready to build on with a proper presence online.

“Twelve hands. Three islands. Every drawing leaves the same desk.”

N° 002 · II

How we think

Three principles. No shortcuts.

Place First.

We design for specific climates, specific cultures, specific sites. A building that works in Rotterdam will not automatically work in Willemstad — and pretending otherwise has produced a lot of bad architecture in the Caribbean. We are not interested in adding to that pile.

Craft Over Trend.

We are not interested in what is fashionable this season. We are interested in what will still be good in twenty years — in material quality, structural honesty, and spaces that reward daily use. Trends are how studios get noticed. Craft is how they last.

Clarity in Process.

Good design should not require explanation. Neither should our pricing, our timelines, or our project communication. Fixed scopes. Honest schedules. Drawings and documentation written in language a contractor, a regulator, and a client can all read.

N° 002 · III

What shapes the work

Three design pillars.

Pillar · One

Storytelling

Every project starts with a narrative — the history of the site, the life it will hold, the argument the building makes for its place.

Pillar · Two

Technology

Current tools — parametric modelling, climate simulation, precise documentation — applied in service of construction that lasts, not novelty.

iii

Pillar · Three

Sustainability

Designing for the Caribbean climate: passive cooling, local material, and structures that tread lightly on a fragile coastline.

N° 002 · IV

The principals

The people behind the work.

Founder · Architectural Designer

Shawn Zimmerman

Shawn Zimmerman is an Architectural Designer and Founder of Studio Diseñá. With a passion for thoughtful, human-centered design, he creates spaces that feel timeless, purposeful, and connected to their surroundings. Shawn holds a Master of Architecture from TU Delft and has expanded his expertise in Commercial Real Estate Analysis and Investment through MIT — bringing together architectural vision and a strategic understanding of the built environment.

“Behind every great design are countless conversations.”

Co-founder · Feasibility & Finance

Vince Naar

As Co-Founder of Studio Diseñá, Vince specializes in project feasibility studies and financial consulting. He helps clients turn ambitious ideas into successful projects by providing clear financial insight and strategic guidance from the earliest stages of development. With a Master of Science in Accountancy, he brings a thoughtful, analytical approach that supports confident decision-making and long-term project success.

“Think of consultancy as the cheapest part of an expensive mistake you’ll never have to make.”

Plus ten more hands · Designers · Drafters · Project leads

N° 002 · V

Islands we serve

Rooted in Curaçao. Working across the ABC Islands.

Our base is Willemstad. Our work reaches Bonaire and Aruba — and we’re actively expanding our presence in Aruba in 2025 – 2026. If you’re developing on any of the Dutch Caribbean islands, we know these sites, these regulations, and these climates.

Home · 115+ projects

Curaçao

Willemstad atelier. UNESCO-listed waterfront. Where the studio started — and where most of the work still happens.

Active · 5+ projects

Bonaire

A growing body of residential and hospitality work, delivered from Willemstad with regular site presence.

Expanding · 2025 – 2026

Aruba

Actively building our presence. Same climate logic, same regulatory literacy, same studio.

N° 002 · VI

Currently accepting commissions · 2026 — 2027

Think we might fit?

If the way we think about place matches the way you think about your project, the next step is a conversation. Initial consultations are confidential and obligation-free.

Book a consultation See the work