Gelare Danaie

Founder, Partner

Who I Am: I grew up in a house full of books, music, and culture. I decided to become an architect at a young age. I believe every place has a story to tell, and my passion is to create memorable experiences in built-environment. I love listening to client’s stories, observing their daily lives, and learning from them. I have lived and worked in four cities across four continents and this has helped me reframe my perspective of life; I am always learning. When I am not working, you can find me skiing with my family, paddle-boarding, running with my dog, sketching in my notebooks, or reading and writing fiction.

What I Do: I have been in architectural business for more than two decades designing different types of buildings. My approach to architectural design has evolved over the years - I have moved from creating forms and structural compositions to designing human experience. I am an entrepreneur and enjoy running businesses. Understanding the clients' needs and serving with authenticity and integrity while concentrating on progression and continuity are my new venture's goals. I enjoy the process of creative design and co-creating experiences with our team.

Karen Zwart Hielema

Partner

Who I Am: As a true collaborator and team player at heart, I am happiest when I am working on projects where I am learning something new and engaging with people from different backgrounds, disciplines, and skill sets. These collaborations bring satisfying and rewarding results. A common thread throughout my life has been my connection and passion for the arts. From early play and experimentation, and throughout my schooling and profession. I also gravitate towards organization and detail as part of my process. These attributes serve me well in my Architectural practice and the project work I am involved with. Art inspires me, is a way to express myself and encourages me to think big and wide and explore the boundaries. My tendencies towards organization and management help me keep track of an array of team input while staying focused on bringing the collective goals of a project to completion.

What I Do: I am an architect with over 17 years in the industry working across a variety of both public and private sectors including Healthcare, Arts & Exhibition, Transit, Airports & Aviation, Commercial/Retail, Corporate/Office, Education, and Warehouse/Light Industrial. Throughout my career I have intuitively taken on leadership roles on large and complex architectural projects, guiding teams to seek out opportunities to collaborate across disciplines. A special interest for integrated arts and exhibitions brings me fresh perspective and insights towards alternate ways of design thinking, conveying information, and achieving vibrant and purposeful public space. I approach projects from the perspective of one’s journey and experience, involving meaningful engagement with users, stakeholders, clients and consultant groups to bring a project to fruition. Through this process, projects emerge with fulfilling results made possible when a broader cross-disciplinary team offers the best possible outcome.

Ramin Beyraghdar

Business Development Manager

Who I Am: As an experienced architect with over 20 years in the field, my experience has gently steered me towards a broader understanding of design. It's not just the structures we build, but also the relationships and connections they foster. My passion lies in bringing people together, whether through collaborative projects, engaging conversations, or simply by creating spaces that encourage interaction and understanding.

What I Do: At DEXD, I lead business development efforts by building reliable relationships, identifying growth opportunities, and shaping strategies that connect design with human experience. My work focuses on expanding our network, nurturing partnerships, and aligning our services with the evolving needs of clients and communities.

Ghazal Mehranpooy

View Team Members

Project Manager

Who I Am: I grew up in a house that was built by my grandfather who was an amazing Architect, and since the time I know myself, I wanted to be a successful Architect just like him. My passion for innovation drove me to push boundaries, constantly seeking new ways to harmonize the built environment with the natural world. I love to design spaces that inspire, uplift, and evoke emotion. I believe architects possess the ability to transform mere structures into living, weaving stories that resonate with the souls of those who inhabit them.

What I Do: I have been in the architectural field for more than 12 years with various experiences in residential, commercial, office, and hotels from the design phase to the production phase. I combine my artistic flair, technical expertise, and project management skills to create functional, aesthetically pleasing, and sustainable spaces that enrich the lives of people and contribute to the fabric of our society.

Susmita Srinivasan

Project Manager

Who I Am: I am a thoughtful and enthusiastic person deeply curious about the journey and outcome of creating habitable spaces where individuals can reside, work, and engage with one another by impacting human emotions and behavior. I strongly resonate with spaces that interact with nature rather than the boring synthetic ones. I also enjoy crafting areas by utilizing light as a tool to enhance the space and make it feel more dynamic and ethereal.

What I Do: With over seven years of experience in the AEC industry, I have worked on projects related to residential, commercial, transit, and wayfinding. At DEXD, I oversee the entire project by comprehensively understanding the scope and establishing the key milestones and deadlines by collaborating with the Architect, the client, and my DEXD team. Most importantly, I prioritize customer satisfaction and create tailor-made solutions for every project, concentrating on comprehending client requirements, maintaining transparent communication, soliciting feedback, and adjusting strategies to fulfill the specific needs of each project.

Arya Mir Yekta

BIM Manager

Who I Am: I became interested in construction while studying engineering but soon realized the field’s creative limitations. In search for balance between technical knowledge and my longing for artistic expression, I studied interior design in Iran - the country of great poets - and architecture in Italy – the philosophical residence of balance and beauty. In the end, all those experiences made me equally appreciative of both form and function.

What I Do: I am an Architect and BIM Specialist with a career focused on large, complex projects. I constantly challenge myself by getting involved in different types of projects that would help me unlock new facets of my inner self. I believe that architects leave their mark with each piece of work and bear the duty of being honest and respectful to humans and the environment.

Alisson Talancha

Wayfinding Designer

Who I Am: I am a sensitive person and have always been in awe about how a physical environment can affect a person's mood and emotions. That is why I love designing and putting myself in the ultimate user´s shoes and while doing so, imagining how they will perceive and interact in the space. I am always curious about the hidden stories of places and the reason behind them. I love painting with watercolors, drawing caricatures and I am also a musical theater enthusiast and showtunes lover.

What I Do: After graduating from university and experiencing some of the construction side of the industry, I started my design focused journey in 2015 and fell in love with it. I approach every project with excitement and passion, I love using colors, textures, raw materials, and when possible including statement pieces that represent its unique personality. I am an architectural designer and support the team in Architectural and Environmental Design Projects where I get to bring out my sensitive design side and put it into the project.

Arash Shokoofi

Transit Wayfinding Designer

Who I am: Growing up in a family of architects, creativity, design, and the built environment have always been part of my world. Architecture quickly became more than just a profession—it became a lifelong passion. Over the years, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for thoughtful, sustainable design and the impact it has on people’s lives. I find joy in problem-solving, collaboration, and discovering the stories behind each project. I value authenticity, and I’m always eager to learn something new—whether from clients, colleagues, or the spaces we shape together.

What I do: I am an architect and project manager with extensive experience across a wide range of building types—from commercial and residential developments to transit and industrial facilities. My work spans every phase of the architectural process, including design, technical documentation, permitting, and client communication. I specialize in creating functional, code-compliant, and sustainable solutions that respond to client needs while maintaining a high standard of design excellence. I enjoy leading projects, supporting teams, and contributing to environments that serve communities and stand the test of time.

Majid Abbasi

Branding and Environmental Designer

Who I Am: I started out drawing, then I explored design, architecture, and music to see which path resonated with me. I've been immersed in music since my teenage years and eventually chose design as my professional career. The most thrilling moment for me in a design project is the ‘coda,’ when the development of the idea is finalized. Outside of work, I love traveling, climbing, and, of course, listening to music.

What I Do: I am a graphic designer and have been a member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI) since 2009. With over twenty years of experience, I see design not merely as an end goal, but as an ongoing, creative process. I thrive on drawing inspiration from my surroundings, preferring to listen, observe, experience, and learn more than I speak. My passion lies in empowering clients by comprehending their needs through captivating visuals, be it crafting a distinctive visual identity, designing immersive environments, or creating compelling digital experiences.

Cody Foo

Customer Experience Designer

Who I am: From a young age, I always liked to share fun facts and interesting tidbits. This passion for knowledge kickstarted my career in the design industry, as it fosters creativity and the research that I love. 

After bouncing around multiple design paths in architecture, graphic design, rendering, and landing in user experience, I have developed a well-rounded view of the world that I employ when working.

In my free time I enjoy staying active through sports (like tennis or curling), playing video games, or taking care of my 50+ houseplants.

What I do: At DEXD, we have an underlying goal of combining architecture and graphic design with good UX practices in order to build a more pleasant and intuitive world, both digitally and physically.

As a Toronto-based user experience designer with a passion for creating meaningful experiences, it is fulfilling to work on large-scale infrastructure projects as we understand the importance of customer input and holistic design. 

I enjoy putting my knowledge of UX design and research to work by building customer journey maps, conducting user interviews, and developing research strategies.

Mark Francis

Customer Experience Elements Designer

Who I Am: Born and raised in the Greater Toronto Area, I grew up cultivating a need to analyze and respond to the world around me: drawing, painting, designing, musical instruments, world geography, meteorology, and physics were all strong passions. An avid explorer, I also frequently enjoy traveling, camping, hiking, canoeing, and riding my bike through Toronto’s beautiful ravines and 240+ neighborhoods. Growing up in a typically mixed Torontonian household (Jamaican, Dutch, Grenadian, Scottish), and with experiences living and working in Morocco, Spain, Japan, Brazil, and British Columbia, I have acquired a broad perspective on the range of built environments globally. These experiences recently led me to a postgraduate degree in 3D-printing architecture at IAAC, and previously a Master of Architecture at UBC and a BFA in visual arts at York University.

What I Do: My 10-year architecture and design career has primarily been influenced by informal urbanism, seeking to legitimize alternative modes of urban and social structure through the built environment, wherever possible. This approach towards urbanism strives to bring about more individual spatial agency to the practice of place-making. Previously, I designed and installed large interactive sculptures around the world with the LASG studio, and currently, I am engaged in research to develop a 3d-printed building system that facilitates user-generated place-making. At DEXD I am creating human-centered spaces within large-scale experiential design projects. In this role I am able to leverage my passions for digital fabrication and place-making in the service of customer-experience design, creating psychologically resonant, successful public spaces. 

Bianca Weeko Martin

Place Making & Art Researcher

Who I am: I like to combine ancestral knowledge with contemporary dissemination to create beautiful narratives and works of art. I try to exist beyond theory and find meaningful forms of praxis in my everyday approach to life and friendship. I strive to make learning an embodied process, and architectural heritage a more inclusive practice. 

What I do: I have an unconventional background in the arts having previously worked in the curatorial department of the Art Gallery of Ontario, and maintaining my own active drawing practice that translates to both physical artifact and engagement opportunities. With my training in architecture, I have interned in firms and studios in New York City, Mexico City, and Melbourne, and have authored and co-edited books. I love Toronto and am committed to putting my passion for this city towards equitable and tasteful development wherever possible. In my collaborations with DEXD, I mobilize my love for research within projects focused on public infrastructure and amenities, as well as learning from talented mentors and colleagues around me.

David Grose

Wayfinding Advisor

Who I Am:

What I Do:

Matt Ziyaee

Technical Advisor

Who I Am: I am organized, focused, and I can always find a solution, that is why my daughter calls me "daddy the figure-outer!" I am in charge of finishing the project with the best technical solution. When I am not working, I enjoy skiing with my family, making wood furniture in our shed and listening to my favorite music.

What I Do: I am an architect with over 18 years of experience. I know how to assemble complex buildings and can analyze the process of design to organize and lead the team to execute the project on time and budget. With my strong problem-solving skills, I am eager to help develop creative solutions when challenges arise. My experience in construction and design comes from a variety of award-winning, complex international projects in North America, Europe, Middle East, and the Far East where good design and construction quality matter.

David Schellinger

Customer Journey Mapping Advisor

Who I Am: An insatiable reader, it is only normal that I find myself a story-telling profession. You will normally find me sketching out new ideas based on the projects at hand or just something I am hearing spoken at the moment. (Currently, I am on sketchbook number 65...). I have a green thumb when it comes to both gardening and planting the seed of a story in all my projects, which I can see grow and evolve over time.

What I Do: I am a recovering architect, focusing on branding and story-telling in the built environment. My approach is based on empathy with the user of the spaces we build, understanding how materials, colors, light, patterns, etc. can enhance the user perception not only of the space, but who they are because of their built surroundings.

Milou

Co-Chief Morale Officer

Who I Am: I like to eat fast, always carry a stick and sleep … and I love EVERYONE.

What I Do: I teach people how to be selfless, resilient, compassionate, forgiving, and loyal.

Lizzy

Co-Chief Morale Officer

Who I Am: I’m a super chill and laid-back canine who really lights up when it’s time to head out for a walk. I can sniff out virtually anything - especially food related, and I love a good belly rub.

What I Do: I teach people how to relax by example - I really know how to lounge.  And people generally smile when they see me out walking - I exude happiness, or maybe its just my good looks!