How Four Seasons Inspires DIP Studio: Building Big Dreams with Small Beginnings
Issy Sharp’s journey to founding Four Seasons is a blueprint for thinking big, staying nimble, and turning obstacles into opportunities. At DIP Studio, we see our own story reflected in his. Like Issy, we’re a small team with outsized ambitions. Our agility, resourcefulness, and hunger for innovation set us apart—and these traits are shaping our path, just as they shaped his.
Start Small, Dream Big
Picture this: a 14-room motel with an oversized roof designed to hold a sign that screams "MOTEL 27." That’s where Issy Sharp began. For us, every project is that first motel—a seed of an idea with the potential to grow into something extraordinary. Whether it’s crafting augmented reality glasses or surf accessories, we focus on the future while solving today’s challenges.
Seek Masters, Become Experts
When Issy needed advice, he sought out industry greats like Mike Robinson and Al Parven. He learned how to design courtyard oases and use landscaping to create atmosphere. At DIP, we do the same—learning from the best minds, borrowing brilliance, and blending it with our own creativity to deliver exceptional results. Great ideas don’t exist in a vacuum; we make it a point to find them and bring them to life.
Resourcefulness is Our Superpower
Issy didn’t have money for ads, so he turned roast beef into a marketing strategy. That’s the kind of ingenuity we live by at DIP Studio. Being small and agile means we don’t throw money at problems—we outthink them. Need an innovative design on a tight budget? We’ll find a way to make it stunning. Stuck with limited resources? We’ll turn constraints into creativity. Our size is our secret weapon, letting us move quickly and think outside the box.
Details Make the Difference
At Issy’s first hotel, even the hand towels made a statement. That’s how you build loyalty—by showing guests you care about the little things. At DIP, our obsession with detail drives every design. The curve of a product, the feel of its materials, the ease of its function—every element works together to tell a story and create an experience that feels effortless but is anything but.
Relationships Build Dreams
Issy relied on family, friends, and reluctant financiers to get his first hotel off the ground. At DIP, relationships are the heart of our business. We partner with first-time founders, startups, and dreamers to bring their visions to life. Trust and collaboration are our currency, and together, we achieve what none of us could alone.
The Takeaway
The story of Four Seasons reminds us that small beginnings can lead to extraordinary outcomes when fueled by bold ideas, resourcefulness, and relentless focus on quality. At DIP Studio, we’re taking a page from Issy Sharp’s playbook: mastering the craft, staying nimble, and creating designs that stand the test of time.
Big dreams don’t need big budgets. They need vision, grit, and the courage to think differently—and that’s what we bring to every project, every day.
Thank you for joining us on this journey. At DIP Design Studio, we believe that industrial design has the power to honor tradition and transform it into the future. Stay tuned for updates on our work, and follow us as we continue to push the boundaries of industrial design, one project at a time.
Warm regards,
The DIP Design Studio Team
