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ether bear​
the real boss
brian cummings​
founder + president​
Shaped by a global upbringing, Brian developed a deep appreciation for the ways spaces shape human interaction, inspiring his dedication to interpreting 'home' as a canvas for how we live and engage with one another.
This led to his reputation as a multidisciplinary thinker & strategist who strives to push boundaries in the built environment.
1999
2003
2017
2014
2010
today
tomorrow
Brian’s zeal for art and creativity naturally led him to study architecture, where he could blend imagination with design.
His professional life began in luxury residential, multifamily, and mixed-use development. As a key contributor at industry leading firms, he established the track record of guiding high-value complex projects seamlessly from concept to construction.​
Charleston served as Brian's lab in the early 2000s, where he led over 25 custom homes during the formative development of communities such as Kiawah Island, I’On, and Daniel Island.
​Brian was awarded the distinguished Project of the Year for his thesis during his second architecture degree.
His creative and multidisciplinary approach fueled his success as a global design director at award-winning firms where he earned a reputation as an innovator, planner, and leader focused on expanding the design expertise.
Brian feeds the need to expand the "design" practice across a multitude of industries to deliver positive impact at all scales, pushing organizations and their spaces & places to new frontiers.
Brian deepened his worldly perspective as Design Director at Gensler—the world’s largest architecture and design firm. There he guided teams on high-profile, mixed-use projects around the world, from Doha and Beirut to Beijing and Panama City—bringing a thoughtful, culturally attuned approach to each.
Brian cofounded The Strategy + Design Shop located in Washington DC, where he is passionately engaged in fostering bold ideas and new ways of thinking.
The Shop established the reputation of being known as an "ideas shop" with an unconventional approach to future focused thinking and design that challenges traditional norms.​
Brian expands his practice along the east coast as CEO of THINK HOUSE GROUP: a collective of creatives who aim to add value to all things people and place.
Brian stays engaged in academia and welcome opportunities to share knowledge, interdisciplinary dialogue, and help inspire future generations of thinkers and leaders.
Some of those engagements include:
🔹 Lecturer at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business Executive MBA Program
🔹 Speaker at Georgetown University’s Capitol Campus Health Studies Program
🔹 Guest Speaker at The WELL Building Institute
🔹 Participant in joint studio courses with the Harvard Graduate School of Design
🔹 Guest critic at various design schools, including UNC Charlotte’s School of Architecture
the journey