M.Designs Family

Dong Yi

Principal Architect

DONG Yi, Associate Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at Tongji University, has made remarkable achievements in architectural design research and public building design practice. He has focused on the parallel development of design teaching and practice.

His architectural practice has won over 20 Architectural Creation Awards of ASC and ASSC, and over 30 other international awards, such as the Architecture Media Award, Building of the Year Awards of Archdaily, DFA Design for Asia Awards, Gold Nugget Grand Award, and A&D Awards.
Since 2022, he has been invited to serve as a juror for the Architecture MasterPrize (AMP).
His works have been reported by many well-known architectural media worldwide. In recent years, he has published over 30 related papers and a book titled "Painting with Building". DONG Yi has presided over the design and completion of a series of representative works, such as news center for 2018 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit, international zone of 2023 Hangzhou Asia Games village, the renovation of the cultural environment of Nanjing Confucius Temple, the renewal of Shanghai Yuyuan Bazaar, as well as regeneration of Hanling ancient village in Ningbo.
In addition to his achievements in design practice, DONG Yi serves as the Deputy Director of the Department of Architecture at Tongji University. He is also a member of the Academic Department of Architectural Creation at The Architectural Society of Shanghai.

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Remi Tan

Studio Director | Senior Architect (AIA, LEED AP BD+C)

Remi is a highly creative licensed senior architect, sustainability consultant, and real estate broker with over 36 years of experience. His portfolio includes high-rise, mid-rise, and low-rise mixed-use developments, multi-family housing, and master planning projects.

His expertise extends to offices, interiors, high-tech, hospitality, retail, government, transportation, education, healthcare, and both production and custom residential projects.
He brings deep expertise in sustainable design, including appropriate building siting, daylighting, energy conservation, healthy material selection, and smart growth planning principles.
Remi is also highly skilled in the technical aspects of complex projects—from documentation, code compliance, and agency approvals (including DSA for schools), detailing, consultant coordination, cost estimating, and all phases of construction administration.
Remi's experience spans Fast Track delivery, IPD, Design-Build, and Lean Construction, as well as modular and prefabricated strategies. He is also seasoned in public project RFP/RFQ responses, proposal development, and team assembly.
As a licensed real estate broker and investor, Remi brings an added layer of value to projects with insight into financing, market dynamics, and economic factors. His background as a planning commissioner and urban planning minor further informs his approach to regional planning and smart growth.
Remi graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Architecture and a minor in City and Regional Planning. He holds a California architecture license, a real estate broker license, and a LEED Accredited Professional certification in Building Design and Construction (LEED AP BD+C).
He has worked in the Bay Area, New York, and internationally in Southeast Asia with architectural, engineering, and development firms on projects in the San Francisco Bay Area, Southern California, New York, Dubai, Singapore, and Jakarta.
Outside of work, Remi enjoys hiking the trails of Pacifica and San Francisco with his wife and three adult children, playing trombone in community bands, and attending art and dance performances.

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Aamir Uddin Sultan

Senior Architect - Director of Operations (Asia)

Aamir is a seasoned senior architect with over 35 years of experience leading multidisciplinary projects across the USA, UAE, and Pakistan. His expertise spans high-rise mixed-use residential and commercial developments, hospitality, healthcare, assisted living, and educational facilities.

In California, Aamir has worked with renowned firms on high-end custom homes, senior housing, and healthcare projects, including navigating the OSHPD approval process. He is well-versed in sustainable design, with his first green project being the 2006 community center remodel in San Leandro. His deep understanding of Bay Area city approvals and both national and international building codes makes him a strong asset to any team.
Internationally, Aamir has contributed to major projects such as the Cardiac Wing at Aga Khan Hospital in Karachi and sustainable urban initiatives like Masdar City in Abu Dhabi.
At M.Designs Architects, Aamir plays a key role in strengthening the firm's presence in the region, enhancing operations in the Karachi office, and supporting the U.S. team to deliver high-quality, cost-effective design solutions.
Aamir holds a Bachelor's in Architecture from the National College of Arts, Lahore. Based in Karachi with his wife, son, and their Persian cat, he enjoys classical music, jazz, golf, racquetball, and exploring the outdoors. A dedicated sports fan, he follows both American football and international cricket.

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Avery Cobe

Associate

Avery joined M Designs Architects in July 2015 and has since become an indispensable asset to the company. As the senior-most employee, he works seamlessly from the cloud and serves as the go-to person for questions. He is a Revit Guru and key management team member.

As a key member of the management team, Avery plays a pivotal role in shaping the company's strategic direction. He earned his Bachelor of Architecture Technology from Lawrence Technological University in 2015. After relocating to different states, he and his lovely wife Jordan found their dream home in Holt, MI, in 2019, together with their beloved pets—four dogs, two cats, five birds, and a Russian Tortoise.
Beyond his professional commitments, Avery has a passion for ice hockey. He actively plays for and manages his inline hockey team, competing in the Midwest Inline Hockey Association (MIHA). Avery's dedication, expertise, and leadership contribute significantly to the success and cohesion of M Designs Architects.

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Ni Ni

Senior Lead Designer

Raised in Toronto, Ni Ni has crafted more than 150 custom houses across the US and Canada, earning 58 client endorsements from LinkedIn. With a Master of Architecture from the University of Toronto (2010) and a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo (2006).

Ni Ni brings with her over 12 years of expertise to residential design, construction, and permit acquisition. Ni Ni, recognized for her detail-oriented approach, excels in project management, coordinating with consultants and clients while ensuring timely and cost-effective delivery of high-quality structures. Fluent in Mandarin, she adds to our office language skillset. In her downtime, Ni Ni enjoys hiking, traveling, walking her Golden Retriever, and experimenting with new recipes. Her culinary skills have earned her the title of the best chef at MDA, as voted by her colleagues.
Fluent in Mandarin & English

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Maria Abreu

Senior Designer

Maria began her architectural journey in Brazil, focusing on residential and educational design, with a specialization in acoustical design for theaters, studios, and convention centers. She also taught Environmental Design to university students there.

Relocating to the Bay Area, Maria joined M Designs Architects in 2007. In 2015/2016, she also served as a QA/QC consultant for the Apple Campus II in Cupertino. Family obligations led her to Chile, where Maria lived for 7 years, becoming fluent in Spanish. Returning to the Bay Area in 2023, Maria eagerly rejoined M Designs Architects where we welcomed her with open arms. In her leisure time, she embraces the Bay Area's outdoor activities, enjoys swimming, and indulges in her passion for cooking.
Fluent in Spanish and English

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Giselle Keshtgar

Lead Architectural Designer

Giselle brings over 10 years of experience to the MDA Team. She obtained her Bachelor of Architecture degree from California Polytechnic State University where she honed her skills in architectural design and construction techniques.

In addition, she received a Minor in Sustainable Environment from Cal Poly and spent time studying in the Interior Design Institute in New York City. Throughout her career, Giselle has collaborated with renowned architectural firms designing/managing projects in multiple markets. With a diverse portfolio spanning various architectural projects, her passion has consistently gravitated towards the intimate and transformative realm of residential projects, establishing them as her preferred focus.
Having a background in the cultures and history of multiple countries, Giselle has developed an adventurous mind with an appreciation for details, diversity and flexibility in design. Her design philosophy revolves around the idea that architecture is not just a built environment, it should tell a story, evoke an emotional response and enhance the overall well-being of the occupants. She is passionate about all architectural styles and takes great satisfaction in working closely with clients to create an environment that synthesizes their culture, ideas, desires and needs.
Outside of work, Giselle finds joy in cooking, photography, spending time with friends and playing with her golden retriever!
Giselle is fluent in Farsi and English

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Arnita Serri

Lead Designer

Arnita is an accomplished Lead Designer with a wealth of experience in architecture and interior design. Having relocated from London, UK to the vibrant Bay Area, she joined our team in 2024. With over a decade of expertise in residential and commercial projects.

She holds a Master of Science in Engineering in Architecture and Design from Aalborg University, Denmark.
Arnita's professional journey includes collaborations with esteemed architecture firms in Malta, as well as contributions to companies in Latvia and the UK. Her commitment to success is reflected in her ability to ensure timely project completion and client satisfaction while adhering to budgets and timelines. Arnita seamlessly blends aesthetics with functionality in her design approach, often incorporating bespoke furniture to elevate interior spaces.
Arnita also possesses extensive knowledge in prefabricated timber panel buildings and timber structures, in which she then enjoys implementing her love for Scandinavian design.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Arnita takes pleasure in spending quality time with her family, enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking and camping.
Fluent in English and Latvian.

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Swaroopa Dugani

Interior Designer

Swaroopa Dugani's professional journey began as a data analyst in San Francisco before transitioning into design. She pursued her MA in Interior Architecture and Design at AAU San Francisco and joined MDA in 2023.

Prior to her venture into the design world, Swaroopa spent time delving into healthcare data research, publishing research papers on platforms like IEEE and Springer. Her academic background includes earning B.E and M.Tech degrees in Computer Science from India.
Swaroopa's approach to creativity is firmly anchored in an unwavering commitment to design excellence, a proficiency in crafting interior drawings, and a relentless drive to discover innovative solutions. She strongly believes in the harmonious fusion of aesthetics and functionality in design.
Outside of her professional life, Swaroopa has a passion for baking, doodling, and an undeniable enthusiasm for watching movies, enjoying them with a bucket of popcorn. She is fluent in Indian and English.

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Fizza Iqbal

Interior Design Lead

Fizza, an accomplished architect with more than ten years of professional experience, holds a bachelor's degree in Architecture from the Indus Valley School of Arts and Architecture in Pakistan. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with esteemed firms in Pakistan.

Serving as a design lead on numerous corporate and residential interior projects, overseeing the entire process from conceptualization to construction. Demonstrating a passion for creative thinking, Fizza eagerly embraces challenging interior projects. Actively contributing to the field, she is also a dedicated member of the Pakistan Council of Architects.
Beyond her professional pursuits, she finds joy in travel and cherishes moments spent with her daughter and husband.

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Jawwad Naseer

Jr. Architectural Designer

Jawwad is an accomplished architectural designer with a rich tapestry of experience and passion for design. A graduate from UCSI University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, he excels in Revit BIM modeling and has deep understanding of International Building Codes (IBC).

At the heart of his capabilities lies his mastery of Revit BIM modeling, and a deep understanding of the International Building Codes (IBC). Jawwad can create lifelike visualizations to help our clients envision the final outcome.
Jawwad's portfolio spans from single unit residential homes, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) as well as commercial developments spanning offices, retail spaces, and hospitality.
Apart from his passion for architecture, Jawwad is also passionate about fusion cooking, barbecuing, traveling, and exploring new places. Also, he is intrigued by cars and electronics and appreciates learning about them.

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Rehan Siddiqui

3D Visualizer

Rehan started his career in 2010 as an Architecture and interior 3D visualizer, additionally making Animations. Before this, he completed his 3D visualization and animation degree from Arena multimedia.

Rehan also has experience teaching in Arena multimedia Pakistan. He joined M.Designs in 2021, now working online from Pakistan and spending free time with his wife and two children.
Outside of work, he likes hiking and traveling.

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