People are at the center of every space Stephany Eaton curates. Her commercial interior design firm, PureAlchemy Design, specializes in transforming ordinary spaces into branded environments and inspired workplaces. Her secret to success? She supports human wellness and authentic connections through her design.
Last November, Eaton was honored with two ASID MN Design Excellence awards, receiving first place in the healthcare category for her work with Pine Ridge Dental and second place in the corporate (small) category for her work with Professional Data Analysts. Which is no small feat — projects were judged by a group of renowned designers, who held each entry to the highest standards of approach and design.
Photography by Céline Michel
Eaton’s work stands apart thanks to the unique perspective brought to each project. With a background rooted in science, she approaches every opportunity with the goal of striking the perfect balance of aesthetic appeal and technical functionality. And as she looks to the future, Eaton will bring this expertise to collaborations with clients who aim to optimize their visual brand experience or create something completely new. These are the challenges that excite her.
“What I like about pop-ups in particular is that they are, more than any other type of space, based on the experiential values they provide,” Eaton says. “It’s not simply a retail venue; it is a temporary installation meant to provide a provocative and uniquely engaging experience.” One shining example? Eaton was the brilliant mind trusted to bring a dynamic retail experience to life in Prince‘s former home and palace of creativity, Paisley Park. She then captured that same magic energy in a pop-up installation at the Mall of America. These projects presented her with entirely new challenges and opportunities to invent, inspiring PureAlchemy Design to explore this work further and establish an entirely new area of expertise.
Photography provided by Judith Mcgrann & Friends
Pop-up shops require a different creative focus, Eaton explains. In general, a retail space calls for a more theatrical mindset. Creating a specialized, immersive experience that visitors can reflect upon later ultimately reinforces their desire to shop that way again. Eaton also applies this creative approach to permanent installations and boutique applications, keeping both versatility and longevity top of mind. Each space she creates is customized for the client, which is why no two projects in her portfolio look alike. The excitement of these unique and challenging horizons fuels her creativity and, ultimately, her success.
