LivLive Ep. 0000005 - Ross Barney

In this episode of LivLive, Dave reconnects with Ross Barney to talk about building a practice that spans teaching, public-sector work, and design experimentation—and what led to the founding of TUMU Studio.Ross shares the origin story of TUMU and why operating a small studio changes how you think about growth (including the practical realities of expanding across locations). They also get into Ross’s “practice” mindset—why architecture is called practice for a reason—and swap stories from past work and studios.A standout portion is Ross describing a client moment where he presented something “too crazy” (a playful, curvilinear nook under a stair) and the client pushed him to be more adventurous—a lesson in creative courage and saying “yes” when a client invites the risk.How TUMU Studio started and how Ross thinks about running a small firmWhy Ross emphasizes architecture as “practice” (time + repetition + understanding)How client feedback can push a design further (the “be more adventurous” moment)A concrete example of design iteration: the under-stair study nook evolving into something more experimentalHow teaching and practice cross-pollinate (and why studio culture matters)How Ross thinks about balancing creative exploration with the realities of delivery