What Design Partnership does

Design Partnership Inc. is a privately held architectural firm headquartered at 37 East Main Street, Suite 19, in Bozeman, Montana, founded in 1979 by principal architect Edwin B. Ugorowski, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP. The firm provides custom residential and commercial architectural design services across the full project lifecycle, from Programming & Planning through Construction Observation, with particular specialization in mountain contemporary homes, ski-in/ski-out residences, cabins and recreational structures, remodels and additions, and expandable affordable home designs. Its geographic footprint extends from Bozeman and Big Sky throughout the Rocky Mountain region, with project work also completed in Jackson Hole (Wyoming), Flathead Valley, Sun Valley (Idaho), Snowmass (Colorado), and Lake Keowee (South Carolina).

The firm's technical workflow combines hand-drawn schematic designs in the initial Schematic Design phase with computer-aided design development and 3D visualization models (including shade and shadow studies) in later phases. Core product offerings include Custom Homes Design, Mountain Contemporary Designs, Schematic Design Services, Cabins/Camps/Barns, Commercial Design Services, Affordable Homes Design, Remodels & Additions, and 3D Models. The firm operates a structured six-phase process (Programming & Planning, Pre-Design, Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, Construction Observation) and emphasizes site-specific integration of views, sunshine patterns, wind exposure, and topography into design outcomes.

Design Partnership generates revenue through professional services fees on a project-by-project basis, with pricing determined by scope and complexity via direct consultation rather than published rate cards. The go-to-market motion is sales-led and direct: client engagement begins with consultations and site visits, supported by a Houzz professional directory presence, editorial features in regional publications (Big Sky Journal, Western Home Journal), and word-of-mouth referrals within the mountain residential community. The customer base is anchored by high-net-worth individuals seeking premium custom homes in mountain settings, with secondary segments including commercial developers, cabin/recreational property owners, and budget-conscious homeowners seeking expandable designs. The firm maintains a network of core strategic partners including Big Sky Builders, Durfeld Log and Timber, Apex Structural Engineering, and Abby Hetherington Interiors.

Name

Design Partnership

Legal name

Design Partnership Inc.

Website

https://designpartnership.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Design Partnership Inc. is a Bozeman, Montana-based architecture firm specializing in custom mountain contemporary residential design, founded in 1979 by Edwin B. Ugorowski. The firm serves high-net-worth clients across the Rocky Mountain region with hand-drawn schematics, CAD, and 3D visualization services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Residential architecture
• Custom home design
• Mountain contemporary design
• Commercial architecture
• Schematic design services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bozeman

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Professional architectural services encompassing the full project lifecycle from programming and planning through construction observation. Services include residential custom homes, cabins, remodels, commercial projects, and affordable home designs. Revenue is generated through design fees based on project scope and complexity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Design Partnership is an architecture firm providing custom residential and commercial architectural design services in the Bozeman, Montana and Rocky Mountain region. The firm delivers full project lifecycle services including Programming & Planning, Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, and Construction Observation, with specialized expertise in mountain contemporary homes, ski-in/ski-out properties, cabins, remodels, and small commercial projects.

Product overview

Design Partnership is an architecture firm offering a comprehensive suite of residential and commercial architectural design services. The firm provides custom homes design, mountain contemporary designs, schematic design services, cabins/camps/barns design, commercial design services, affordable homes design, remodels & additions, and 3D modeling. Their design process follows standard architectural phases: Programming & Planning (PP), Pre-Design, Schematic Design (SD), Design Development (DD), Construction Documents (CDs), and Construction Observation (CO). The firm is led by Edwin B. Ugorowski, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, who has over 40 years of experience in the Bozeman, Montana area since 1979.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Homes Design Full-service custom home architectural design, including schematic design, design development, and construction documents for residential projects in the Montana and Rocky Mountain region.
• Mountain Contemporary Designs Specialized mountain contemporary architectural designs for homes in mountain settings, featuring modern rustic aesthetics optimized for views, sunlight, wind exposure, and shading.
• Schematic Design Services Initial design phase services using hand-drawn schematic designs allowing for quick and accurate design solutions with efficient revisions during the SD phase.
• Cabins, Camps & Barns Design Architectural design services for cabins, camps, and barns in rural and mountain settings, including hunting camps and rustic retreats.
• Commercial Design Services Commercial property architectural design including schematic designs for small to medium commercial applications in Montana.
• Affordable Homes Design Expandable home designs with base plans designed to accommodate future expansion, using stick framing to accommodate additions built under the existing roof.
• Remodels & Additions Architectural design services for home remodels and additions, including creative detailing and design portion work for existing residences.
• 3D Models 3D architectural visualization models including shade and shadow studies for proposed construction projects, enabling clients to visualize completed projects before construction.

Quantifiable outcome

• Homes designed have been published in several notable magazines
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Big Sky BuilderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Bozeman-based custom home builder with established relationship for constructing Design Partnership residential projects in the Big Sky region.
• Apex Structural EngineeringcoreTechnology or IntegrationStructural engineering firm providing technical expertise for architectural designs, ensuring structural integrity and code compliance.
• Durfeld Log and TimbercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialty craftsman for log and timber frame construction, featured in multiple Design Partnership projects including ski-in/ski-out homes.
• Martel ConstructionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontana-based construction company for residential and light commercial projects.
• Coyote Creek ConstructionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCustom home builder with experience in mountain contemporary designs.
• Calvert Custom HomesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwin Bridges, Montana-based custom home builder for residential projects.
• Yellowstone Custom Country HomesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCustom country home builder serving Montana clients.
• Highline PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReal estate development partner for mountain property projects.
• Abby Hetherington InteriorsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInterior design partner for complementary design services on residential projects.
• CookStar ProductionsminorOthersProduction company for media and promotional content related to completed projects.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• JLF Architects: Bozeman-based architecture firm with deep experience in custom mountain homes, ranches, and resort properties across the Northern Rockies. Direct competitor for HNW residential commissions in Montana and Wyoming.
• Schafer Architects: Bozeman-based architecture firm with a comparable focus on mountain contemporary residential and light commercial architecture in Montana. Directly competes for the same HNW custom home clients in the regional market.
• Pearson Design Group: Jackson Hole, Wyoming-based architecture and interior design firm focused on custom mountain residences, lodges, and resort projects. Highly comparable in design philosophy, client segment (luxury mountain), and project typology.
• Locati Architects: Bozeman, Montana-based architecture firm specializing in luxury custom mountain homes, ski-in/ski-out residences, and Western contemporary design. Operates in the same geographic market with a comparable HNW client base and custom residential focus.

Emerging players

• Claassen White Associates: Bozeman-based architecture firm with a growing portfolio of mountain residential, hospitality, and small commercial projects. Comparable in regional focus and emerging scale.

Broad incumbents

• Hart Howerton: National planning, architecture, and landscape firm with a recognized resort and mountain community practice. Serves luxury residential, hospitality, and master-planning clients across premium mountain markets including those served by Design Partnership.
• Olson Kundig: Seattle-based architecture and design firm with an internationally recognized mountain contemporary practice serving luxury residential clients across the Western US. Larger and broader than Design Partnership but with significant overlap in mountain modern residential work.

Regional players

• KGA Studio Architects: Bozeman-based architecture firm with a portfolio spanning mountain residential, commercial, and civic projects across Montana. Operates in the same regional market with overlapping custom residential and mountain design capabilities.
• CTA Architects Engineers: Montana-headquartered architecture and engineering firm serving commercial, institutional, and residential clients across the state and broader region. Competes for some Montana-based architectural commissions with broader service capabilities.
• Centre Sky Architecture: Big Sky, Montana-based architecture firm specializing in mountain residential, commercial, and resort architecture. Directly comparable in geography, scale, and custom mountain residential focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Design Partnership