RossTarrant Architects is a firm filled with diverse and passionate professionals that bring so many talents to the table. Our employee spotlight series celebrates the exceptional individuals who contribute to RTA’s unique work environment. This month, we’re excited to spotlight Danica Hak, an Interior Designer whose creativity, curiosity, and collaborative nature have quickly made her a valued member of our team.
MEET DANICA! 💡
Q. How long have you been at RTA?
A. I’ve been at RTA for a year. I graduated from the University of Kentucky in the Spring of 2024, and I’ve been here ever since!
Q. What is your favorite part about your job or working at RTA?
A. I’m constantly learning and evolving as a designer. I used to think that learning ended with school, but every day reveals a new layer or application of design that deepens my understanding and pushes me to grow. Being part of an interdisciplinary office has expanded my perspective. Collaborating with and learning from other disciplines constantly informs and reshapes the way I think, design, and solve problems.
Q. What do you enjoy most about designing education spaces?
A. School played such a formative role in my own life. I was highly involved in extracurriculars and put so much time and energy into academia that it became a second home- a place with mentors who supported me, classes that challenged me, and spaces that fostered my growth. It was through school that I discovered my passion for interior design, and now, having the opportunity to create the very types of environments that once supported and influenced me is incredibly fulfilling. Being on this side of the experience is both full circle and truly special.
Q. What is it about RTA’s culture that you enjoy?
A. What I appreciate the most is how supportive and welcoming everyone is. Especially as someone coming straight out of school, I was initially intimidated stepping into a professional environment, but the openness and kindness of everyone quickly put me at ease. I tend to be more reserved in new settings, but the collaborative nature of the open office makes it easy to ask questions and learn. Everyone is approachable, generous with their knowledge, and genuinely invested in helping one another. There is a shared understanding that the project only gets stronger when we work together, and the spirit of collaboration makes a real difference.
Q. Beyond your professional life, what do you like to spend your time doing?
A. Outside of work, I love to dance! Dance has been part of my life since I was 3 years old. Over the years, I’ve trained mostly in jazz, modern, tap, and hip-hop, and I still take classes and perform whenever I can. I also enjoy spending time outdoors hiking and going on walks, thrifting, cooking, exploring/ shopping local, and I also have recently started watercolor painting as another creative outlet! (I don’t sleep!)
Q. What is a fun fact about you is that you think most of your RTA coworkers wouldn’t know about you?
A. I’m really passionate about combining dance and design through my own research. I focus on how lighting, set design, and projection can bring movement and storytelling to light in new ways. In my senior year of my undergraduate, I choreographed an entire performance, designed/fabricated a set, and defended my thesis on this very topic!
Q. What is a skill or talent you have always wanted to learn but have not had the chance to yet?
A. I wish I were incredible at sewing. I have a sewing machine and I’m trying to learn! I want to be able to alter my own clothes and do thrift flips, I feel like that is such a useful skill.
Q. If you could switch places with anyone for a day, who would it be and what would you do?
A. I would switch places with my cat, Ocean. She’s a Lynx Point Siamese and I got her last October from the cat distribution system. I’ve always wondered what the world looks like from her point of view, and she gets to sunbathe and sleep all day.
Q. If you were a contestant on a game show, which one would it be and why?
A. I have always wanted to be on Dancing with the Stars. I grew up watching the first seasons with my mom and I have never missed keeping up with a season since. Ballroom dance is a type of dance I have yet to train in, so what better time than on national television?
CO-WORKERS DESCRIBE DANICA AS….
Creative • Thoughtful • Kind • Joyful
Danica is a joy to work with. She brings a tremendous amount of creativity to every project and consistently demonstrates a strong collaborative spirit. Her enthusiasm and teamwork make her an invaluable member of our team.” –Kim Case
Danica is exceptional to work with and brings a positive outlook to every situation. She is thorough and provides creative solutions to every design problem. – Remington Bard
Whether she’s collaborating with teammates or exploring new layers of design, Danica brings passion, creativity, and a thoughtful perspective to every project she touches.
