No Trust Fund. No MBA. Just a Hustling Designer Who Developed a 3-Unit Project | EP634

Business of Architecture Podcast

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What happens when a young designer stops waiting and just starts building? In this episode, we meet Shane Curry—a 30-year-old designer who decided to take the leap into development, without a roadmap, and without waiting for the perfect moment. What followed is a story of risk, grit, and surprising wins in one of the most expensive housing markets in the world.

Shane shares how he navigated his first project, convinced partners to jump in with him, and found a way to make the numbers work. He talks about how he’s grown a design studio without ads, and why he refuses to do copy-paste architecture. His approach is raw, action-focused, and full of lessons for anyone tired of sitting on the sidelines.

Listen in to learn:

• The unusual way Shane landed his first real estate deal
• Why “being just dumb enough” might be your best strategy
• How he turned $0 in marketing into a pipeline of projects
• The mindset shift that made risk feel exciting—not scary

To learn more about Shane, visit his: Website: https://www.studio1904.com/