Modern living room with beige sofa, black coffee tables, and a bookcase with decorative items and books, a potted plant on one table, an abstract art piece on the wall, on a beige rug on a dark floor.

Our next idea

is our best idea.

Small by choice. Innovative by nature. Since 2004, IDA has been designing products that are thoughtful, accessible, and genuinely beautiful.

Who We Are

Values

Everything we design starts with who we are and what we value. These values shape how we work, how we treat people, and how we approach every project — from the first sketch to the final product. They're not aspirational — they're how we show up every day.

A man with glasses and a black shirt working at his desk, writing with a pen. The scene is viewed through a glass partition, with a brick wall in the background.
A man in a black shirt and glasses is standing in front of a whiteboard and presenting to a group of people sitting on a sofa and chairs in a room with a brick wall. The group is engaged and smiling.
Group of people sitting around a white conference table in a modern office, engaged in a discussion, smiling, with a woman in the center talking, a man on the left and a woman with blonde hair in the foreground.

  • We keep our word. We follow through on commitments, communicate honestly, and make the right call — not just the easy one. In every relationship, project, and financial decision, we act with intention.

  • We're better together. Our best work happens at the intersection of mind and craft. We show up for each other the same way we show up for a client — with care, with honesty, and with a focus on what moves us all forward.

  • We ask better questions. Staying ahead means staying hungry — pursuing what's relevant, finding the balance between accessible and desirable. Learning isn't a phase. It's how we design.

  • Good design leaves things better. We design with the bigger picture in mind — for people, for the planet and for those in need. Every choice is a chance to reduce our impact and do more good than harm.

A smiling middle-aged man with gray hair and beard, wearing glasses and a black shirt, sitting at a table with a laptop in a cozy indoor setting with a brick wall background.

Our Team

Mitch Bakker

A good design often needs to do more than one thing; so does a good designer. Mitch has done many things throughout his career, all of which add to the culture of the firm. He founded IDA Design after spending years as head of product design for leading furniture manufacturers. Mitch understands the importance of putting the client’s goals on parity with the designer’s vision and pushes our team toward results that realize both. A highly respected designer in his own right, Mitch remains very hands-on in the design process. His trips to Zambia and Haiti and volunteer work in local ministries have strengthened his faith, deepened his passion, and inspired an ongoing commitment to action in the area of social justice.

mitch@idadesign.com

Founder & Owner
A woman with brown hair wearing a patterned blouse, cream cardigan, and jeans, smiling and standing indoors.

Cara Danis

Cara's love for creating started as a child with her grandfather in his woodshop. Her travels through Scandinavia sparked her interest in furniture design and she later studied Industrial Design at Western Michigan University, and through Denmark’s International Study Program. She has worked in various design roles and industries before coming to IDA including modular housing, recreational vehicles, residential cabinetry and hospitality furniture. During her time at Coachmen RV she headed up the Advanced Design Team, where she led design and coordinated development. Outside of the studio she loves to travel, and even goes above and beyond to help plan vacations for her coworkers.

cara@idadesign.com

Principal
A portrait of a smiling middle-aged man with light-colored hair, beard, and glasses, wearing a black shirt, standing indoors with a blurred background.

While in grade school Zach loved math and science, but as he got older he discovered his aptitude for drawing. When he found the Industrial Design program at Kendall College of Art and Design, he knew he had found the ideal place to cultivate all of his strengths. His past product design work includes floor sweepers for Bissell, a bouncy seat for Sassy, and an award-winning watch, not to mention several successful commercial furniture products.  Zach brings his experience and talents to our studio every day as our Design Lead. His coworkers see him as the perfect mix of hard-working and fun-loving. When not at work he fills his time with activities like designing his home, and caring for his four dogs.

zach@idadesign.com

Design Lead

Zach Raven

A woman with blonde hair wearing a dark blue top, layered necklaces, and bracelets, smiling while standing with crossed arms in a warmly lit indoor setting.

As the Chief Administrative Officer, Kori is a behind-the-scenes powerhouse who keeps the company’s gears turning smoothly. She is at home managing HR, overseeing technology, handling bookkeeping, and tackling daily operations—Kori does it all. She thrives on ensuring everything runs efficiently, with an infectious sense of fun and positivity in the workplace. Kori balances the serious stuff with a light-hearted touch that keeps our team motivated and connected through the organizing, problem-solving, and management of the day-to-day. Outside the studio, she loves to mentor others, spend time outdoors at her family cabin, and watch her kids play sports. 

kori@idadesign.com

Chief Administrative Officer

Kori Dick