Cheryl Fosdick (Loon) | FS.018
Invite memories of place.
LISTEN NOW
Links
CF Design
Website: CF Design
Instagram: @cfdesignltd
Facebook: CF Design LTD
LUMstudio
Website: LUMstudio
In this episode of the Flying Solo Podcast, host Katie Kangas speaks with Cheryl Fosdick, founder of CF Design. Cheryl brings a deep passion for storytelling to her work, designing spaces shaped by Great Lakes landscapes and the nuanced use of light that transforms how people experience their homes.
Cheryl practices in Duluth, MN. A city that invites people to enjoy the outdoors, even through the long freezing winters. She describes the unique connection between water and light, weather, and seasonality that shape the way people live and dwell. Her approach to architecture is thoughtful and unhurried. Each project begins with listening—to the land, to the client, and to the quiet cues that define a specific place. Cheryl describes herself as an “architect of a specific place,” designing homes that feel adventurous, enduring, and yet, invite the homeowner to be at ease.
Cheryl’s practice can be seen in the common loon—an iconic bird in Minnesota. The lon has an unmistakable silhouette and haunting call that echoes across open water. Its essence represents calm confidence, deep awareness, and lasting memory. Like the loon, Cheryl’s work doesn’t demand attention. It draws people in. It creates presence. It invites them to stay.
Throughout the conversation, Cheryl shares her journey of establishing a practice, navigating the architecture profession as a serial entrepreneur, and remaining deeply engaged in her community. She reflects on patience as a professional strength, adaptability as a creative tool, and the importance of understanding both site and story. The episode concludes with thoughtful advice for architects and designers seeking to build meaningful, place-based practices of their own.
018
Cheryl Fosdick
(Loon)
Season 2 of the Flying Solo Podcast is sponsored by the Minnesota Architectural Foundation, whose mission is to invest in excellence, leadership, discovery, and equity within the profession of architecture.
To join this flying solo movement, you can follow Flying Solo Arch on Instagram where Katie posts content to encourage your business life. Find out which bird defines your marketing strategy with the Bird Quiz on the Flying Solo Website.
For even more resources and encouragement, you can find all the Flying Solo episodes on the Gābl Media platform at gablmedia.com - the premier destination for podcasts about architecture and design. And if you’re looking for community, connection, and real conversations, check out the EntreArchitect Network at entrearchitect.com/ . Whether you join one of their Masterclasses or the free Facebook group, you’ll find a community of small firm architects sharing ideas, challenges, and wins - proving that while we may work solo, we’re never alone.
As Mark R. LePage, founder of Entrearchitect, says - it’s all about doing better practice and better work every day.
