MEET MAI SANTUICO
Meet Mai Santuico, Design Lead at Clearspace.
Mai’s design journey has taken her from luxury residences in Manila to high-profile retail projects across North America, and now to leading workplace transformations at Clearspace. Her path reflects bold moves, a deep passion for design, and a drive to keep learning—no matter the challenge.
A strong foundation in design
Mai began her career as an interior designer in the Philippines in 2014. Her early years were spent working on luxury residential projects, where she gained hands-on experience in everything from project management and furniture design to renderings and full design packages.
After honing her skills in residential work, she made the leap to Arcadis/CallisonRTKL, a global design firm known for its high-end retail clients. There, Mai worked with major brands like M·A·C Cosmetics, Tom Ford, Schutz, and Rogers, delivering projects across North America and Europe. The pace was fast, and the expectations were high—but Mai thrived, gaining deep technical knowledge and learning the intricacies of North American codes and standards.
By the time she relocated to Canada, her portfolio was already filled with impressive international projects and a solid understanding of the global design landscape.
Starting fresh—and jumping in
Mai moved to Canada in January 2020. It was a big shift, made even bigger by the fact that she arrived just as the world was shutting down. But even in the middle of a pandemic, she was ready to take on something new.
While pursuing a postgraduate certificate in Management Consulting at George Brown College, Mai applied to Clearspace for a Junior Designer role. Despite her impressive background, she was starting over in a new country—and Clearspace offered her a chance to get her foot in the door.
What began as a part-time role quickly evolved. Working just three days a week, she focused on space planning and quickly became a key part of the design team. Within months, she was full-time, taking on more projects and responsibilities.
Growing with Clearspace
Clearspace was a small team back then, and Mai was one of its core designers. She worked alongside Kristen DiBattista, helping to shape the workplace design practice from the ground up. Together, they built out processes, templates, and design standards that still guide Clearspace’s work today.
Mai’s experience in residential and retail design gave her a unique perspective on workplace interiors. She was quick to adapt, learning the nuances of workplace strategy and applying her creativity to every project. As Clearspace grew, so did Mai’s role—moving from Junior to Intermediate to Senior Designer in just a few short years.
Today, she leads complex tenant projects and model suites, managing teams and mentoring junior designers along the way.
A design approach grounded in creativity and purpose
Mai brings a thoughtful, practical approach to every project she works on. She thrives on balancing creativity with real-world constraints—whether it’s a tight timeline, a strict budget, or complex client needs. Her goal is always to create spaces that work, and that people want to be in.
Her background in luxury design, combined with her technical expertise, gives her an eye for detail and a focus on quality that elevates every project she touches.
Life outside the studio
When she’s not designing, Mai taps into her creative side in other ways. A lifelong lover of the arts, she spends her free time visiting art galleries and museums—whether locally or while traveling. For her, no trip is complete without a stop at the city’s most iconic museums.
Music is also a big part of Mai’s life. She grew up playing the piano and drums and has an appreciation for just about every genre. Her love for performance extends to the stage, too—she never misses a Broadway or musical show when one comes to town.
During the pandemic, Mai discovered a new passion: cooking. What began as a hobby has turned into one of her favourite ways to unwind—and connect. Cooking is now her and her partner Dave’s favourite bonding activity, and they enjoy experimenting with new dishes together.
Mai also prioritizes wellness, staying active with yoga, Pilates, and spin classes. She and Dave love the outdoors, especially kayaking and hiking through Northern Ontario.
At home, Mai is a proud cat mom to their eldest Nebula and their newest adopted furball, Astrid, who joined the family in 2024.
Looking ahead
Clearspace has come a long way since Mai joined—but for her, this is just the beginning. She’s excited about the future of the company and the opportunity to continue growing as a designer and leader.
From luxury retail to workplace design, from museum halls to musical theaters, Mai’s journey is a reminder that creativity knows no boundaries—and that passion, adaptability, and hard work can take you anywhere.
