Bill Johnson AIA

Bill Johnson grew up surrounded by the architectural beauty of Charleston, one of the oldest cities in the nation and famous for its hospitality and entertaining. Perhaps it’s no surprise, then, that he has carried that joie de vivre into his profession. Opening his own business in 1986, Bill earned his position as one of the foremost hospitality designers in the nation by concentrating on the finer details that make a restaurant outstanding: great lighting, authentic materials, and a creative, well-crafted layout. Bill believes a great space gives something back to the person who enters it. It should feel as comfortable as a home but add that intangible “more” to make a guest feel welcome, alive, and unburdened. Each of his concepts is unique to the client. The measure of success lies in marrying the concept to the personality of the chef, the quality of the food, the type of clientele, and above all, creating the “wow” factor that sets a restaurant above its competitors. Bill received his Bachelor of Science in Building Construction from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He still serves as a visiting studio critic and public speaker. He and The Johnson Studio’s creative work have been featured in numerous national and local publications. In 2017, he was named Principal and in 2020 he became a Design Adviser.