Founder

ME + U was founded by Mateo Elias Umana, an interior designer with a background rooted in construction, building systems, and spatial problem-solving.

Before pursuing interior design, Mateo worked hands-on in residential construction alongside carpenters and plumbers, gaining firsthand experience in framing, renovations, demolition, and the permitting process. This early exposure to how buildings are assembled—and how they function behind the walls—continues to inform a practical, build-aware approach to design.

He later earned a degree in Interior Design with a minor in Business, developing a foundation that balances creative concept development with technical coordination. Today, Mateo leads ME + U Design Firm with a focus on hospitality and commercial environments, creating interiors that are thoughtful, functional, and experience-driven.

Mateo works primarily in Revit, using a BIM-based workflow to develop coordinated interior layouts, design documentation, and spatial studies. This approach supports clarity, efficiency, and alignment across design intent and construction execution.

While interior design is the core of his practice, Mateo’s work is informed by a broader interest in fashion, graphic, and industrial design. Experience within a clothing manufacturing environment strengthened his understanding of material behavior, fabrication, and how form responds to movement and use. Additional exploration in graphic and visual design contributes to a multidisciplinary perspective that informs concept development and presentation.

Through digital modeling, visualization, and hands-on design exploration, Mateo continues to develop work that bridges concept and constructability—always with the goal of creating interiors that support experience, function, and longevity.