Challenging the Expected in Hospitality Design: A Feature on Ruth M’Rav-Jankelowitz, Principal Designer and Founder of Janks Design Group

Early Beginnings

Ruth has always had a natural instinct for organizing spaces, but the moment that redirected her career came in her first studio apartment. The space needed work, and she found herself rearranging, refining, and adding character with ease. At the time, she was studying criminology and questioning whether it was the right path. The clarity came quickly. Designing spaces felt natural and meaningful, and it became the direction she wanted to pursue.

A Global Perspective That Shapes Every Project

Before founding Janks Design Group, Ruth lived and worked internationally. Each country offered different approaches to materials, culture, and user expectations, and these experiences deeply influenced her design philosophy. She believes that adapting a concept to suit a specific location is essential to producing meaningful results.

Ruth pays attention to design trends, but not to follow them. She studies them to understand how to break away from them in creative and strategic ways. Her focus remains on the end user and on creating spaces that feel distinct, intentional, and true to the client’s goals and market.

Building JDG Through Persistence and Experience

When Ruth arrived in Canada, she brought extensive retail and hospitality experience from Israel and Seattle, including eight years of running her own design firm. Yet, like many newcomers, she discovered that local firms were hesitant to hire without Canadian experience.

Instead of stepping back, she pushed forward. She took contract work with several design firms to build local experience and educated herself on Canadian building codes through courses and self-study. A turning point came when she met the owners of Nando’s Canada. As a South African familiar with the brand, she understood both their identity and their operational needs. She was invited to work on a new location, and that partnership grew into more than twenty-four restaurants nationwide. This established JDG’s strong foundation in hospitality design and became a defining chapter in the studio’s growth.

These experiences shaped a core value at JDG. The studio welcomes newcomers and supports emerging designers by offering the training and experience needed to succeed in a new country and in the local market.

A Design Approach Rooted in Purpose and User Behavior

Ruth’s work across retail, hospitality, corporate, residential, and custom home building has a consistent theme. Every space must be suited to its end user. JDG does not follow a specific look or predetermined style. The team focuses on understanding the client’s needs, the target customer, and the purpose of the environment.

Ruth’s design philosophy is simple. Steer clear of trends and create an experience that holds meaning. She believes each room should feel like its own world, and the goal is to ensure there are enough points of interest to encourage return visits. For today’s clients, the experience matters as much as the final product.

Her work across hundreds of restaurants and stores has reinforced the importance of studying how people move and behave in a space. Some visitors are drawn to curiosity and discovery. Others look for familiarity and consistency. Understanding these differences helps JDG design spaces that work seamlessly for a range of users. Researching behavior, intent, and user characteristics is a key part of the process.

Design and Construction Working Together

Ruth also operates a construction company, and the connection between designing and building has significantly shaped her approach. Construction has taught her what is possible, what is logical, and what limitations must be considered when working within a defined budget.

A major part of designing cost effective commercial spaces is knowing where to invest for impact and where to scale back. Most commercial projects are budget conscious, so balancing high impact moments with functional requirements is essential.

What JDG Strives to Create

With a wide range of innovative clients trusting JDG with their spaces, Ruth values the opportunity to create environments that work. Each project focuses on telling a unique story. JDG aims to think beyond the expected and bring forward ideas that feel original and relevant to the brand. This results in spaces that set clients apart within their market.

What Continues to Inspire Ruth

After more than thirty years in the industry, diversity is what keeps Ruth inspired. Every project is different. Even when working with a brand that has multiple locations, JDG creates tailored concepts that suit the specific environment and audience. Ruth believes in creating experiences rather than repeating a style. Each space deserves its own identity.

Her motivation is rooted in continual learning and the knowledge that well designed spaces influence how people gather, work, and move through the world. She remains committed to designing with purpose, curiosity, and a willingness to challenge what is expected. As Ruth explains, “We strive to break norms and think outside the box. That approach allows us to create work that feels unique and sets our clients apart within their market.”

For a closer look at JDG’s work, follow the studio on Instagram (@janksdesigngroup) to see current projects, behind the scenes moments, and insights into the creative process. If you are exploring ideas for a future project and would like to learn how JDG can support your vision, connect with our team through our contact page to begin the conversation.

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