FS Design Group’s Temporary-to-Permanent Transformation for MyPoint Credit Union
Designing a Temporary Branch That Doubles as a Proof of Concept for What’s Next
Article overview: See how we used interior design to reinvent a dated retail environment to create an A+ quality member experience for MyPoint Credit Union, members and staff until their new, flagship branch is complete.
We love an interior design challenge that’s not just about what looks good, but also what works, how it supports real people and how it can evolve without starting over. That’s exactly what the FS Design Group interior design team experienced while partnering with MyPoint Credit Union on a temporary office build-out that directly informed a future ground-up branch and Community Center.
The Why: A Temporary Need with Permanent Goals
As MyPoint Credit Union pursues a new development on their existing site, it required a temporary space while demolition and construction were underway.
But the temporary office wasn’t meant to be a “quick fix.” It is a proof of concept.
FS Design Group helped develop and validate the interior design concept for the permanent space while also designing for the temporary space. The temporary build provided real-world testing of layout, flow and member experience before larger construction took place.
The temporary site, a former AT&T store, is now fully remodeled as MyPoint’s credit union branch and is open to the public. Construction is soon to start demolition for the permanent site, MyPoint Midway, which will include four other rentable storefront spaces and a spacious community room.
Both projects are relatively compact at under 5,000 square feet, but the intent is anything but small. Even in a limited footprint, the interior design team’s goal was clear: Create an inviting space that reflects MyPoint’s focus on bringing community service and value to their members while supporting the team that makes it happen.
Brand Refresh + Customer-First Planning
“MyPoint described their former look as outdated and too focused on the Point Loma geography,” said FS Design Group Senior Designer Laura Vavrunek. “They wanted to reinvent the branch experience while expanding throughout San Diego County with a welcoming, open feel and a customer experience built around how members actually move and interact.”
A key move in the process was the programming process gathering and implementing feedback from a dozen stakeholder participants to shape everything from circulation to member interactions to where work gets done behind the scenes.
Materials + Design Moves
When clients enter MyPoint’s temporary space, they see teller booths that feature eye-catching, layered, milled plywood that’s routed to create a 3-D, curvilinear pattern. Details like these create a more memorable and brand-aligned space.
“This really helps dress up an otherwise traditional space,” said Chris Crockett, VP Retail & Member Support Operations at MyPoint Credit Union.
FS Design Group designed the teller stations using a modular furniture system, which allows the furniture to be swapped into the new permanent location once it’s ready. The result is a lower-cost, more sustainable approach without sacrificing quality.
Attractive, energy-efficient lighting is another important component of the design.
“The central light fixtures draw attention and lights up the space,” said Chris. He added that good lighting especially helps their members who are elderly or visually impaired.
Balancing Brand Identity with Practicality
MyPoint didn’t want its current branding color to dominate the architectural materials. Instead, FS Design Group focused on conveying a new look and feel through:
- Neutral tones
- Carpet with color variations that simulate abstract movement
- Wood-look flooring paired with design breaks in linear patterns
- Simple grains, white counter tops and clean cabinetry lines
The result is a brand experience that feels intentional rather than forced. MyPoint staff and clientele responded immediately to the new design, noting that the branch feels more intimate and welcoming.
“FS Design Group did a beautiful job of listening to us, understanding our operation and building accordingly,” said Chris.
The Temporary Space as a Blueprint for the Permanent Future
The temporary location wasn’t a detour — it was an early version of what would come next. FS Design Group worked closely with the contractor so that the building team understood the mission and how it would extend from the temporary space into the permanent headquarters office.
Just as importantly, Chris said that, for MyPoint, the design process avoided the common problem of working with a new interior design team. He said that there wasn’t an adjustment period. The FS Design Group team swiftly “pulled it all together” despite many opinions and stakeholder input, and they easily extended that process from the temporary to the permanent space.
MyPoint has seven branches in San Diego County, and the development of this design strategy is setting them for future phases. Chris says that, once the permanent space in Point Loma is complete, he looks forward to working with FS Design Group again to refresh other MyPoint locations.
MyPoint has confidence that the interior design elements are scalable because the brand foundation is clear and the process is collaborative.
Final Thoughts: Design That Earns Trust
Throughout this project, FS Design Group strove to use a customer experience lens; to be mindful of operational practicality; to implement a modular, future-aware design; and to facilitate collaborative decision-making that sustains momentum.
We listened carefully, designed thoughtfully and made the temporary office feel like the start of something even better.
Most importantly, “It’s always a pleasure to work with a good team,” added Laura. That group, she said, included Chris and his team at MyPoint, general contractor Dowling Construction, furniture dealer THiNK Office Interiors and others who were all role models for good communication and collaboration.
