Looking for a Designwise alternative?
Designwise is a well-known, national dental-office design firm. If you'd rather work directly with the designers in person, get a fully custom space instead of a package tier, and keep pricing accessible, Nickerson Design is built for exactly that.
What you get with Nickerson.
You work directly with the founders
Every project is led personally by Natalie and Kimberly — both sisters, on every project. You're never handed to a junior associate, and there's no premium to get the principals in the room.
Custom, never templated
Every practice is designed from scratch for your brand, your building, and your patients — not adapted from a package, a tier, or a house style.
In person and on site
We meet you face to face and walk your actual space — seeing the light, the building, and the flow in person. Design decisions get made in the room, not over email from across the country.
Designed for your building and your patients
We tailor the design to the architecture of your building and the demographics of the patients you serve — so the space fits its place and its people, not a formula.
Time-sensitive project management
We manage your project against your opening date with clear, milestone-based timelines — so you open on schedule, not whenever it happens to finish.
Accessible, transparent pricing
A focused, interior-design-led model that's typically more accessible than a big-firm or full-architecture engagement — with clear cost from day one and a free instant estimate on this site.
Nickerson Design vs Designwise.
When Designwise might be the better fit.
Designwise has designed hundreds of dental practices across North America, with an award-winning portfolio and a structured, repeatable, package-based process led by founder Greg Marinelli.
If you specifically want a nationally-known name with fixed service tiers and you're comfortable working primarily remotely, Designwise is an established, capable option. We respect their work.
This comparison reflects each firm's publicly stated positioning (reviewed 2026) and Nickerson's own approach. We respect our peers — when another firm is genuinely the better fit for your project, we'll tell you.
Designwise vs Nickerson — FAQ
- Yes. If you want a custom, in-person, founder-led dental design partner in Southern California, Nickerson is a strong alternative to Designwise's national, package-based model — with accessible, transparent pricing.
- You work directly with both founders (not one principal or a junior), in person and on site; your design is fully custom to your building and patients rather than a package tier; and pricing is accessible and transparent, with a free instant estimate.
- Designwise uses premium, tiered service packages. Nickerson offers accessible, transparent pricing tailored to your project, plus a free instant cost estimator on this site so you can ballpark your build-out in minutes.
- Designwise serves clients nationally from Newport Beach and typically works remotely. Nickerson meets you in person and visits your site across the San Fernando Valley, greater Los Angeles, and Orange County.
See all reasons to choose Nickerson.
Ready for a custom alternative to Designwise?
Book a design consult — meet the founders, in person, and get an honest read on your project, your budget, and your timeline.