Name: Ruth Price
Instagram: @DesertDesignWeek
Website: desertdesignweek.com
Age: 40s
Title: Founder & Creative Director, Desert Design Week, Real Estate Broker for Architectural and Design-Led Homes
Married/Single: Married
City you live in: Scottsdale, Arizona
A typical day in my life includes… lots of meetings and calls, but I always try to make as many of them in person as possible. I usually have two to three face-to-face meetings a day, often including creative strategy sessions for real estate and creative businesses. I love meeting in person because it makes it more personal and I love the exchange of energy that happens in person.
I wake up early, usually around 4:30, and tend to get a lot done before 9 a.m. Mornings are the most productive and the best creative times for me. I love to walk so I hit the trails or walk in my neighborhood at sunrise. I love a good happy hour. I think it’s one of the best ways to connect with people. It’s a good way to punctuate the day and transition into the evening.
I was born… I was born curious and mostly restless. I love planning, beginnings, new places, and that feeling that something good is about to happen, or even just the possibility of what could happen.
My favorite thing about Arizona…November – March. I love the consistency. No guesswork, no layers, no checking the weather app, just blue skies, steady sunshine, and nothing but long stretches of fabulous days.
I’m listening to… I’m listening to The Gstaad Guy Podcast. I know it sounds random, but I’ve listened to every episode since day one. I haven’t missed a single one. I love the access he has to some of the most creative people in the world and the way he unpacks what actually matters about their brands. He dives into how they carve out a point of view and what they consider fantastique versus à la poubelle.
My family… Is my comfort and biggest cheerleader.
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be… Emily Bode of BODE and Aaron Aujla of Green River Project. I love the world and the story they’ve created through both brands. It’s bold, different, and completely transportive. They draw on craft, place, nostalgia, and history, and have managed to create something uniquely their own. I really admire how they push boundaries, and I’d love to know everything!
One thing I cannot live without…Moleskine notebooks. I love writing ideas down the analog way, doodling, and capturing notes from conversations as they happen. I’ve saved years of them. It’s honestly one of my favorite things to look back through, seeing old ideas, moments, and how time has changed what feels important. Also potatoes, but that’s a story for another time.
When I was younger, I wanted to be… When I was younger, I wanted to be a surgeon, but as a child I had a fear of dead people and someone told me that meant working with cadavers to start with, not sure if that’s even true. That dream ended quickly. Then I decided I’d be an accountant and actually went to school for it. Honestly, I don’t know what I was thinking with either of those. What I enjoy doing now fits neither job description, and I’m genuinely happy I didn’t pursue either one.
I’m inspired by…I’m inspired by people who get things done. Creatives and doers. The ones who don’t take no for an answer, who forge a path where others see none, and who build something from scratch. I love the doers. The ones who seem to get more done in a day than most. The proactive ones. The risk takers. The ones who don’t worry too much about what others think.
The person/people who motivate(s) me is/are… The people who motivate me are the ones who don’t wait for perfection to put something out into the world. The ones who try, who stretch themselves, and who push their own limits creatively and mentally.
If I could change anything in the world, it would be… A few things! How disconnected we’ve become from each other and the pace we’re living at. More presence, more care, and more real community. Slower days, less burnout, and more time to actually live. And a deeper respect for the planet, with less waste, more stewardship, and more intention in what we take and make.
The perfect day would be…wandering the streets of a European city, people watching, sipping coffee, and writing in my journal. Photographing small design details, popping into shops and galleries, and ending the day with a scrumptious dinner and a glass of wine. Stateside, it looks like a quiet morning reading on the patio, followed by time in nature, a hike or a long walk through a leafy park. A long lunch or happy hour with friends, then a cozy night at home with my husband and cat.
My first job was…My first job was at Orange Julius at the mall. I’m not even sure they’re still around, but it was the peak of early ’90s mall culture and it was the thing to get when you were there. The Strawberry Banana Julius was the best! There were definite peak times and it got crazy, but it taught me how to multitask, stay calm under pressure, and manage people’s expectations.
My favorite escape… the forest in the Pacific Northwest. There’s nothing more magical. The birds, the moss, the light rays breaking through thick tree canopies. The smell of leaves, damp earth, and moisture in the air. It feels quiet and alive at the same time. It’s an instant reset.
My life… is a series of little adventures. I’m trying to experience as much as I can, meet interesting people, do interesting things, and have meaningful conversations along the way. Being in my 40s has made time feel more valuable than ever. I know that life and circumstances can change in the blink of an eye, and I want to show up for it all.
I’m currently working on… being able to say no. It’s been one of the biggest hurdles I’ve been trying to overcome this year. My instinct is to overcommit, to say yes, to try to make everyone happy. But I’m learning that protecting my time and energy is part of building something sustainable and being able to be creative.
Always… try to be on time. It’s a small thing that says a lot. It shows respect for the other person’s time, energy, and presence.
Never… Never apologize unless you’ve actually done something wrong. So many of us have a habit of saying sorry as a reflex, especially when we feel tension, uncertainty, or pressure to smooth things over. But an apology should mean something based on accountability, not discomfort.
Favorite Quote…“Be so good they can’t ignore you.” Steve Martin
Biggest Dream… to live in the European countryside on a flower farm with goats. I have no green thumb and zero experience with farm animals, but I love both flowers and goats, and I’m convinced they would make me really happy.
My Pet Peeve(s)… My pet peeves are traffic and being in the car longer than 15 minutes, wasted time, bad listeners, and Apple Watches. The Apple Watch wrist flick in the middle of a conversation is my absolute top pet peeve!
Bio: Desert Design Week is a biannual design and cultural event series based in Phoenix and Scottsdale. Focused on design, art, and architecture, DDW is a platform for emerging and established creatives and brands to build strategic visibility through curated programming, immersive experiences, and city-wide activations. We collaborate with brands, makers, and creative entrepreneurs to create thoughtful exposure, meaningful audience engagement, and long-term presence within a design-minded community.
