10 YEAR PROFILE: Creativity & Collaboration at Premier Group

As the 10-year anniversary of the Indiana Design Center is upon us, we wanted to speak with our resident showroom owners and leaders – the tastemakers and forward-thinking innovators in our local design landscape. Jason Barth, the CEO and lead designer of the Premier Group, has been a part of the IDC since the beginning. Here he shares his thoughts on how technology is an integral part of design.

Jason Barth has always been passionate about music. As a college student, he and a few classmates at DePauw University formed a popular band called Push Down & Turn that made the rounds in Indiana bars and colleges, recorded five albums and went on bigger national tours. While playing and touring and recording, Jason and his friends became more knowledgeable and passionate about technology and how to use it in their industry, and soon thereafter The Premier Group was born.

Today Premier is a leader in the home technology industry, covering everything related to home entertainment, home automation, security and networking, all made simple, and designed to be controlled with a single, intuitive app. In 2018, The Premier Group was recognized by the CEDIA organization for the best residential project in all of North & South America with the industry’s top honor, “Integrated Home of the Year,” at the annual trade show awards held at Petco Park in San Diego, California.  In 2019, Premier repeated their big win for “Integrated Home of the Year,” producing once again the most outstanding integrated system design and installation for another prestigious project. The industry awards presentation was held on July 25th in Chicago, Illinois at The Drake Hotel.

Devising original solutions to automating homes is a creative endeavor for Barth. He loves being involved in every space in the home, knowing that he can make a huge impact on reducing wall clutter with great lighting design, hidden technology and other smart home automation features that enhance the overall space.

Barth recommends that it is never too early to start planning when integrating technology into a home. With technology becoming such an immersive part of our daily lives, he urges that homeowners plan and make sure that the technologies work for them.

“I like to think that Premier has brought back a simplicity that hasn’t existed in our industry, which has become so complicated. That doesn’t necessarily mean a simple system, but a system that is more reliable and easier to use for the whole family.”

Premier has recently freshened up and renovated their showroom at the IDC. The light, modern space is a showcase for the newest, most relevant technologies. These technologies are demonstrated in a relatable environment for the consumer, so they can see the products in action. They feature innovative indoor & outdoor home entertainment demonstrations, as well as the behind the scenes technologies that make us all feel safe and secure: alarm systems, camera surveillance, door locks and more. In this update they also made a substantial investment in in motorized shades, drapes and screens as well as LED lighting technology, showing a variety of solutions, from recessed and linear LED lights, as well as decorative and outdoor lighting. “It’s truly an environment that provides an effective “drive before you buy” experience,” says Barth.

Like many of the designers and showroom owners in the building, the Premier team enjoys the creative spirit and the dynamics of collaboration that is a hallmark of the IDC community.

“We get to work with some amazing architects, interior designers, builders and homeowners, and it’s so much fun to be a part of collectively bringing “the dream” to life,” says Barth.

To learn more, visit the Premier Group website and enjoy some project photos below.