Designing With Soul: A Life of Form, Feeling, and Creative Vision — The World of Donté J. Young
Written by Charles Mattocks for Ravoke.com A Personal Introduction I met Donté about ten years ago now. In the age of the web, we have not met in person, but
Written by Charles Mattocks for Ravoke.com
A Personal Introduction
I met Donté about ten years ago now. In the age of the web, we have not met in person, but we have followed each other’s journeys closely and spoken on many occasions over the years. From the very beginning, I have always been impressed by his mission and his overall presence.
Donté is a genuine person—someone who is truly doing good in the world.
He is living his passion and constantly creating. As of recent, I have also seen him make a very intentional decision to focus on his health goals. Not to say that health was not important to him in the past, but he has clearly forged ahead—losing weight, taking back his health, and committing to longevity. That discipline shows up everywhere in his life and work.
His work in design is something I deeply admire. And because we have the platform here at Ravoke, I wanted to share not just what Donté does—but who Donté is.
This is someone to know.
Who Is Donté J. Young
Donté J. Young is a visionary entrepreneur, award-winning interior designer, and the Founder & Creative Director of Dantezo Forme, a luxury design and lifestyle studio based in the Coral Gables neighborhood of Miami, Florida.
With a career spanning real estate, interior design, branding, communications, and lifestyle innovation, Donté is known for creating emotionally resonant, editorial-level spaces and brands that blend sophistication, strategy, and soul.
Dantezo Forme: Design With Purpose
At the helm of Dantezo Forme, Donté leads a multidisciplinary practice offering high-end residential and commercial interior design, bespoke furniture and décor collections, home staging, white-glove concierge services, and a growing digital design platform.
His work is defined by refined materiality, architectural storytelling, and a deeply human approach to how spaces are lived in—drawing inspiration from global travel, modern art, and fashion-forward design.
The Young Companies, Inc.
Donté is also the force behind The Young Companies, Inc. (TYC INC.), a bespoke luxury interior design and creative lifestyle marketing firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
In addition to serving high-end interior design clientele, TYC INC. delivers avant-garde lifestyle marketing services that make the unknown known across multiple mediums and business sectors throughout the world. A native of Dublin, Ohio, Donté has championed modern-day lifestyle marketing and luxury bespoke interior design on both regional and international stages.
Under his leadership, The Young Companies has been positioned for its next generation of growth through a healthy, results-driven plan—while operating out of its Chicago headquarters.
Career, Leadership & Business Impact
Throughout his career, Donté has founded, scaled, and exited multiple ventures across real estate, design, and lifestyle.
Before founding The Young Companies, Donté served as President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chair of the Board of Directors at FinMarc Ventures, where he led growth in the lifestyle communications sector and positioned the firm as a leading boutique communications company within entertainment and celebrity markets. During this time, he elevated the verbal communications brands of numerous celebrities, organizations, and Fortune 500 corporations.
Earlier in his career, Donté began his communications journey at Sotheby’s International Realty, serving as Vice President of International Communications.
Branding, Communications & Creative Strategy
Beyond design, Donté brings extensive experience in branding, corporate communications, and luxury public relations. His work with respected firms such as GPR: NYC (Gotham Public Relations) shaped his ability to approach design not only as an aesthetic pursuit, but as a strategic tool for storytelling, positioning, and business growth.
This rare blend of creativity and communications expertise allows Donté to build brands and environments that speak with clarity, emotion, and authenticity.
Recognition, Media & Industry Presence
Donté’s work and professional journey have been featured in numerous publications throughout New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley, Miami, and Dallas.
Most notably, his work appeared in the October 2021 issue of Architectural Digest and throughout United Airlines’ in-flight Hemispheres Magazine. In 2008, he was named one of the “Top 300 Black Businessmen” by Who’s Who of Chicago.
Widely regarded as a tastemaker and thought leader, Donté continues to influence the intersection of design, lifestyle, and entrepreneurship through strategic collaborations, speaking engagements, and media appearances.
Education & Credentials
Donté holds numerous certifications and is formally educated in architectural engineering, business marketing, graphic design, real estate, and finance.
In 2019, he earned his Entrepreneur Specialization Certification from The Wharton School of Business and is currently completing an Entrepreneurship Essentials Certification through Harvard University’s Online Studies program.
Community, Philanthropy & Leadership
Donté is the former Special Events Chair for the Italian Village Society and a Founding Member of the SideStreet Private Cigar Club in Napa Valley, California. He also serves on the Major Gifts Advisory Board for Texas Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, where he supports philanthropic strategy, donor engagement initiatives, and long-term community impact.
In addition, Donté has actively supported numerous charitable organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Across each effort, he contributes both leadership and advocacy—using his voice, influence, and experience to help advance meaningful causes and strengthen the communities they serve.
Wellness, Longevity & Personal Transformation
In parallel with building his companies, Donté is deeply committed to personal wellness and longevity.
Over the past several years, he has lost more than 60 pounds collectively, including over 30 pounds recently, through a medically guided GLP-1 program, SoulCycle training, daily walks and runs with his Goldendoodle Hampton Harlan, intermittent fasting, and a Mediterranean-forward lifestyle.
Under physician supervision, he has incorporated NAD+, B12, and glutathione therapies, alongside immune-support and magnesium supplementation—dramatically improving his asthma, stamina, and overall vitality.
What Inspires Him Most
What inspires me most about Donté is transformation—seeing what’s possible when vision, discipline, and belief align.
He is inspired by building something from nothing, watching people step into their highest version of themselves, and the quiet moments of growth that no one sees—but that change everything.
He is also deeply inspired by longevity—not just living longer, but living better. Designing a life that honors wellness, creativity, family, and legacy is everything to him.
At the core of it all is purpose—knowing that what he is building will outlive him and create opportunity, beauty, and impact for others.
Dantezo Forme is an extension of that philosophy: creating environments that don’t just look beautiful, but elevate how people live, feel, and show up in the world.
Present Day
Donté currently resides in Coral Gables, Miami, where he lives with his Goldendoodle, Hampton Harlan, while continuing to expand Dantezo Forme nationally and internationally. He also spends time in Chicago, Napa Valley, California, and Sag Harbor, New York.
For more info on Donte visit www.dantezoforme.com
