Dive into pool design and learn how Design Director Brad Holley won the Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge.
Winning the 2023 Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge was a pinnacle moment in Design Director Brad Holley's unconventional journey into the world of design. Every year, this prestigious nationwide competition attracts talented pool and landscape designers, builders, and outdoor living architects who submit their designs in hopes of being recognized as the best in the industry.
Equipped with a detailed list of design requirements, a 3D model of the existing conditions, and the freedom to ignore budget restrictions, participants create truly breathtaking designs. We interviewed Brad about his design methods, visualization process, and what it took to successfully claim victory in the challenge.
How did you become a pool designer?
Many people come to the pool design industry with architectural or landscape architecture backgrounds. I’m unique in that I have no formal education in design. I was working for a commercial construction company and a client showed us how he had modeled an auto shop in SketchUp. I was blown away that there was a program out there that just let you build whatever your imagination came up with so intuitively in 3D. I started using it for home projects and was googling how to do something in SketchUp when I stumbled upon a job listing that talked about using SketchUp for pool design. The rest is history. I got the job helping out a pool designer — who just happened to be one of the top pool specialists in the country, Randy Angell, Lead Designer and Owner of Randy Angell Design.
“My love of SketchUp is what got me started in the pool design industry.”
What motivated you to enter the design competition?
After working closely with Randy for some years, he encouraged me to enter the Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge. While I had been casually following the challenge from a distance, I never thought I was capable of competing at that level. One year, Randy told me it was time. I didn’t think I was ready to enter the ring with top designers, but I realized I would never know what I could accomplish if I didn’t try.
What year did you enter the competition?
I first participated in the 2022 competition. The challenge that year was to transform a narrow backyard attached to a three-story classic Chicago Brownstone home into an incredible outdoor entertainment and relaxation oasis. It was a difficult task due to the limited space and specific requirements. However, I saw an opportunity to think outside the box and embrace a more vertical design strategy.
Surprisingly, my design perspective differed greatly from other contestants' interpretations of the project. That aspect made the competition even more fascinating — everyone had their unique vision when presented with the same canvas. My approach was the most unconventional.
Rendering from Brad’s Million Dollar Pool 2022 design.
One of the rules for the competition was that modifying the home was not allowed. Though it was vaguely defined, I respected it because clients often seek innovative outdoor solutions in real-world scenarios without drastically altering their homes. Instead of trying to change anything within the home, I decided to attach structures to it. In my experience as a designer, it's not uncommon to incorporate additions that complement the existing architecture.
Rendering from Brad’s Million Dollar Pool 2022 design.
I created a multi-level structure that seamlessly matched the home's three stories. The fourth level served as a rooftop gathering area. This structure connected to the home, extending across the yard and overlapping the roof of the detached garage. Each level offered distinct spaces, and the pool was located on the second level.
I was selected for the final part of the competition, which was comprised of five finalists out of approximately 50 contestants. The finalists attended the final judging ceremony in Las Vegas at the Pool Spa Deck Expo.
Video of Brad’s Million Dollar Pool 2022 design.
One of the critiques of my design was I created a giant structure that would require an enormous amount of engineering in the real world, and my design skirted the rules. Although I believed I was following the guidelines, the judges explained that even though I didn't modify the home itself, my design attached to it, which in the real world may require modifications. Despite losing points for this, my design still managed to impress the judges and earn a spot in the top five finalists.
I took the critique constructively and decided to step up my game the following year.
Rendering from Brad’s Million Dollar Pool 2023 Miami Vice design.
What was the scenario for the 2023 pool challenge?
The 2023 challenge was located in a hypothetical residential community in Miami Beach, Florida. The community consisted of homes with their own docks on the coastal canals. This allowed residents to park their yachts right next to their houses and easily access other ports for weekend trips or shopping. The existing home itself had a sleek and modern design, characterized by clean lines, neutral colors, and natural wood.
When we received the details of the home and surrounding yard for our designs, it was apparent that there wasn’t nearly enough space to accommodate all the features required by the competition. To try and fit all the requirements in, I started placing conceptual masses for different features to plot their placement strategically.
It was challenging. One of the major requirements was a lazy river feature, which typically requires a large amount of space. Along with that, I had to incorporate an outdoor kitchen, entertaining area, fire pit, splash pad, swimming pool, private spa, and various other elements. It became overwhelmingly complicated, and I found myself staring at the model for weeks before coming up with a solution.
Views from SketchUp of Brad’s Million Dollar Pool 2023 Miami Vice design. Scroll to see another view.
What’s your process for visualizing your ideas in 3D?
Every designer has a different process. My mentor Randy has the remarkable ability to visualize a space from multiple perspectives — all in his head. He can create an aerial plan, envision traffic flow, determine furniture placement, and ensure overall design harmony without concrete visuals. That’s not me, I need 3D.
SketchUp helps me bring my vision together. I start with inputting any existing conditions or measurements and then create rough conceptual shapes in 3D. It reminds me of playing with a pile of Legos like I did as a kid. For me, it becomes more than just work; it's a joyful experience.
“What sets SketchUp apart is its incredible intuitiveness. As someone who struggles with visualizing concepts mentally, SketchUp allows me to explore ideas freely.”
When I design, I ask myself questions: Where can I accommodate the pool? What materials should I use? Are there any additional features like entertainment spaces, cooking stations, outdoor living areas, or shade structures?
These considerations are constantly on my mind as I examine the model. My goal is to optimally place each element, ensuring all elements are cohesive with the greater design narrative. I always integrate new features with the existing architecture, making them appear as though they were intended from the start.
Rendering from Brad’s Million Dollar Pool 2023 Miami Vice design.
How do you add details to your designs?
The level of detail in my designs varies depending on my progress. Sometimes I start with a rough layout and gradually introduce more intricate elements. Other times, certain areas need immediate attention due to their potential impact on the overall design narrative. If a spot captivates my imagination, I spend more time exploring materials, conceptual plantings, and paint colors.
Once my layout and overall design are set, SketchUp's 3D Warehouse takes center stage. Its vast library of user-generated content is a treasure trove. Whether I’m looking for an exquisite grill or a bespoke chair, someone within the SketchUp community has probably already created it. The unwavering support for others and the incredible talent I see in SketchUp’s users never cease to amaze me.
I also leverage Enscape's extensive library of textures, finishes, conceptual plants, furnishings, people, and accessories to elevate the realism of my designs. These assets seamlessly integrate into SketchUp, enhancing the model without compromising its performance or overwhelming it with unnecessary complexity.
Rendering from Brad’s Million Dollar Pool 2023 Miami Vice design.
What's the difference between designing for a challenge and designing for the real world?
Budget constraints! Over the past four years, building pools has become more expensive, making them less accessible for the average homeowner — now, pools are a luxury item. Even when you work with wealthier clients, you still have budget limitations. On average, most projects cost between $200,000 and $250,000.
It’s fun to design for the competition because the budget is unlimited. The Miami Vice pool complex I designed would cost approximately $4 to $5 million to build. You have complete creative freedom to come up with the coolest idea imaginable.
Rendering from Brad’s Million Dollar Pool 2023 Miami Vice design.
What set your design apart from competitors to help you win the challenge?
Every single entry was undeniably outstanding. If there's one aspect that sets mine apart from the rest, it's the fact that it successfully fulfilled the entire wish list within the given space. I learned that I needed to follow the rules exactly from my first competition experience! Initially, it did seem impossible to include everything but I ended up doing it.
Video of Brad’s Million Dollar Pool 2023 Miami Vice design.
Did winning the competition change anything for you?
Besides the cash prize, winning the competition gave me a tremendous confidence boost! I ended up getting a new job as design director at Pure Design. Now, I’m focusing more on pool construction and sales, while before, I focused solely on design work. This new perspective helps me be a better designer, as it exposes me to our market's intricacies.
What are your favorite extensions and modeling tips?
I love Selection Toys by ThomThom. It allows you to easily select multiple lines and faces with just a few clicks. Plus, it has a handy shortcut button that lets you exclusively select faces for maximum efficiency. It's a huge time-saver!
The Random Tools extension is helpful too. If you bring in a plant from a model library and duplicate it to create more plants of that type, they can look very repetitive. With this extension, you can select all of the plants together, hit the randomizer button, and it will randomly change their scale, rotation, and shape by the parameters you specify. Adding this variation in planting saves me from having to do it manually and makes my designs look more realistic.
Rendering from Brad’s Million Dollar Pool 2023 Miami Vice design.
Will emerging AI technology change anything in the pool design industry?
With the advancements in AI technology, we are on the verge of a revolution in the building industry! AI has the potential to drastically speed up the creation of photo-realistic deliverables. Already I’m seeing it with products like SketchUp’s Diffusion — I’d love to play more with it to create renderings. I can also see designers using AI to create 3D models in the future. The possibilities are truly exciting.
Check out Brad’s Instagram to see more of his design, or send him a message on LinkedIn for more information.
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