Inclusivity is a topic of conversation that is becoming more and more addressed in the world, and it’s about time too. The world is designed to cater to what is considered ‘normal’ to the majority, while ignoring the needs of anyone who fits in their definition of ‘normal’. As a society, we are fortunately moving...
Recently I had the honor of participating in a lively discussion with a group of wonderful colleagues, gathered together by my friends Viveca Bissonette and Jeff Hollander of Hollander Design Group in San Diego, and John Rouse of Perception Studio. Our topic was “Top COVID 19 Predictions”, and I was inspired to hear all of...
As many of you know, STA closes out their week with a Living Lab at the end of each week. Even though we are working remotely these days we still find an opportunity to come together via Zoom to share stories, experiences, and design ideas. Given that travel is limited for summer vacations we took...
Recently I was honored to participate in a fascinating panel discussion entitled “Designing Spaces that Draw us Together in a Post-Pandemic World”, hosted by the Boston Architectural College as part of “BAC Talks”. The discussion explored the positive impact that design can have in this unprecedented time, at all scales, from the urban context to...
The dark cloud that is the 2020 Pandemic of COVID-19 has made this silver lining more visible than it has ever been. The earth seems to have gotten its act together and cleaned up with record breaking reduction in air pollution, globally. This graph shows direct measurements of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations at ground-level taken...
I’ve set out to write this piece several times, but have started and stopped – I wanted to be in the right mindset when I write what I hope will be something positive, but quite honestly it has been difficult to find that moment. I know I am not alone in feeling terrified, confused, and...
We are all now living in a new world - a world disrupted by something that none of us can see but that can make us very sick or kill us. As a result, the new normal is one where we modify all social conventions and most everything deemed non-essential is closed and so there...
The Contract Forum is an annual conference bringing together design industry leaders from across the country for in-depth discussions and knowledge sharing. At the last Contract Magazine Forum, I was honored to be asked to participate in a series of presentations entitled “What if…” The goal was to explore ways in which designers are using...
Recently I had the great opportunity to participate in Design Museum Boston’s “Design Museum Mornings”. The topic of my discussion was “Spaces for Innovation”, highlighting our recent projects for a variety of incubator spaces. In the last few years, STA has developed a specialization in incubator spaces, but no two spaces are alike - there...
As Interior Designers it is our job to design sustainably not only for ourselves, but also for the environment. There are several different sustainable strategies we can integrate into our designs, as well as strive to achieve LEED certification. Not only are designers realizing that it is their job to design sustainably, but manufacturers of...
What is a Co-Op? Cooperative Education is a full time, temporary employment program that gives college students the opportunity to have first hand experience within a full time job. The professional practice and ultimate understanding of what it is like to work inside your field of study not only helps with classes and projects, but...
As designers, it’s easy to get caught up in the complexity of a large project – there are so many factors, decisions, so many pieces to the puzzle of design. But sometimes a small move, something we do every day and may take for granted, is as powerful, if not more, than something large and...
As a second year Master of Interior Architecture student at the Boston Architectural College I’ve been in the classroom learning the tools and skills required to excel in the design field. Designers or future design professionals tend to be people who appreciate the visual; they learn by engaging in the processes being taught to them...
As an Interior Designer, I am often finding the need to explain or defend what I do. I either get introduced as an architect, or when I tell someone I am an interior designer, the next response is often "Oh I should have you come do my house", or "my wife has a knack for...
Last July, we visited Barcelona, and our trip was nicknamed “GaudiFest”. Visiting Barcelona is all about Gaudi. Delight, whimsy, color, inventiveness, structural wonder, innovation and overall brilliance permeate the city. Our three days were organized around Gaudi’s masterpieces – including Casa Mila, Casa Battlo, Parc Guell, and Sagrada Familia. Ever since our trip, I wanted...
Environmental Health & Engineering, Inc, (EH&E) is the leader in engineering, environmental, and health and safety consulting services. With health and environment as their core mission, their new space was designed to reflect their commitment to the health and wellness of their employees. The goals of the design were to design to WELL standards, to...