The Globus Design Associates Blog

Sustainable Design Collaboration Begins in the Classroom

Design for Sustainability classroom at Kean University. Photo: Suzan Globus

I've accepted a position teaching Design for Sustainability II to Earth Science and Interior Design and Industrial Design majors at Kean University.  I am especially excited to be teaching sustainability to this mix of students because interior designers recognize the need to collaborate with scientists to document the effects of interior design on the environment and building occupants in order to better understand the value of design.  Hats off to Kean for combining these disciplines in the classroom to enable the students to learn from each other and carry their comfort with collaboration into the workplace after they graduate.  Case study, anyone?

Library Furniture Surprises from NeoCon

The encouraging news in the library furniture world is that the go-to workhorse furniture lines known for manufacturing cost conscious solutions are investing in good design.  They understand or are willing to bet that:

1. Good design sells.

2. Good design doesn't have to be more expensive.

 

Here is a sampling of my list of old standards with noteworthy new additions to their product lines:

Global - Ballara, Lounge seating

Hon - Voi, Desks

KI - Learn 2,  Classroom seating

Jofco - Collective space, systems furniture

Students Collaborate to Create Successful Design Charrette

Over 100 college interior, industrial, graphics and advertising design students gathered to solve a fictitious new product launch design problem in a 3 hour charrette at Kean University's Robert Busch School of Design's "Let's Charrette" at the Thinking Creatively Conference. 

Photo: Suzan Globus  As the profession mentor of one group of 10 students, I helped them to strategically work backwards from their goal of producing a presentation board and helped them focus on the outcomes. 

Photo: Suzan Globus  After individual design development, the sub-teams selected their best concepts and presented to the group of 10.  After group consent, the sub-teams of interior, graphic and advertising students worked on store design, product design, logos and advertising campaigns.

Photo: Suzan Globus  The real value of design came from the students' collaboration across different disciplines to reach their goals.

Photo: Suzan Globus  Representatives of our group presented their concept board to the 100 plus people in the room.

Photo: Suzan Globus  The team celebrates a job well done.

Design Extends to Street Scapes

The town where my office is located recently added some lighting, benches, trash receptacles and planters to its new sidewalks. It appears to be a well-intentioned effort to make the business area more attractive and welcoming.  Unfortunately, the execution could have benefited from some design input.

Location, location location

New park bench and planter facing guard rail in front of stream. 

When seated on the new bench, ones view to the stream (not shown) is blocked by the guard rail. 

Safety

Considering that the guard rails have been erected to prevent cars from crashing into the stream below, one wonders about the logic of installing seating for people inches from speeding cars and trucks and orienting it so that one cannot see approaching danger.

Scale

This small town is a pedestrian friendly town boasting greater than average bicycle traffic due to the lack of school busses servicing the local schools.  Children on bicycles walk and ride their bicycles while depending upon the sidewalks to keep them off the streets.  Hopefully, groups of them will not be forced to circumvent the new planters and benches by walking in the street.  Smaller scale planters and waste receptacles could have alleviated the concern.

opportunity

If a portion of the money spend to improve the town was allocated to design services, the project's outcome could have exceeded the intention if not eliminated some potential long term costs.

Creative Library Interior Design Makes a Difference

There is an increase in media coverage about libraries recently with the advent of Architectural Record's spotlight on libraries and a public library winning one of Metropolis magazine's Smart Environments awards.  Using the stories to take a quick pulse on the state of notable library design shows the contribution good interior design can make.

Take, for example, the lobby of Minneapolis' Roseville Branch Library, a winner of the Metropolis contest compared to the lobby of Amsterdam Library, Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam. For context, the Roseville Branch Library is a renovation and addition unlike the Amsterdam Library which was a new construction. The Roseville Branch Library earned a LEED Gold rating.  Although Europe is decades ahead of the US in green building principles, it is unclear which were employed in designing the Amsterdam library.

Similarly, the two facilities contain dramatic two story spaces dedicated to materials display and browsing with clerestory windows, natural light, indirect lighting and white walls.  Given a similar "shell", compare the results of the interior design of each space.

 
Roseville Branch Library  Metropolismag.com Lara Swimmer
 
Openbare Bilbliotheek Amsterdam Photo:arkitip.com

Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam.  Photo: Shelley Berstein

The  interior design of the open, semi-circular materials displays for the Amsterdam library creates pockets of intrigue which invite exploration in the Amsterdam Library. The Roseville Branch Library display fixtures are visible at a glance.  Decorative pendant lighting and column mounted sconces  avoid washing the space with a uniform, flat light and mimic the highlights occuring in nature. The furnishings, floor plan and lighting in both spaces create a significant impact on the library user's experience. Which space would you prefer to use?

International Interior Design Leaders Determine Core Values

As part of an unprecedented global initiative by the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI) to create a foundation of understanding about the core value, relevance, responsibility and identity of interiors, over 100 international interior design thought leaders gathered in NYC last week to reach consensus about the foundation of the profession. I am a co-opted board member of IFI and my absence from my blog is due to preparing for and participating in the global symposium.  The symposium attendees gathered to view the outcomes from the regional think tanks held in 70 countries around the world and the global on-line survey, resolve outstanding issues and reach a consensus, termed "Outcomes Declaration".

IFI President Shashi Caan sets the agenda for the two-day meetings held in the Steelcase showroom.

Keynote speaker, Richard Farson, Ph.D., author of The Power of Design A Force for Transforming Everything, 2008, Greenway Communications, challenged us to use our "design thinking" skills to solve problems such as addiction and recidivism.

We broke into groups to address the core values of interior design. I facilitated the group assigned the topic of "Business".  We arrived at statements about the value design adds to business.

From left, Jane Kucko, interior design educator, Tennessee; John McGee, practitioner, Scotland; John Lijewski, practitioner, NYC; Karen Broshcart, student, NYC; Marco Coello, practitioner, Mexico, Kalpano Kuttiah, design researcher, Chicago. Photo: Suzan Globus

In the evening, we gathered for dinner at the MTV corporate events venue on Broadway which provided an unusual perspective of Times Square.

Photo: Suzan Globus

Like all of the attendees I spoke with, I am proud to have participated in such an historical event in the evolution of the interior design profession and am eager to read IFI's publication of the results of the symposium and survey which will be used to inform interior design practice, education, public understanding of and, hopefully, government policy.

Sticker Shock - How Designers Help When the Actual Exceeds the Estimated

I checked in with a client to see what responses he was receiving from issuing a request for quotations to fabricate a custom circulation desk for his library and found him surprised at the increase in price from the estimated price of the desk.  Although it doesn't happen frequently, increases can occur and when they do, it's important to understand why.

REASONS FOR INCREASES IN ESTIMATES

1. The estimate was prepared more than a year ago.  Most estimates are valid for 30 days.

2. The design changed after the estimate was requested.  If additional drawers, files, locks,  shelves or other storage features are added due to evolving staff needs, they will increase the bottom line.

3. The desk size grew between the time the estimate was requested and the purchase is ready to be made.  If the foot print of the desk increases, its price will as well.  By using $200 per linear foot as a rough base cost gauge, it's easy to see the costs add up when the desk size increases.

4. The client asked for additional services from the vendor.  Requesting moving existing furniture out of the way, disassembling and removing the existing circulation desk or any other ancillary service will add cost to the estimate.

5. The vendor changed fabricators.   It is not unusual for small businesses to close, move, or  be acquired by a larger company forcing the vendor to seek  pricing from a different contractor than the one who quoted the estimate originally.

These are some of the factors which can cause a difference between the estimated and actual costs.  If the difference is price is unmanageable, the interior designer can do several things to assist:

ACTIONS DESIGNERS CAN TAKE TO MITIGATE INCREASED COSTS

1. Review the quotation to identify any ancillary service costs which were not included in the budget.

2. Request an itemized quote from the vendor to review all costs for accuracy.  Understanding this will help the designer determine where to most effective cut costs if it is necessary to execute step 4 below.

3. Negotiate with the vendor as the client's representative to effect a cost savings agreeable to all.

4. Revise the design to accommodate the budget.  Revising a completed and approved design has service costs attached to it, so it is last on the list.  However if it is necessary, the designer has the resources to creatively effect cost savings without jeopardizing the integrity of the design and function.

Happy Design Holidays

It's that time of year when many of us feel like

Photo: Suzan Globus

Thanks to sustainable designer  Emily Piloton's recent post, University of San Francisco's Gleeson Library  may have set the bar for libraries with their  green tree made from reference books.

If you do find some time to put your feet up to reflect upon the year and plan for the year ahead, these industry leaders in a  BusinessWeek story make a strong case about the value of design to your business regardless of what your business is.  Here's to implementing the lessons learned in the new year.

 

Interior Design Students' Project Demonstrates the Value of Design

After Brookdale Community College Interior Design students designed a day room in the facilities for long term battered women at Ancora Psychiatric Hospital in Hammonton, NJ, they learned about the effect of their design.

Students of Patty Blaser's Interior Design Studio and Celeste Chirichello's Textiles Class teamed together to design a day room referencing the calming influence of nature.

Design inspiration drawings by Dorata Cerwas

Materials Presentation Boards by Dorata Cerwas

The hospital's facilities and medical personnel told the instructors that after the day room was installed they noted that one patient would no longer confront others in the newly redesigned day room.  They said her behavior was noticeably less aggressive within the new environment.  They also related that patients who formerly took their meal trays to separate areas within the room to eat in solitude were now eating in groups. 

The hospital has volunteered to document the behaviorial changes and share the results with the interior design instructors who will be able to share the value of interior design with other students.  I'm happy to informally share this case of the value of interior design with you.

 

 

Interior Design Leaders Discuss the Value of Design

Past Presidents of NJ Chapter of ASID (2008).  From top left: Diane Durocher, Tere Bresin, Jack Ruthaser, Art Simon. Second row: Mary Brennan, Diane Boyer, Gail Whiting. Third row: Diane Gote, Steven Levy. Fourth row: Suzan Globus, Judy Fosshage. Front row: Camille Waldron, Rona Spiegel, Gale Youngworth, Linda Potter, Mary Sferra, Ria Gulian, Karen Topjian

At the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) New Jersey chapter Council of Presidents annual meeting last night, a group of interior design leaders discussed a recurring topic - the value of interior design. Usually the conversation is prefaced by the comment, "My clients don't understand what I do." and moves to the challenge of documenting the value of interior design based on its effect on human behavior.

After current NJASID President and President-Elect Diane Evans and Sharon Draznin (not pictured) brought us up to date about their plans for the coming years, I took the opportunity to talk about the latest initiative of the ASID Foundation which addresses documenting the value of interior design. Titled Transform/ Applied Research in Interior Design and Human Behvior, the Foundation's newly created interior design research grant program, will award up to three grants of up to $35,000 each in its first year. The Foundation is requesting research proposals from interior designers, scientists and educators regarding “How interior design impacts human behavior” through November 15, 2010. Special attention will be given to collaborative teams in the evaluation of the proposals. 

The healthcare industry has been leading the way in documenting the outcomes of interior design perhaps because the results are more tangible and easier to capture than in other types of interiors and because the healthcare industry has a tradition of documenting outcomes.  Designers who practice interior design in environments other than healthcare lack the proof that design affects human behavior and well being. It is something we designers instinctively know and have witnessed but have not yet recorded.

The exciting prospect about ASID Foundation's Transform grant program is that it creates opportunity and incentive for teams of interior design practitioners, educators and scientists to capture the value of interior design and share it with all of us associated with the profession so that we may be able to create a more definitive conversation about the value of interior design and share it with our clients.