Persistence During Unprecedented Times

05/13/20 • 45 min

Mile Long Trace Interior Architecture & Interior Design

In this episode you will hear first hand how to navigate the profession of interior design. Guest Peter Harrison and Elizabeth discuss:

How to be resilient during different economic climates
How to transition from school to practice
How to approach the intimidating topic of networking
How to make yourself indispensable at a firm

“You are the driver of your professional destiny. No one is going to hand it to you. Know that whatever happens during a recession you can make things happen for yourself. It might not happen today. It might not happen tomorrow but it will happen. Do not lose sight of your goals, dreams and aspirations. I think if you are resilient and you focus on the end goal things will work out. They always do. So be tenacious and be excited, positive and ready to enter a profession that is incredibly enriching and touches so many aspects of our lives. It is very worthwhile to stick through this kind of period of uncertainty and just keep going, keep producing and being excited about interior design.” - Peter Harrison
Guest Summary:
Peter Harrison is a Interior Designer at Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership. He is a captivating emerging designer. Early on in his career he has identified how to set goals and through networking align himself with his career aspirations.

Some highlights from his career include:

Director of Student Affairs with IIDA Oregon
Bachelor in Interior Design with a Minor in Landscape Architecture from Utah State University
Portland Materials Transparency Collaborative Leadership Group
USGBC Special Programs Working Group for Green Build
Recently completed the Parson Healthy Materials Lab Program
LEED AP ID + C and Living Future Accreditation
He has a passion for sustainability, networking and paying it forward to the next generations of designers.

To read 11 Pro Tips and to reference additional professional resources visit the show notes.

To contact us with questions please reach out.
Don't forget to leave a rave review on your favorite podcast player.
Till next time keep designing y'all.

In this episode you will hear first hand how to navigate the profession of interior design. Guest Peter Harrison and Elizabeth discuss:

How to be resilient during different economic climates
How to transition from school to practice
How to approach the intimidating topic of networking
How to make yourself indispensable at a firm

Some highlights from his career include:

Director of Student Affairs with IIDA Oregon
Bachelor in Interior Design with a Minor in Landscape Architecture from Utah State University
Portland Materials Transparency Collaborative Leadership Group
USGBC Special Programs Working Group for Green Build
Recently completed the Parson Healthy Materials Lab Program
LEED AP ID + C and Living Future Accreditation
He has a passion for sustainability, networking and paying it forward to the next generations of designers.

To read 11 Pro Tips and to reference additional professional resources visit the show notes.

To contact us with questions please reach out.
Don't forget to leave a rave review on your favorite podcast player.
Till next time keep designing y'all.

Previous Episode

BC to AC Design Trends

We are all musing on how the built environment will transform in response to pandemics. Though we can not predict the future we, as designers, can start to toss ideas out there to see what will stick. Very much like the iterative process of design, the idea has to come from somewhere. Lets toss it out there, lets collaborate as an industry and start to see what will stick.

Curious about what other design professionals have published in response to pandemics. Read the full show notes to find out. Mile Long Trace

Do you have trends you are hearing and seeing in your networks. Please leave a comment in the show notes.
Engage with us on social at https://www.instagram.com/milelongtrace_podcast/.

Next Episode

Isolating the Design Process During Quarantine with Bill Bouchey

We are in week 10 of a worldwide pandemic. Many Architecture and Interior Design firms around the world have normalized the working from home culture. Yet we are left wondering where our collaborative design process is heading? We find in times of change, we as a human race are turned upside down, brought out of our comfort zone and forced to recon with thoughts that were always there but were masked by the bustling of the daily race. In this episode industry leader Bill Bouchey joins Elizabeth Lockwood to muse on:

Resetting the design process during social distancing
Debunking the working from home culture
Explore what it means to "reoccupy"
Establishing new behavioral norms and developing guiding principles that enhance the built environment
How design thinking is impacted by social distancing

Guest Summary

Bill Bouchey, FIIDA, ASID

30 years of design experience
Director of Design, Interiors for HOK and leads projects out of Los Angeles and New York
Recently admitted into the IIDA College of Fellows
Bill has experience as a thought leader in workplace, showroom and retail environments, with an emphasis on innovation and brand presence
His design sense is driven by the belief that interior design empowers people and transforms organizations
He serves on Contract magazine’s editorial advisory board and is a frequent contributor and guest speaker on design
IFMA Design Innovation Award for Touch Mudder Brooklyn Headquarters (nominated) and Design & Construction Awards (The Law Firm of Fitzpatrick, Cella, Scinto & Harper: Large Office Category)
Interior Design BOY Best of Year 2012 & 2013
SARA Society of American Registered Architects
Hot off the press, NYCxDESIGN has honored Bouchey and his team at HOK the 2020 Best Creative Office for Shiseido Cosmetics. Look for the project feature in the May issue of Interior Design Magazine.

“What are the guiding principles that might come out of this that a portion of the world will adopt, even if this pandemic is cured and goes away? Because there will be someone thinking what about the next one? How will we approach the design of the built environment to be more immediately responsive to the next one? Those are the lessons learned that continue to unpack themselves every day in the pandemic that we’re in. They are adding up to guiding principles. That is the next place that I would like myself and my peers thinking to go because I think that is where leadership around the built environment is going next.”

Bill Bouchey

To read key highlights from the show check out Mile Long Trace.
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Keep Designing Ya'll!