i+D - September/October 2021 - 14

An
Inside
View
reparing students to take on their fi rst
professional design roles is one of the
American Society of Interior Designers'
most important functions. The planet, social equity,
and our collective health, safety, and welfare
all depend on how well they approach the built
environment. In September we were delighted to
spend time in Washington, D.C., with tomorrow's
design practitioners at SCALE: The ASID National
Student Summit.
P
SCALE was an excellent way to kick off the new
academic year. Students were refreshed, engaged
and ready to get back to work. And the caliber
of our speakers and professional participants
motivated them for the future. The opening
keynote address by Kia Weatherspoon, president
and CEO of Determined by Design, energized us
with hard-hitting insights into what diversity really
means and how it impacts the practice of design.
David Cordell's discussion " Designers' Role
in Climate Change, Health, and Equity " about
sustainability and wellness was also brilliant.
An associate principal, senior technical coordinator/
sustainability leader at Perkins+Will, Cordell was
the lead on ASID's Washington offi ce, which
was the fi rst workspace in the world to be both LEED
and WELL Platinum certifi ed. His speech appealed
to students' hearts and conveyed the important
work they will do after graduation. Their takeaway
was: " It's my job to save the world. "
The good news about the next generation of
designers is that they want to lead. At SCALE they
were exposed to the NCIDQ exam and certifi cation
process, and how to get a head start while still in
school. Earning the NCIDQ Certifi cation gives
interior designers a competitive edge in the job
market and qualifi es them to register as an interior
designer in many states.
SCALE attendees also learned about " Health,
Healing, Aging, and Design " from highly
accomplished experts like Jane Rohde, principal
of JSR Associates; Tama Duffy Day, Gensler's
principal, global leader of senior living practice;
and Barbara Huelat of Healing Design. The
impact of design on human health and wellbeing
is seen across all project types-it's no longer
just for healthcare.
ASID is always learning too. As we observe
COVID safety protocols we are reinventing how
we approach community and social gatherings.
Therefore, attendance at this year's SCALE was
capped at 125 students. It turned out that a smaller
conference meant there were more opportunities for
one-on-one discussions with ASID board members
and design leaders.
Students were able to engage more directly with
professionals on the ground to glean insights and
make new connections. With only six at each table,
we were able to have real conversations. That's
another thing we learned: Smaller groups at a table
result in fewer sidebars and more engagement.
Practitioners benefi t from these interactions too
because they're able to spot and connect with upand-coming
talent.
I left SCALE feeling hopeful about the future.
These students get it-and ASID is uniquely
positioned to help develop their future leadership
with networking, engagement, and learning.
Gary E. Wheeler, FASID, FIIDA
Chief Executive Offi cer
American Society of Interior Designers
14
i+D - September/October 2021
i+D - September/October 2021

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