The
question
posed
for
this
blog
post
is,
“How
might
the
current
COVID
crisis
impact
design
for
the
better?”
But,
because
I
have
infinite
belief
in
the
power
of
design
to
create
positive
change,
I
prefer
to
turn
the
question
around
and
ask,
“How
might
design
impact
the
current
crisis
for
the
better?”Since
the
world
stayed
home,
there
has
been
a
proliferation
of
thoughtful
industry
dialog
and
brainstorming
about
what
comes
next
for
the
office
environment.
What
will
the
workplace
look
like
in
the
post-COVID-19
world?
How
will
it
need
to
function
in
order
to
be
successful
in
the
“new
...
Events
of
the
past
centuries,
the
past
decades,
and
most
recently
the
past
weeks
and
days,
have
painfully
and
plainly
illuminated
the
disparities
in
our
culture
and
society.
It’s
become
abundantly
clear
that
facing
these
challenges
can’t
be
done
alone
and
a
widespread
collective
effort
is
necessary
for
great
societal
change
to
take
place.
The
current
protests
and
dialogue
around
racial
injustice
have
exposed
how
much
work
really
needs
to
be
done
for
us
to
all
“be
in
this
together”—truly
confronting
racism,
injustice,
and
inequity
is
critical.
We
know
that
design
is
but
one
small
part
of
that
larger
equation—so
...
The
pandemic
has
forced
us
to
rethink
the
way
we
work
and
given
us
a
lesson
in
what
is
really
important.
It
has
been
an
interesting
experiment
that
we
could
never
have
imagined
before:
could
we,
in
this
age
of
untethered
technology,
work
remotely
all
the
time?
The
answer
is
a
resounding
“yes
we
can,”
but
it
is
not
quite
the
same
and
it
is
not
good
for
us
in
the
long
term.
It
is
interesting
that
video
conferencing
has
replaced
not
only
in-person
meetings
but
telephone
calls
as
well.
I
find
myself
doing
video
calls
for
everything
these
days
...
People
are
talking
about
the
“new
normal”
and
the
great
reset.
But
if
there’s
one
small
silver
lining
from
all
of
this,
it
might
be
that
work
from
home
works.
For
the
most
part.
Working
from
home
has
suddenly
become
a
viable
alternative
to
going
to
the
office
five-plus
days
per
week.
The
Bay
Area’s
shelter
in
place
order
happened
so
fast
there
wasn’t
time
for
an
orderly
transition.
Any
plans
for
a
gradual
shift
of
equipment,
programs,
and
staff
was
out
the
window.
We
had
no
choice
but
to
make
it
work.
There
was
a
learning
curve
for
everyone;
...
Twenty
years
ago,
Richard
and
I
were
both
on
the
IIDA
Board
when
we
hit
an
unexpected
financial
snag.
It
was
serious
enough
that
we
had
to
curtail
all
programming
and
events
while
we
sorted
out
the
mess
and
rebuilt
IIDA’s
brand
and
purpose.
While
the
circumstances
were
dire
at
the
time,
in
retrospect,
they
provided
an
opportunity
for
IIDA
to
re-
invent
itself.
All
associations
need
to
periodically
refresh
their
mandate
but
proposing
to
make
changes
or
cuts
to
established
programming
is
usually
a
tough
sell.
No
one
wants
to
give
up
anything,
which
is
why
change
takes
a
...
Listen
on
Apple
Podcasts
or
Google
PlayIn
this
episode
of
NeoConversations,
we
explore
what
it
takes
to
effectively
design
brand
character
into
a
space.
How
can
brand
values
and
purpose
be
communicated
through
materiality,
visual
language,
ambiance
and
experience?
What’s
in
the
tool
kit
needed
to
implement
a
design
program
company-wide?
In
this
episode,
Amy
Devers
talks
to
Renee
Hytry
Derrington,
International
Design
Lead
for
Formica
Group,
and
Abbott
Miller,
a
partner
at
world-renowned
design
studio
Pentagram
to
explore
all
the
nuances
of
translating
a
brand
into
a
physical
experience.
Have
a
listen:Renee
Hytry
Derrington,
International
Design
Lead
for
Formica
...
Listen
on
Apple
Podcasts
or
Google
PlayIn
this
episode
of
NeoConversations,
trusty
and
timeless
tile
is
making
its
way
into
exciting
new
territory
with
large
format
panels,
countertop
slabs
and
high
resolution
digital
printing.
The
design
opportunities
are
almost
limitless.
Listen
as
host
Amy
Devers
talks
to
Laura
Muller,
CEO
of
Four
Point
Build
Inc.,
Frank
Douglas,
VP
of
Business
Development
for
Crossville,
and
Noah
Chitty,
Directory
of
Technical
Services
for
Crossville,
to
learn
all
about
the
technology
and
possibilities
of
this
new
frontier
in
tile
surfacing.
From
left
to
right:
Frank
Douglas,
Noah
Chitty,
and
Laura
...
Forward
Fruit
is
a
Chicago-based
branded
environments
and
experiential
design
studio.
In
applying
a
strategic,
user-driven
methodology
to
hyper
creative
projects,
they
create
soulful,
on-brand
solutions
that
are
exciting,
beautiful,
and
inspire
brand-user
connections.
See
their
work
at
the
new
NeoCon
Plaza.
Forward
Fruit
leaders
Elise
Metzger
(right),
Principal,
and
Marissa
Smith
(left),
Principal,
present
a
guest
blog
with
their
recommendations
for
the
latest
and
best
spaces
to
eat,
drink,
and
celebrate
while
attending
NeoCon
2019
in
Chicago.
As
designers,
the
environment
of
our
spaces
is
almost
as
important
as
the
food.
That
said
we
still
love
those
spots
where
...
Listen
on
Apple
Podcasts
or
Google
PlayIn
this
episode
of
NeoConversations,
we
are
taking
on
the
challenge
of
designing
flexible
workplaces
-
specifically,
designing
in
power
and
data
distribution
solutions
that
can
keep
up
with
the
speed
of
evolving
technology,
business
transitions,
budget
demands
and
the
ever-changing
need
for
adaptable
power
configurations.
Frequently,
this
happens
in
pre-existing
buildings,
which
creates
its
own
set
of
unique
challenges…
so
what
are
the
creative
solutions?
Amy
Devers
talks
to
Steve
Batchelder
of
Connectrac,
Kevin
Saindon
of
Brigholme,
and
David
Meckley
of
Huntsman
Architectural
Group.
Have
a
listen:Steven
Batchelder
and
David
MeckleyThe
Connectrac
System
...
Listen
on
Apple
Podcasts
or
Google
PlayIn
this
episode
of
NeoConversations,
we
are
asking:
What
is
the
circular
economy
and
what
role
do
architects
and
designers
play
in
it?
How
can
we
design
truly
sustainable
spaces
and
specify
materials
in
which
the
entire
lifecycle
has
been
considered,
including
eventual
reuse?What
are
the
implications,
misconceptions
and
benefits
associated
with
materials
made
from
regenerated
waste?
Joining
us
today
are
two
experts
who
taking
the
lead
in
the
circular
economy...Listen
as
host
Amy
Devers
talks
to
Giulio
Bonazzi,
CEO
+
Chairman,
Aquafil
and
David
Oakey,
founder
of
David
Oakey
Designs:
...
Do you have any industry insights or an original thought piece you would like to share with the greater NeoCon audience? Email us to submit it for potential inclusion.
