This year's theme, "Design Ahead" will come to life through an exceptional conference program headlined by three visionary thought leaders. Plus, daily Featured Presentations from industry experts will dive into the latest trends and insights.
Programming registration opens April 1.
Design is the
undercurrent to our lives. But how do you create experiences that touch myriad
people, with different needs, goals, and interests? Today, innovation in design
is critical to the lifeblood of creators, and a top priority for clients and
consumers alike. Creating and designing inclusive spaces and experiences
doesn't happen by accident. Come learn practical tips and hear relevant use
cases to create for multifaceted consumers.
Annie Jean-Baptiste is a business disrupting tech executive who builds for the
21st century needs of consumers. She transforms companies into human centered,
authentic brands that can tap into unlocked growth opportunities. She’s brought
her forward-looking, data driven approach to game-changing products serving
billions of customers globally. Her talk will demonstrate how designers of all
kinds can leverage lived experiences to fuel innovation, creating more holistic
experiences for everyone.
About
Annie Jean-Baptiste is a business disrupting tech executive and the author of Building for Everyone, the first book about building inclusive products across the intersections of 12 dimensions of diversity. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with degrees in International Relations and Political Science with distinction. She formerly served as an intrapreneur in residence at the University Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, a facilitator for Penn’s Chief Learning Officer Business Acumen program and a member of both the CTA Health Equity and Access Leadership (HEAL) Coalition and sits on the IEEE&’s Executive committee, Ethically Aligned Design committee and co-chairs the DEI committee. She’s been inducted into the Haitian Roundtable’s 1804 society as “One to Watch” and inducted as one of the 30 Black Stars for Face to Face Africa in 2019. Annie is a former American Heart Association spokesperson and a One Young World ambassador, focused on healthy lifestyles in underserved communities. She is also a former Hack the Hood mentor. Annie is also the Director of Product Inclusion & Equity at Google. She leads Product Inclusion & Equity strategy across the company and consults with various Alphabet companies, including consultation, communications, scale and research and created the movement as a way to ensure historically marginalized users felt validated throughout the product design process. She formerly led & created programs related to diversity talent management and career development within several technical product areas within Google. She’s been covered in The Wall Street Journal, Vogue, Essence Magazine, TechCrunch, Forbes, Business Insider, Teen Vogue, InStyle, MSNBC, CNBC, ABC, Cheddar, Business Insider, the Huffington Post, the Root, the Council of Fashion Designers of America Annual Report, The Miami Times, Bustle, Boston Globe and Fortune Magazine and was voted into Ebony Magazine’s power 100 list for 2022 and ADCOLOR in tech award, Boston Design Week’s 2024 Social Impact Winner, and currently serves as a Webby’s Executive Judge. She most recently was announced as a United Nations Equity 2030 Executive Champion.
Design is one of the most powerful forces in our
lives, and the most exciting. Alice Rawsthorn, author of Design as
an Attitude and cofounder of the Design Emergency podcast, will share her
vision of design at NeoCon 2025 as an eclectic, open-ended agent of change that
can help us all to live safely, fairly, and prosperously by developing
ingenious solutions to the complex social, economic, and ecological challenges
we face. She will also explore how the NeoCon community can benefit
from this new concept of design at a time when we are becoming increasingly
sophisticated in our expectations of the spaces where we work and play.
About
Alice Rawsthorn is an award-winning design critic and author, whose books include Design as an Attitude, Hello World: Where Design Meets Life and Design Emergency: Building a Better Future, co-written with Paola Antonelli, senior curator of design at MoMA, New York. Alice’s weekly design column for The New York Times was syndicated worldwide for over a decade. In all her work, she champions design’s potential as a social, political and ecological tool. Born in Manchester and based in London, Alice is a founding member of the Writers for Liberty campaign for human rights and the global advisory council of the DemocracyNext research and action institute. She was chair of trustees at Chisenhale Gallery, Hepworth Wakefield and Michael Clark Company, and a trustee of Whitechapel Gallery and Arts Council England. Alice is a co-founder, with Paola, of the Design Emergency podcast, YouTube channel and research platform, which investigates design’s role in forging a fairer future.
Technology & A.I. are dramatically changing what’s possible in our world. Our challenge as we create new things is to dislodge from the comfort of what we already know. Chris created Shazam after being told by every “expert” that his outlandish idea was impossible. It was an idea far ahead of its time – eight years before iPhone apps even existed. In this presentation, Chris helps audiences imagine and then create new visions for the future. He inspires with jaw-dropping stories about creating Shazam and shows how innovation comes from not just an idea, but from a series of insights to overcome obstacles along the way.
About
Chris Barton wanted a way to identify songs anywhere he heard them. There wasn’t one – so he invented an app called Shazam. Chris’s creation is nothing short of pure magic. Chris seeks to delight people by using technology to make seemingly impossible ideas come to life. Shazam is just one of them. It changed the way the world discovers music and laid the groundwork for the consumer AI industry we know today. In addition to creating Shazam, Chris holds twelve patents and played key roles in the early days of Google and Dropbox. Chris’s newest venture, Guard, aims to use AI to detect drowning in swimming pools – a never-before accomplished effort. In his speeches, Chris’s story and storytelling completely captivate audiences. He inspires people to make big things happen in their organizations – to create magic in defiance of the obstacles.
Tom Polucci, AIA, IIDA
Firmwide Director of Interiors, HOK
Jessica Bantom, Assoc. IIDA
Global Leader of Equity, Diversity, and Belonging, DLR Group
Joey Shimoda, FAIA, FIIDA
Co-Founder, Shimoda Design Group
Erin Jennings, IIDA, AIA, NCIDQ, NCARB
Architect, Interior Designer and Educational Market Leader, Luminaut
Mark Bryan, NCIDQ
Senior Foresight Manager, Future Today Institute
What will the future of public space look like – and how will design address the evolving needs of the next generation, starting today? IIDA and our Futurist-in-Residence, Mark Bryan of the Future Today Institute, convene an all-star panel for a research-based exploration of how the spaces of the future can create a sense of welcome and a sense of agency for all. Join us for a deeply relevant discussion that ranges from neuroscience to cultural competence, and includes actionable insights and strategies that will shape public space for decades to come.
Speakers:
Tom Polucci, FIIDA, serves as the Director of Interiors and Chair of Interiors Board at HOK. Tom’s responsibilities and achievements in the firm’s high-profile design market are remarkable. He has over 30 years of expertise in managing the design of corporate office projects for some of the most recognizable companies in the world. He has served as the principal designer on hundreds of projects. Educated, trained, and licensed as an architect, Tom brings a unique perspective to interior design; his focus is on creating an exceptional three-dimensional space for clients. Tom leads numerous initiatives at HOK including the annual publication HOK Forward as well as numerous white papers on neurodiversity, sustainability, tech clients and most recently wealth management. Tom works closely with the leadership of Experience Design, HOK’s studio dedicated to branding and client experience as well as the Consulting and WorkPlace leadership teams. Outside of Tom’s responsibilities at HOK, Tom is a member of the Board of DIFFA National and a member of the IIDA Equity Council.
Jessica Bantom, Assoc. IIDA, serves as the Global Leader of Equity, Diversity, and Belonging at DLR Group. With over 20 years of experience, she works diligently to help designers increase their cultural competence so they can create in ways that honor humanity. At DLR Group Bantom develops and leads equity initiatives and outreach to ensure their culture and commitments resonate with all employee-owners, instilling an authentic sense of belonging. She is a member of their executive team and partners with firm leaders to move the firm to a consistently equitable, diverse, and inclusive design culture.
Joey Shimoda is curious about anything beautifully designed. A lifetime of searching has created an exceptional architect, planner, and interior designer. His expertise, passion and thoughtfulness lead to inspired and tailored solutions. Born in Alabama and educated in California, wanderlust has led him to live in Florence and London. In 2000, he and Susan Chang founded Shimoda Design Group in a loading dock in the artist district of Los Angeles. Notable clients include; Rolex, Bad Robot Productions, TOMS, Steelcase, Bloomberg and Tishman Speyer. Joey is one of the rare designers who is a Fellow in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).
Erin Jennings, IIDA, AIA, NCIDQ, NCARB is an architect, interior designer, visionary, and Educational Market Leader for Luminaut. She fosters passion and compassion through elevating the human experience in the built environment; with focusing on how the design imprint can impact positive behavioral, cognitive, and physical growth. Jenning’s research and design practice brings over 20 years of experience studying the psychology of space and the impact the environment has on overall human well-being. She has worked on several award-winning new construction and renovation projects with many public and academic libraries, schools and communities, integrating best practices and evidence-based design techniques into every project. Her deep passion subsists in creating dynamic and immersive learning environments, where she brings strong leadership and a multi-disciplinary approach to each project she designs. Jennings believes that successful spatial experiences are built from innovative approaches coupling empathy, design technicality, and environmental responsibility.
Moderated by Mark Bryan.
Mark Bryan is a Senior Foresight Manager at the Future Today Institute and leads the Built Environment, Hospitality, Retail, Restaurants & CPG practices. He has also authored and provided insights into the Supply Chain, Logistics, and Manufacturing industries. Prior to FTI, Mark worked as a workplace strategist, designer, design researcher, and futurist for clients across the country, most recently through his role as Director of Innovation + Research and Senior Interior Designer. Mark’s portfolio of clients includes national foundations, global CPG companies, international associations, product manufacturers, national retail brands, higher education institutions, nonprofits, multi-family developers, healthcare systems, senior living facilities, restaurants, and large corporate clients. Mark has developed research surrounding what leaders need to know about the future of workplace culture and authored several whitepapers on topics such as co-living strategy, distance learning, and senior living facilities. In his work at FTI, Mark has explored the future of communities, digital interactions, supply chain and logistics, geographic cities, the workplace, immersive experiences, hotels and restaurants, design, manufacturing, urban planning, engineering, and artificial intelligence’s impact on various industries and sectors.
Lee Pasteris, NCIDQ
Design Principal, Gensler
Dr. D'Wayne Edwards
President, Pensole Lewis College
Cindy Tyeskey-Gage
Senior Vice President, Global Employee Relations, Salesforce
Mark Wilson
Global Design Editor, Fast Company
Four years after offices shut down for the pandemic and working from home became commonplace, the debate rages on as to whether employees need to return to a literal office to innovate. For this lively discussion, we’ve assembled perspectives in office design, product design, and digital design who will establish, not just if we are returning to the old way of work, but what a progressive future of work should look like.
Speakers:
Lee Pasteris partners with clients to create distinctive designs that transform context into compelling stories and unparalleled experiences. She is dedicated to expressing the individual character of each space through extraordinary interior design solutions. Blending her passion for design, global culture and wellness, Lee brings a distinctive perspective to her work. She leverages her broad experience and insatiable curiosity to craft experiential designs that resonate with each clients' unique personality and brand. Drawing inspiration from her own fitness-focused lifestyle as an avid runner, swimmer and martial artist, Lee designs spaces that foster connections between people while enhancing wellness and sustainability. Her enthusiasm, creativity and collaborative spirit translate to inspiring and timeless design solutions on a variety of high-profile projects. As a Design Principal in the Gensler LA office, Lee promotes a research-driven process, continually seeking innovative ways to incorporate materials into architectural spaces. Through a holistic approach to design, she seeks to spread a vision of enduring beauty, functionality and refinement. Lee’s knack for bringing rich textures and unexpected finishes together with practical functionality has made her a go-to expert on a wide variety of projects. One of her passions is researching materials and how they can be incorporated in innovative ways—from architecture and interior design to carpet and furniture design. She has also received Gensler Research Grants for the study of high-performance fibers and is an accomplished product designer.
Dr. D’Wayne Edwards is a visionary leader in design education and innovation. One of his most significant achievements is acquiring and reopening Detroit’s closed HBCU, merging it with his academy to establish Pensole Lewis College (PLC), the nation’s first and only design-focused HBCU, where he serves as president. PLC is also the first HBCU to reopen after closure—earning recognition from Fast Company as one of the world’s most innovative design companies. Under his leadership, PLC has placed over 800 students into careers and forged partnerships with leading companies such as Target, Carhartt, PepsiCo, the NBA, Logitech, Foot Locker, GM, and MillerKnoll. His longstanding partnership with MillerKnoll has led to a groundbreaking Interior Design Masterclass, where students learn from the industry's best as they redesign all of the design studios in the college. This partnership has also led to the creation of increased diverse talent pipelines into the design industry, reinforcing his commitment to reshaping access and opportunities in the field. Throughout his illustrious career, Edwards’ mission has been to leave the industry better than he found it, making the conversation around diversity a non-issue. He holds over 50 patents and has designed more than 500 footwear styles for legendary athletes and recording artists, including Michael Jordan, Derek Jeter, Carmelo Anthony, Tupac, The Notorious B.I.G., and Nas. In 2010, he founded PENSOLE, the first academy in the U.S. solely dedicated to footwear design. To date, PENSOLE has placed more than 500 alumni in roles at industry giants such as Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Puma, Vans, Timberland, The North Face, JORDAN, COACH, and Zegna. A respected educator and speaker, Edwards has lectured at top institutions worldwide, and in 2019, ArtCenter awarded him an honorary doctorate in recognition of his contributions to design. Further realizing his vision of empowering the next generation, he launched JEMS by PENSOLE, the first Black-owned footwear factory in the U.S., giving young Black designers the resources to create and build their own brands. His work continues to redefine what’s possible in design, business, and education, ensuring that diverse voices not only enter the industry but lead its future.
Cindy Tyeskey-Gage is seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience in high-tech and telecommunications. Her career includes significant roles in project management, sales and global call centers, notably leading Oracle's global advisory board team before joining Salesforce over a decade ago. She holds degrees in Economics, Telecommunications and an MBA focused on Organizational Behavior. At Salesforce, Cindy has been instrumental in launching the first six industry advisory boards and advancing Executive Programs by creating Account-Based Programs for high-value customers, transforming the go-to-market strategy. Currently, she leads the Global Center for Excellence for Employee Relations (ER), where she has introduced smart technology, automation, and AI to enhance ER's effectiveness, providing valuable business insights and trends. Her leadership is redefining the company's approach to social geopolitical influences, employee experience and risk management
Moderated by Mark Wilson.
Mark Wilson is the Global Design Editor at Fast Company. He's spent the last 15 years writing about design, technology, and culture for publications including National Geographic, GQ, and Esquire.
Cheryl Durst, Hon. FIIDA
Executive Vice President and CEO, IIDA
Ready to support the newest members of our design community? Join IIDA members, chapter leaders and more as we recognize design’s young talent and celebrate the expansion of our Design Your World pathway program to a brand new city! We'll gather on THE MART Grand Stair for a high-energy afternoon that will include a mini-documentary screening and an inside look at this first-of-its-kind success story in design education and inclusion. IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO Cheryl S. Durst will lead a discussion with design leaders who have become mentors and educators, sponsors who've made deep connections to design's next generation, and students who are on the path to success in design. Take a time-out with IIDA — it's the best way to spend an afternoon at NeoCon.
About
An exceptional communicator, innovator, and visionary leader, Cheryl S. Durst has spurred progress, driven change, and encouraged the expansion of the interior design industry. As the Executive Vice President and CEO of the International Interior Design Association, Cheryl is committed to achieving broad recognition for the value of design and its significant role in society. With 15,000 members across 58 countries, Cheryl oversees the strategic direction of IIDA, setting an agenda that leads the industry in creating community, advancing advocacy and continuing decades of work toward equity. Cheryl is a member of the International WELL Building Institute Governance Council; as well as a Trustee for Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art and the NYSID. She has been referred to by Interior Design magazine as “an ambassador for innovation and expansion, and a visionary strategist.” Cheryl was inducted into the prestigious Interior Design Hall of Fame in 2016 as the recipient of its first-ever Leadership Award. She is the first African American woman to be inducted into the industry's Hall of Fame. A lifelong knowledge enthusiast and voracious reader who has considered librarian, astronaut and journalist as potential careers, Cheryl never walks away from meeting someone without gleaning a bit of their story — a talent she currently employs on her podcast, The Skill Set, which focuses on the intangible skills that make us good at what we do.
Richard P. Taylor, PhD
Professor of Physics, Psychology and Art, University of Oregon
Martin Lesjak, Architect and Designer
Co-Founder and Design Director, INNOCAD architecture and 13&9 Design
Anastasija Lesjak, Dr. med. univ.
Co-Founder, CEO and Creative Director 13&9 Design, Co-Founder of ScienceDesignLab
Imagine stepping into a space that makes you feel calm and focused—a space that feels restorative. This is the profound impact of the ScienceDesignLab’s innovative work in fractal-based designs. Join Dr. Richard Taylor, Anastasija Lesjak and Martijn Lesjak- founding members of the ScienceDesignLab, an international collaboration of scientists, artists and designers - as they share how they have channeled the power of these intricate, stress-reducing, and repeating patterns found in nature to create fractal-based designs scientifically proven to reduce stress, enhance creativity and promote wellbeing.
Speakers:
Richard Taylor is a Professor of Physics, Psychology and Art and currently is Head of the Physics Department at the University of Oregon. He has a Ph.D. and D.Sc. in physics and a Masters degree in art theory. He has worked in the USA, UK, Canada, Japan, Australia, Sweden, and New Zealand, and has published more than 300 papers. This includes 11 papers in Nature and 3 in Science. In addition to his career in science, he is a trained painter and photographer. He adopts an interdisciplinary approach to studying natural patterns called fractals. His main focus is Bioinspiration – exploring the favorable properties that make fractals so prevalent in nature and applying them to artificial systems. He has studied fractals in physics, psychology, physiology, geography, architecture and art.
Architect Martin Lesjak co-founded Austrian-based INNOCAD architecture in 1999 and has since completed numerous projects of diverse sizes and scopes in architecture and interior design such as residential, office, hospitality, healthcare, mixed-use, educational, public, and retail. His transdisciplinary team is renowned for their “out of the box” thinking and their analytical and pragmatic approach to architecture and design by creating solutions with purpose and meaning.
Lesjak's foresight and expertise in architecture, design, and craft – as well as an affinity for art – has guided his firms in innovative directions. Together with partners, he leads multifaceted international projects combining creativity without boundaries.
In addition to many signature corporate, housing, and institutional works, current projects include an international school in King Abdullah Economic City (UAE), a competence center for MAM Health & Innovation and the first Radisson RED hotel in Vienna (AT) as well as a new housing product, that combines serviced living and co-living.
Together with Dr. med. univ. Anastasija Lesjak, he founded the product design studio 13&9 Design. The award-winning firm develops concepts that take users out of their daily routines in an aim to experience personalization, creativity, innovation, well-being, biophilia, and social and environmental connectivity. The team works as a design studio for international companies developing product collections, while also operating as a label producing their own products with small-scale manufacturers, in turn supporting creative growth in their local area. Their design process seeks to find an added value, “the soul,” to explore consciousness in design and its craft so that users are able to bond emotionally and intuitively to the subject. This open relationship between user and design confronts unsustainable consumption with a holistic commitment to the environment.
Pursuing design strategies that are based on the scientifically well-founded analysis of stress-reducing concepts in the built environment, 13&9 formed the ScienceDesignLab with leading scientist and physicist, Professor Dr. Richard Taylor from the University of Oregon and Fractals Research Laboratory (USA). The lab developed a Fractal Library with refined patterns for broader applications that serve as a versatile resource for designers and architects.
Lesjak is a frequent lecturer and speaker at several universities and worldwide events, and also received one of the architecture and design community’s top honors, “Designer of the Year 2015” by Contract Magazine in the United States, followed by “Architect of the Year 2016” by BUILD Magazine in the United Kingdom. Over the years, his work has been published internationally and recognized with various awards, honors, and nominations in both architecture and interior design.
Dr. med. univ. Anastasija Lesjak is CEO and Creative Director of 13&9 Design, a transdisciplinary product design firm in Graz (AT) that develops projects across multiple categories such as furniture, lighting, acoustics, textiles, accessories, as well as exhibition and sound design. Her diverse background, with a doctor degree at Medical University of Graz and product design expertise, she bridges the gap between science and use in practice as well as enhances her team’s cross-disciplinary process. As head of concepts and product development at 13&9 Design, she works with an international team of designers, scientists, universities, product developers, manufacturing partners contributing to the innovative concepts for health and well-being in the workplace, education, hospitality, public and private spaces. One of her main areas of focus concerns research into perception and the effects of specific patterns that occur in nature. These patterns have the greatest significance in the built environment, where people have little to no access to nature. From this scientific interest came the collaboration with one of the leading scientists and physicists in this field, Professor Richard Taylor from the University of Oregon and Fractals Research (USA). In 2017, they co-founded ScienceDesignLab with the mission to create science-informed, human-based fractals for application in the built environment. In addition to her role as Creative Director of 13&9, she also consults for INNOCAD architecture. Lesjak is a frequent speaker at diverse universities and international events and was awarded with the title “Product Designer of the Year 2019” by Interior Design Magazine (US).
Ian Preston
Project Designer, Partners by Design
Mar Tenas i Bastida
Senior Director of Procurement, Real Estate, and Workplace Operations, Relativity
Al Fiesel
Executive Director, LJC
Jan Parr
Contributer, Crain's Chicago Business
Find out how the upper floors of the Macy’s building were transformed into office space for a food ingredients company and, how an old bank building in Chicago’s Financial District became the new HQ for a software firm. Both were designed to make employees truly want to get back to the office in this post-pandemic work hybrid environment.
Speakers:
With years of experience, and more than six at Partners by Design, Ian Preston, Project Designer, brings creativity, dedication, and fun to each project, aiding clients from design conception through completion. His background in hospitality management gives him a uniquely fresh approach to design that translates into thoughtful, considered spaces. Ian’s experience includes a range of project scopes and scales, from local businesses to globally recognized firms, in the technology, healthcare, media, residential, and finance industries. Acting as lead designer, Ian is able to communicate effectively to the project team and can speak to both the technical and creative sides of his role. His design translation skills, attention to detail, and creative eye produce forward-looking spaces and experiences, all while being a dependable teammate to his project teams. In his free time, Ian enjoys exploring the great city of Chicago, finding new places to drink and dine, and taking his willful-spirited dog, Dusty, on long walks along the lake.
Mar Tenas i Bastida is the Senior Director of Procurement, Real Estate, and Workplace Operations at global legal technology company Relativity. With more than 15 years of experience in the technology sector, specializing in high-growth companies, Mar is a versatile leader driving the continuous development of workplace programs to enhance employee experience and operational efficiency. In her role, she oversees global real estate transactions and portfolio management, workplace experience strategy and execution, and future of work enablement initiatives. Mar is a trusted thought partner to Relativity employees across functions and around the world with a strong reputation for developing high-performance teams. Over the span of just 3 years, she spearheaded the relocation and buildout of three of Relativity’s offices (London, Krakow, and the company’s headquarters in Chicago), all major undertakings that required careful coordination with thousands of people. Mar was pivotal in ensuring the new work environments were designed to be spaces where innovation, comfort, and well-being come together to enhance the overall employee experience.
Al Fiesel is executive director at LJC, is a full-service design and architecture firm based in Chicago. Al has over 30 years of experience in the design industry. His areas of expertise include programming, lease negotiations, schematic design, design development, initial budget development, issuance of contract documents, and construction administration. Throughout Al’s career, he has delivered over 58M SF of architecture, corporate shell and core, and interior projects
Moderated by Jan Parr.
Jan Parr, a contributor to Crain's Chicago Business, has been creating quality content for magazines and the web for more than 30 years. Most recently, she was assistant managing editor of Crain’s Chicago Business, where she created the publication’s popular “Coolest Offices” feature. A longtime editor at Chicago magazine, she became a specialist in start-ups, founding three magazines for the city brand: Chicago Home + Garden, Chicago Shops, and Chicago Visitor. Jan created Chicago magazine’s first online blog, Design Dose. She also founded Online Investor magazine, a consumer publication; Dividends, a custom publication for Staples small-business customers; and was on the start-up team for Connect-Time, a magazine newspaper insert instructing readers about what was then the fledgling world of the Internet. Jan was a reporter for Forbes in its Chicago bureau and news editor of Crain’s Electronic Media. She is the author of three books, including Chicago Spaces: Inspiring Interiors, as well as two titles for young adults: The Young Vegetarian’s Companion and Amelia Earhart: First Lady of Flight. Her byline has appeared in national and local publications.
Kay Sargent, FASID, FIIDA, CID, LEED® AP, MCR.w, WELL AP
Senior Principal, Director of Thought Leadership, Interiors, HOK
Tara Cunningham
CEO, Beyond-Impact
Janet Roche, MDS, CAPS
CEO and Co-Founder, Trauma-informed Design Society
Tracy Brower, PhD, PhD, MM, MCR.w
Vice President of Workplace Insights, Steelcase
Achieving neuroinclusion in the workplace requires an integrated corporate culture built upon intentional strategies covering design standards through operational policies. In this feature presentation, subject matter experts will draw upon their deep experience and research to share best practices in designing for a neuroinclusive environment and supporting a neurodivergent workforce.
Attendees will gain insight on how creating a neuroinclusive environment celebrates various ways of thinking and the value this brings to a corporate culture.
Speakers:
Kay Sargent, FASID, FIIDA, CID, LEED® AP, MCR.w, WELL AP; Senior Principal, Director of Thought Leadership, Interiors; HOK With 40 years of experience, Kay is an award-winning designer and recognized expert on workplace design, strategy and designing for neuroinclusion. Issues. She currently serves as Director of Thought Leadership, Interiors, for HOK and sits on HOK’s Board of Directors. In 2023 Kay was appointed to the Delos Advisory Board, the founding organization behind the WELL Standards and the IWBI, International Well Building Institute. In 2020 she was named ASID’s Designer of Distinction. Kay is a member of both American Society of Interior Designers’ College of Fellows and the International Interior Design Association’s College of Fellows, a select body of designers whose work has significantly influenced the profession. Kay currently serves on the ASID’s Foundation Research Taskforce; George Washington University Advisory Council; CoRETech / Real Comm advisory; the IWBI Health Advisory Team and the Advisory Boards for I+S and WorkDesign magazines. During her career she has also served on the International Boards of CoreNet Global, AVIXA, IFI - International Federation of Interior Designers /Architects, ASID, IIDA, NCQLP and the Advisory Board of Virginia Tech School of Architecture and Design and NVCC. She is an active member of IFMA and co-founder of the IFMA Workplace Evoluntionaries, WE community and serves as an Executive committee for WE. In 2021 she was selected from her field of peers to provide Congressional Subject Matter Expert Testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives on “Federal Real Estate Post-COVID-19: A View from The Private Sector.” Kay also serves on the GSA Diversity taskforce and has authored a comprehensive book on neurodiversity entitled “Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces.”
Tara Cunningham; CEO; Beyond-Impact Tara Cunningham is the CEO of Beyond-Impact, a social enterprise focused on creating neuroinclusive workplaces. Tara is an internationally recognized leader in neurodiversity and disability inclusion, with extensive experience in transforming corporate cultures and public policy from Goldman Sachs to Luke’s Lobsters. Brian Cowan, Ireland’s An Taoiseach, appointed Tara to the National Disability Authority where she also served as the Irish representative as an Expert Evaluator for the European Commission. Tara's impactful advocacy includes speaking at the United Nations on World Autism Awareness Day. As an Adjunct Professor at Ocean County College in New Jersey and a widely published author on DEI and neuroinclusivieness, Tara continues to influence and educate on best practices for creating and harnessing truly inclusive environments.
Janet Roche, MDS, CAPS; CEO and Co-Founder; Trauma-informed Design Society Janet Roche is a leader in designing for health and wellness. She received her Master's in Design for Human Health from the Boston Architectural College (BAC), where she remains an adjunct instructor teaching Environmental Health, Human Conditions + Design, Biophilia, and courses on Trauma-informed Design. She mentors BAC students in various work-study programs to examine health determinants within the built environment. With a B.S. in Social Work from Boston University, a Certificate of Business and Management from Harvard University Extension School, and nearly two decades of owning her own production company, she is now combining her passions through Janet Roche Designs, LLC to pursue real design solutions to the human condition. In 2019 she launched her podcast, Inclusive Designers™. In 2020 she started the Trauma-informed Design Society along with J. Davis Harte, PhD., and later, Christine Cowart. The society presents on Trauma and Trauma-informed Design for marginalized populations and consults on projects around the world through Trauma-informed Design Consultants, LLC. The society's book, Trauma-informed Design Framework: A Framework for Designers, Architects, and Other Practitioners, is out now.
Moderated by Tracy Brower.
Tracy Brower, PhD, MM, MCR.w; Vice President of Workplace Insights; Steelcase Dr. Tracy Brower is a PhD sociologist studying happiness, work-life fulfillment and the future of work. She is the author of The Secrets to Happiness at Work and Bring Work to Life. She is the vice president of workplace insights with Steelcase and a senior contributor to Forbes and Fast Company. Tracy’s work has been translated into 22 languages, and her TEDx talk has been viewed 8.1 million times. In addition, she is an award-winning speaker with over 25 years of experience working with global clients to achieve business results. Tracy is on the advisory board for Kids Food Basket and for the CoDesign Collaborative. In addition, she is a coach and advisor for the Center for Leadership at Hope College and an advisor to the Michigan State University Master of Industrial Mathematics Program. She is a award-winning faculty member for CoreNet Global and for Hacking HR. Tracy’s work has been featured on CBS News, TEDx, The Wall Street Journal, Work-Life Balance in the 21st Century (book), Globe and Mail (Canada), InsideHR (Australia), HR Director (UK), T3N (Germany), Morning Wave in Busan (South Korea), Real Estate Review Journal, Fortune, Inc. Magazine, HBR (France), multiple podcasts and more. Tracy holds a PhD in Sociology, a Master of Management in Organizational Culture, and a Master of Corporate Real Estate with a workplace specialization. You can find her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Goodreads, Unsplash (photography) or at tracybrower.com
Haley Nelson, NCIDQ, ASID, LEED AP, WELL AP
Design Director, IA
Suzanne Lefebvre, CID, IIDA, WELL AP
Associate Vice President, Senior Project Designer, CannonDesign
Jessica Collins, IIDA, NCIDQ, LEED GA, WELL AP
Senior Associate | Director of Design, Interiors, HOK
Faraz S. Shah
Brand Director, Turf Design
Joanne Duka-Ragadio
Senior Interior Designer, TETER
Teresa Humphrey, ASID Affiliate, LEED AP ID + C
Director Commercial Specifications, Wilsonart
Royce Epstein, ASID Affiliate, LEED AP
Senior Director of Design Insights, Mohawk Group
Relevant topics such as inclusivity and connectivity are top of mind for interior designers and end users alike when creating spaces of consequence. What do these themes mean when put into action and practice through design? How can we co-create a new definition of design that encompasses these goals?
Join us for an aspirational panel discussion with industry leaders from the ASIDx10 Collective. The collective is comprised of interior designers and industry partners that share insights about the A&D community through the lens of Live, Work, Learn, Play, and Heal.
The collective has addressed this with the goal of moving towards a more holistic ecosystem and approach to design that includes mentorship, advocacy for users, well-being, emotive experiences in the built environment, and resilience. These concepts and more will be addressed in this engaging panel discussion amongst ASIDx10 Collective members and moderated by the collective’s co-chairs.
Speakers:
With expertise as a workplace designer and strategist, Haley Nelson focuses on the cultivation of original insights that support the creation of places for people and organizations to thrive. Haley is currently serving as one of three National Interior Design Practice Leaders at HGA, where she is responsible for connecting and empowering designers while elevating interior design excellence for all project types across the firm. Many of Haley’s projects have achieved the highest levels of certification for sustainability and well-being, have been published, and have won design and sustainability awards. Haley is a thought-leader and has presented at numerous venues on how design can positively impact people.
Suzanne Lefebvre takes an empathetic, holistic approach to creating transformative spaces. She tailors designs to each community and organization, ensuring every decision enhances human experience and well-being. She leads her teams in translating client brands and visions into progressive, responsive environments. With a deep understanding of storytelling and experiential design, she creates spaces that engage the senses, evoke emotion, and leave lasting impressions. For her, great design is about listening, patience, and perseverance—ultimately crafting spaces that are both functional and beautiful.
Jessica Collins is the Director of Design, Interiors in HOK’s Dallas studio. As a process driven creative, she works collaboratively with clients and project teams, taking pride in not just the end result but also the service, delivery and design experience. Jess approaches design with ingenuity, client-driven solutions and interdisciplinary thinking to create curated and authentic spaces that celebrate the client’s brand, values and ethos while elevating the human experience. Jess has participated in panel discussions about workplace strategy and employee engagement and has appeared in multiple publications as author and designer. She previously served on the International Interior Design Association’s Southern California Board of Directors and was included in the American Society of Interior Design’s “Ones to Watch” awards in 2022. Jess is currently involved in The Real Estate Council as part of the Programs Committee and is a founding member of ASID’s x10 Collective.
At Turf, Faraz Shah is the Brand Director, where he’s building a brand that connects with aspiring architects and interior designers. He’s all about creating an experience that speaks directly to the people who shape the built environment. Whether he’s teaming up with designers, connecting with future industry leaders, or shaping the brand’s story, Faraz ensures that Turf leverages its acoustic solutions to add beauty, creativity, and well-being to spaces where people live, work, and create. Great design goes beyond aesthetics—it’s about how spaces can make you feel and how well they serve the people using them. Faraz approaches every project with curiosity and empathy, always striving to understand what makes a space truly resonate. With over 15 years of experience spanning product development, branding, and marketing, Faraz brings a unique blend of technical expertise and creative insight. Faraz’s foundation in Industrial Design has fueled his passion for building better products and spaces through understanding, narrative, and purposeful design. He is also a host of the Sense of Space podcast.
Joanne Duka-Ragadio earned her BFA in Interior Architecture and Design from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California. With over 15 years of experience, she is a multidisciplinary designer who has led the design of transformative interiors for some of California’s largest and most influential clients across various sectors, including workplace, hospitality, and education. As a Senior Interior Designer at TETER, Joanne supports all California offices, where she is a people-first leader. She leverages her thought leadership, industry connections, and best practices to elevate the firm’s design portfolio. Known for her collaborative and creative approach, Joanne brings an energetic and engaging style to the design process, making it both exciting and enjoyable for clients and colleagues alike. Joanne is also a passionate advocate for making a difference in the industry. She currently serves as the Director of the IIDA Fresno City Center, was recognized as one of the ASID Ones to Watch winners in 2023, and volunteers as a mentor for design students.
Moderated by Royce Epstein and Teresa Humphrey.
Royce Epstein is a 30+ year veteran in the commercial Architecture and Design industry, with experience practicing in design firms and product development for carpet and textiles. She is currently the Senior Director of Design Insights for Mohawk Group. As both historian and futurist, Royce shares design insights and the meaning of materials in a broad context, finding significance in cultural shifts and how they shape the language of design. Royce feeds this into our industry’s touch points as a designer, trend forecaster, educator, lecturer, and writer. Her interests are in environmental and social sustainability for positive impacts.
Teresa Humphrey is the Director, Commercial Specifications for Wilsonart Engineered Surfaces. Her career with Wilsonart spans 30 years through various roles within the sales organization. Supporting Wilsonart Surfaces destined for applications in commercial spaces across the globe, Teresa spearheads the North American Commercial Specifications and National Account teams. Through a positive attitude and dedicated work ethic, Teresa guides a Sales team of individuals who are committed to building and maintaining customer relationships within the Architectural and Design community. As a results-oriented leader who is passionate about accomplishing corporate objectives, her positive outlook and approach allow her to enjoy each experience that comes her way. Teresa Humphrey LEED AP ID+C Director, Commercial Specifications Wilsonart
To be Announced
Tanner Woodford
Founder & Executive Director, Design Museum of Chicago
Designing a Better Chicago highlights our city’s extraordinary design legacy — the local talent, resources, and community efforts that have long advanced civic good through design. Launched in 2020 with the NeoCon Design Impact grant program and expanded in 2024 through the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Built Environment grant program, this initiative celebrates the individuals, organizations, public art, and programs that shape Chicago. It invites residents and visitors to reflect on how design improves civic life. Join the 2025 grant winners (to be announced) as they share their work, the impact they are making on Chicago, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Moderated by Tanner Woodford.
Tanner Woodford is founder and executive director of the Design Museum of Chicago. As an artist, he paints optimistic, typographic, and larger-than-life murals. His work has appeared at the WNDR Museum, Soho House Chicago, and is permanently installed at Weber Shandwick in the John Hancock Building. In 2020, Tanner was appointed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot to the City of Chicago’s Cultural Advisory Council. As a designer, educator, and entrepreneur, he has taught, lectured, and led workshops on design issues, social change, and design history in classrooms and at conferences.
