Imagine a Place

In this episode, Doug sits down with 5 guests at the Pittsburgh MiniCon convention put on by Franklin. The topic—change readiness. Every person and every organization is grappling with change readiness in some way.

At the organizational level we discuss the importance of listening, bringing elements of nostalgia into new spaces, involving multiple generations in decision-making, and maintaining a flexible attitude.

On a personal level we need to accept and learn from failure when trying new things, we need to value the blending of fresh perspectives with institutional wisdom, and realize that change often brings new relationships and opportunities.

During this episode you'll hear from:

Jane Hallinan from Perkins Eastman

Sanela Schnitgen from University of Pittsburgh

Beverly Shelby from AE Works

Pamela Austin from Burns Scalo Real Estate

Ralph Dallier from Franklin

This episode was inspired by an episode The Disrupted Workforce with Warren Berger.

Learn more about Franklin's Pittsburgh MiniCon convention.

Click here to get your copy of Doug's children's book—Design Your World.

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Follow Doug on LinkedIn.

Click here to get your copy of Doug's children's book—Design Your World.

Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.

The career path of Ebehi Ijewere has not been easy, however—by trusting her instincts—Ebehi has found herself as an architect at Jacobs and host of the Layers of Design podcast. Ebehi grew up in Lagos, Nigeria where her creative influences were her mother and aunt who was an architect. These influences pushed her to move to the U.S. at the age of 17 for college.

Being an international student presented itself as a bit of a barrier after college as Ebehi applied for jobs. This led her to feel alone, but it also encouraged her to search for others having similar struggles. Finally through a connection, Ebehi landed her first job in architecture, but it never seemed fulfilling. Ebehi realized she wanted more than just any architecture job—she wanted one that truly valued her contributions.

This led her to rely heavily on her instincts—not being afraid to leave jobs that don't seem to be the right fit. It's admirable when people recognize a particular job is not enriching them and have the courage to move on. This is what led her to Jacobs, into a role where she truly feels valued. Ebehi encourages others not to ignore that feeling when "something isn't working."

Ebehi's story is an important reminder that you must seek out work cultures that empower you.

Listen to Layers of Design.

Learn more about Jacobs.

Learn more about Ebehi Ijewere.

Click here to get your copy of Doug's children's book—Design Your World.

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In this episode, Doug talks with architect and author Gary Vance whose career is split between the pre-computer and post-computer era of the industry. Not only has Gary's workflow changed tremendously, but his client interactions have changed as well. The transition to CAD and email in the workplace caused a notable shift—it changed the way clients viewed and commented on design drawings. Before computers, architects relied heavily on sketches to communicate ideas with clients. With the introduction of CAD, drawings initially made clients think designs were finalized, hindering feedback.

Gary feels nostalgic for his early career, but there are plenty of challenges today in healthcare design that need addressed. One example is the need for privacy in a healthcare setting. It seems obvious, but the use of curtains to separate two patients makes privacy very difficult. Gary emphasizes the importance of private patient rooms to provide comfort, confidentiality, and dignity as standard in contemporary healthcare settings.

So, what are some interesting ways to involve technology in the world of architecture that is different than current applications? Not so different than pilots and truck drivers learning on simulators, why can't architects do the same? Architectural practice simulations could offer solutions to problems before they are encountered in the real world—problems such as dinosaur dung. Yes, that's right, early in his career Gary had a test pile failure blamed on ancient dinosaur dung at the job site.

The next phase of Gary's career is his wonderful book series—"Kid Architect"—which aims to introduce children and young adults to architecture and related fields. Gary has a passion for educating youth about architecture so they understand what the profession entails before pursuing it.

Learn more about Kid Architect here.

Learn more about Gary Vance here.

Click here to get your copy of Doug's children's book—Design Your World.

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Joining Doug this week is Vijay Gupta, violinist and speaker. As a live performer it's not about being perfect—that's what practice is for. Live performance art is authentic. It's about being present and connecting with the audience. Vijay doesn't want to preach, he wants to connect and understand his audience's values and stories. Through this music and conversations, Vijay aims to facilitate the creation of something bigger than himself.

So, how does he do this? He values curiosity, openness, reading, and integrating diverse inspirations into his learning. He values continuous learning as a verb, not just fixed achievements in time. All of this inspires Vijay to "give away his gifts" with one of his most important values being generosity. Vijay believes we find purpose by giving the gifts we didn't know we had.

This conversation also touches a bit on AI. Vijay's take on AI is refreshing—he suggests we focus on how technology can amplify human values and intentions, rather than replace them for the sake of efficiency. AI can help people appreciate life's beauty, while still accomplishing tasks in a human way.

Learn more about Vijay Gupta here.

Find Vijay Gupta on Instagram.

Learn more about Michael Motamedi who was referenced in this podcast.

Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal

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We are a few months in to The Design Pop joining the Imagine a Place network and it's been a major success. This is in part due to Alexandra's willingness to stay nimble and reactive with content. Her goal is to provide perspective even without definitive answers, and focusing on technology convergence and its impact.

Alexandra's website—The Design Pop—has grown into an education and training ecosystem with courses, searchable manufacturer videos, and opportunities for community contributions. She plans to add new relevant content while revisiting existing content for freshness.

Listen to The Design Pop here.

Follow on Alexandra on LinkedIn.

Alexandra is always looking for audience engagement on her podcast. Leave her a voice message here.

Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal

Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn

Jose Jordan leads interiors focused on justice and civic spaces at DLR Group in Florida. Justice and civic space interiors are often overlooked, but Jose believes they can be thoughtfully designed to empower and inspire. One example of this approach is a recent juvenile detention center project in Birmingham, Alabama where the history of steelwork was implemented to motivate residents toward a new potential.

Jose also offers up some career advice—care deeply and passionately about your work. This attracts others who also care, creating an environment where everyone works as a team for shared goals.

Jose recently rediscovered his Puerto Rican heritage on a trip to Old San Juan. The history, architecture, culture, food, and family connections left a deep impression. Now, during Hispanic Heritage Month, Jose enjoys spending time with family, eating traditional Puerto Rican food, and introducing others to the culture. He values bringing people together through food, music, and laughter and aims to create spaces that have the same welcoming community feel.

Learn more about Jose Jordan.

Learn more about Jose's company DLR Group.

Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal

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During NeoCon 2023, Doug sat down with Stefanie Ince—a career coach who helps people find their passion and purpose in work. The conversation goes all the way back to the basics of sleeping enough, eating healthy, and getting enough exercise. These three basics tend to fall to the wayside when people get wrapped up in their work.

But more than the basics, what makes you happy? It's important to be intentional about figuring out what gives you energy and ignites your passion—even if it means going against conventional wisdom. Can you find this naturally or does it need to be intentionally sought out? And once you find it, can it ever change?

Stefanie talks about people such as Doug—someone who is very passionate about what he does—but still has to find variety and new challenges to keep his passion alive. Be open to reinventing yourself multiple times over in life. But most importantly, tell the truth about yourself in the best possible light when pursuing new opportunities.

Stefanie loves coaching others and holding space for her clients to explore themselves. If you'd like to contact Stefanie, you can email her here.

Learn more about Stefanie Ince.

Learn more about Stefanie's company March Management.

Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal

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In this episode, Doug interviews Adam Goodman— the third generation CEO of Goodmans Interior Structures. The Black Lives Matter movement deeply affected Adam and spurred him to confront systemic racism within his own company. Goodman gives you his game plan on confronting systemic racism inside his company and it comes with a heavy dose of self vulnerability and a heaping side of courage. He uncovered bias in areas like promotions and "occupational sorting," and how he's working to develop individualized growth paths to retain diverse high-potential employees.

Goodman proposes and interesting idea—properly-executed capitalism can help solve societal issues. One example of this is Goodman is engaging his company's surplus resources for community benefit. When Goodman originally brought these ideas to the table, some employees doubted the concept, but this only fueled his commitment to authentically lead with purpose. Goodman emphasizes the power of vulnerable, heart-centered leadership to build trust and reduce stress.

Check out the article Doug mentioned.

Learn more about Adam Goodman.

Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal

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Creating environments that support your health, your happiness, and your well-being is a passion for Erin Peavey,—Architect and Health & Well-being Design Leader at HKS. She's also well known for her TEDx Talk "Can design heal loneliness?"

Her passion was born from personal experience as Erin cared for her mother during her battle with cancer. Daily walks in the community with her newborn daughter showed her the power of feeling connected to a community through shared public spaces. Erin decided to look into academic research and understand more about how design elements like accessibility, nature, and human scale foster social bonds.

Erin now shares her research through her podcast Shared Space, Psychology Today columns, and an upcoming book. All of these resources aim to make scientific insights accessible and captivating to inspire more empathetic design.

Learn more about Erin Peavey and HKS.

Check out Erin's TEDx talk here!

Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal

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Recently Doug came across an article in Work Design Magazine by Kendra Linton—Senior Associate at NELSON Worldwide—that grabbed his attention. Kendra's article is about using sensory design to create engaging workspaces for the new hybrid workplace. As the world continues to grapple with making hybrid work more efficient and human-friendly, thinkers like Kendra cut through the noise and help us understand the importance of connection, creating engaging spaces, and evolving the employee experience.

Check out the article that inspired this episode!

Learn more about Kendra Linton and NELSON Worldwide.

Click here to get your FREE copy of the Imagine a Place journal

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