Chats with Thought Leaders

This semester, graduate students in Dr. Jill Pable’s Design Issues class were given the unique opportunity to speak with six leaders within the Interior Design community. Titled “Chats with Thought Leaders,” this exploratory series allowed students to engage with change-makers and a myriad of topics directly affecting the practice of design. Among the guest speakers were Randy Fiser, CEO of ASID, Kerrie Kelly, Founder of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab, and Jennifer Kolstad, Global Design Director of Ford Motor Company. Teri Kwant, Director of RSP Dreambox, BJ Miller, Founder of The Vision Group and Managing Director of The Indigo Companies, and Carolyn Noble, Founder of Ames Design Studio also joined the class for lively discussion. These half-hour-long conversations encouraged students to think critically and share their own ideas in a supportive setting. Diving into the world of design issues was made more accessible with the help of these six rock stars. The graduate students and others who experienced the discussions walked away from this semester with extra tools in their arsenal thanks to help of Dr. Pable and the six thought leaders.