This article is part of an ongoing profile series spotlighting IIDA industry members.
Meet Christine Gould, IIDA, Director of A&D at Kimball International
What core values are most important to you as a leader, and how do you ensure they are embedded in the company culture?
Having a culture that supports the whole person and encourages authenticity and experimentation allows our team to constantly strive to innovate, inspire, and add value to our design partners. We have fun and enjoy working together, and that shows up in all we do!
Can you share a pivotal moment for you in your career?
There have been so many realizations and lessons along the way — from discovering how design can truly impact lives, to navigating tough design challenges (aka, mistakes!) and understanding that there is always a solution to every problem. I've also experienced the power of engaging with organizations like IIDA, which unlock opportunities and support professional development.
What is the legacy that you hope to leave?
I want to use the power of design to give back and leave things better than I found them — not just through beautiful spaces, but by using design to support people’s health and happiness.
What big goal have you or Kimball International set for the next 3-5 years?
We’re energized by using foresight to spot what’s next as we study the cultural, behavioral, and generational signals shaping how people live, work, and heal. What excites us most is turning those insights into action and partnering with designers to create spaces that both support and celebrate the human experience and need to belong.
What’s one big inspiration — or passion — that you think everyone should know about (this can be another designer, book, podcast, artist, hobby, ritual etc)?
I recently read Monique Lecomte’s The Expert Generalist and highly recommend it. It’s a compilation of candid personal stories that will make you laugh, cry, smile, and want to read it all over again! Each story offers its own lesson on overcoming adversity and navigating the unpaved road to designing a life and career that reflect your true potential.
Christine Gould, IIDA, earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Harrington Institute of Interior Design and spent 13 years shaping commercial interiors across the Chicago market before transitioning into an A&D Representative role with a leading furniture manufacturer. Today, as Director of A&D at Kimball International, she leads a team of experienced sales professionals, driving in-market initiatives that inspire, strengthen relationships, and build lasting brand equity within the architecture and design community.
A NCIDQ Certified Designer and LEED AP Professional, Gould combines creative expertise with relationship-building, presenting, and problem-solving strengths. She is deeply engaged in the design community and currently serves as President of the IIDA Illinois Chapter, where she champions advocacy, connection, and professional growth. Passionate, driven, and always on the move, she is committed to advancing both her team’s success and the broader design profession.
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