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Jun 20, 2023 By Cheryl S. Durst
Perspective: Future of Work Everywhere
Cheryl S. Durst introduces the next issue of Perspective: The Future of Work Everywhere
By Cheryl S. Durst Jun 20, 2023
Published in Perspective

This issue of Perspective is focused on a question that has been particularly top of mind in our industry—what will work look like for the next 5, 10, 20 years?

We have all heard the question asked, but not quite answered.

That lingering uncertainty can create a little nervousness—some people, after all, feel it’s easier to plan a trip if you already know everything about the destination. But does that make the trip better? Embracing the open-endedness of moving forward with joy and excitement, and preparing for flexibility and change rather than a static experience, can open our minds to unique possibilities.

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IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO, Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA
IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO, Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA

I’ve begun to understand the future of work with a little of that traveler’s instinct; we can see definite signs of where things are headed (and we talk about some of them in this issue: design for experience, physical distance, flexibility, privacy and collaboration) but there is much room for innovation and exploration.

And there’s the sweet spot: Designers are specifically equipped to tackle open-ended questions, to think differently about solutions and ongoing change. To tell the truth, there was never one way to create places for work, so design has been addressing this very question as long as workplaces have existed. Uncertainty is a catalyst for creativity, and this moment of many questions is already becoming a moment of invention, spurring designers to think and imagine more agile and creative ways to address humans at work. Can we better accommodate and support people of all genders, ethnicities, and cognitive approaches? Can design create true community around work? Can “work” spaces also enhance your life outside of work?

The more we stay open to the possibilities, the more we get comfortable with a fluid world view, the more likely we are to design spaces that respond to human needs, both now and for the evolving future. The “safe,” preconceived notions may be gone, and the old roadmap is out the window, but the trip has gotten a lot more interesting.

Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA
IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO

Talk Talk

Jason Pugh, AIA, NOMAC, and Yiselle Santos Rivera, AIA, NOMA, discuss the intricacies of embedding JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) principles in firm policies and practices, the nuances of designing inclusive spaces, and their vision for the future of equitable workplace design. Read more

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Renew

Ricardo Bofill transformed a former cement factory into his architecture firm's headquarters and residence, sustainably merging industrial history with contemporary design. Preserving the industrial and raw character of the original structure while at the same time making it habitable and functional for a modern architectural office and residence. Read more

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Emerge

Discover the next generation of designers! Nominated by IIDA members, these bright professionals harness the power of the future by pioneering transformative workplace design, focused on hybrid workforces, flexibility, and collaboration, redefining what leadership looks like. Read more

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A Day in the Life

Naomi Mekonnen, Student IIDA, provides insights on how the Design Your World program significantly influenced her journey in design. Her experience underscores the program's integral role in building confidence, promoting creativity, enhancing diversity, and the pivotal role of mentorship in shaping the designers of tomorrow.
Read more

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How to X

Micki Washington, IIDA, AIA, regional director of workplace at HOK, shares her insights on the evolution of the office and discusses the future of work as a force that changes workplace design for the better. From transforming the office into an embodiment of company culture and creating more equitable and human-centric spaces to designing for adaptability, well-being, collaboration, and professional development to adapting to the ever-evolving needs of our time. Read more

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High 5

We look at the ways some designers and companies are thinking about their place in a larger global community. Whether we are designing spaces that work with the environment, employee comfort and well-being, or support sustainable choices and the local economies, it should always keep in mind that we are designing for a microcosm of a larger world. Read more

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Cover Story

From her roots in Oviedo, Spain to her global experiences, Patricia Urquiola's journey has shaped her innovative approach to design. Her name has become synonymous with exceptional architecture projects, imaginative industrial and craft objects, and colorful, versatile spaces—from interiors to art exhibitions. Read more

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Bonus: Members Only

Cover story subject Patricia Urquiola’s Favorite Things—design objects of sentimental value, Unquiola reflects on thought-provoking art exhibitions, collaborations that have shaped her outstanding career, books that have influenced her, things that give her joy and travel destinations that hold a special place in her heart. Log in to read more

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Scratch Pad

What to do, where to go, and what to read this summer for inspiration—from the history of commercial dyes, an iconic French lighting designer, summer movie set design exhibitions, and design fairs to plan on. Read more

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IIDA Perspective Team:

Cheryl Durst, Hon FIIDA
| Executive VP and CEO, IIDA
Cindy Dampier
| Chief Marketing Officer, IIDA
Yasmin Spiro
| Director of Content and Strategy, IIDA
Laura Botham
| Senior Digital Content Manager, IIDA
Vasia Rigou
| Writer and Copy Editor, IIDA
Jessica Jones
| Content Coordinator, IIDA

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