2014 Wilsonart Essay Competition Winner, Holly Vogel
Slowly and methodically, she peeled one card at a time off of a large deck, laying
each one face up on the table. With every new card, she asked, "On a scale of 1‐10,"
how much does this profession appeal to you?” The year was 2010, and I was
working towards transitioning out of a career in marketing and communications. I
wasn't just looking for another job ‐ I was aiming for that "dream career" ‐ the one
that was hiding in my bones, just waiting to come out.
Somewhere near the very end of the deck, "interior designer" appeared. Without
skipping a beat, I said, "put that one to the side, I'd like to think about that." My
coach (who is one of the best at what she does, yet was misinformed, as are many,
about the nature of the profession), leaned towards me, and with an almost
omniscient tone in her voice, said, "you don't want to be an interior designer ‐
you're a problem solver."
Following a hunch that “problem solver” and “interior designer” are not mutually
exclusive, I enrolled myself in a RISD interior design course and spent some time
conducting informational interviews with anyone who would talk to me. It was not
long before I knew that the thing (in my bones) IS interior design ‐ what I now
consider to be a problem‐solver's dream career. This realization is confirmed every
day for me as a graduate student in interior architecture, but never so much as when
I had the opportunity to be a mentee for a day as part of IIDA Mentoring Week.
After signing up for the program, I was thrilled to learn that I was to spend my day
at Nelson in downtown Boston, and would be mentored by Brad Black, the
company's Managing Principal.
I arrived at the firm just before 9am on a Monday, and met my fellow mentee. After
perusing Nelson’s materials library, our first order of the day was a staff meeting,
where we met Brad and the rest of the team, who reviewed what was on the plate
for that week ‐ project assignments, timelines, and new work coming down the
pipeline. The discussion centered around a spreadsheet that was projected onto a
screen so that everyone was – literally – on the same page. I thought this regular
meeting was a great way to start off each week, helping to ensure that priorities are
met, and processes are streamlined. The discussion also gave me a sense of the
pace at which projects are developed and implemented. Truth be told, this was
somewhat of an eye opening experience for me, since as a student who is only about
half‐way through the program, I am used to generous timelines (not to mention
unlimited budgets). As I talked to staff throughout the day, I began to understand
that factors that allow such a pace to work – including sheer knowledge and talent, a
high level of organization, teamwork, and processes that support effective
communication among team members.
After the meeting, Brad gave us a brief history of the company, explaining how his
own firm, Black Cow, was purchased by Nelson, and became the foundation for
2014 Wilsonart Essay Competition Winner, Holly Vogel
Nelson’s Greater Boston location. He also gave us an overview of some of Nelson’s
more recent projects, which included major work with the likes of Google, Biogen
Idec, and Verizon. Brad was so enthusiastic about giving us useful information, he would
routinely stop himself and say –“Oh, that’s another thing!” and then proceed
to tell us some interesting facet of the industry, or give us tips on crafting a
successful career.
Brad then showed us some slides of Nelson’s recent finished work, explaining the
highlights of each project – particularly as they relate to the challenges and
opportunities that we might face as designers. I really enjoyed this discussion, as I
have a near insatiable yen for learning all things design (I have even been known to
question construction workers on the street about pouring foundations, and ice
cream servers about counter top material – much to the chagrin of anyone who has
happened to be with me).
In discussing each project, Brad gave us a first‐hand explanation of how and why
various design solutions came to be. This is where Brad’s – and his team’s problemsolving
prowess really became apparent – as I saw in each design new innovative
solutions that address the unique programming and space requirements for each
space. While this came through in all of the projects I learned about that day, one of
the most memorable projects was done for Verizon. Behind the stunning visual
design was the integration of a wide range of cutting‐edge technologies that needed
to be incorporated in a way that ensured both optimal functionality and a visually
successful design.
Brad also set us up to meet with various designers to learn about their work. Liz,
who was described by one of her colleagues as a “Revit guru”, talked about some of
the opportunities and challenges that can arise when working within existing
structures. Melissa, who handles various projects for two major banks, discussed
how she works within previously established design parameters.
It was nice to see how each designer had their own creative approach and system
that worked best for them. Darryl, for example, showed us some resources he
created for himself – including a simple three‐ring binder, which he updates
regularly, with items such as typical wall sections, rules of thumb for various
processes, standard measurements, and technical lighting information. He also
explained to us how each designer typically leverages computer programs in a way
that makes the most sense for their specific needs. When developing construction
documents, for example, he explained that he often starts with CAD, and then use his
CAD files to build up a design in Revit.
We then had a delicious and informative lunch with both Brad and Stacy Chambers,
the company’s Managing Director. We talked a bit more about the business side of
2014 Wilsonart Essay Competition Winner, Holly Vogel
things, such as how the industry is changing, how potential new projects are
identified, and the many benefits of being involved with industry associations.
We then met with designer David Stone – who struck me as somewhat of a
whirlwind of ideas, creativity, and talent – an image reinforced by the many
sketches, photographs, and interesting new materials around his office. David
explained the importance of having an arsenal of tools – knowledge and skills – to be able to
develop the most innovative and effective solutions for any given situation.
David demonstrated how he works out ideas through sketching over images of
existing structures with trace, and then collaborates other designers who build out
his designs in Revit. He also emphasized the importance of out‐of‐the‐box thinking ‐
a theme that seemed to resonate with many others throughout the day. He
explained that with interiors – you have typically have an existing building, codes,
and a host of other factors to work with, and you need to be creative in how you
apply what you know to find the right solution. He also emphasized the importance
of hand drawing, particularly in this digital age when many designers are relying
heavily on software. Drawing, he explained, can be an extremely effective way to
work out ideas, and communicate with team members and clients.
We then met with design director Michael Borque, who gave us a brief but
fascinating history of the interior design industry. He explained that when he
started out doing this work, he and many others (who originally hailed from a wide
range of backgrounds) were shaping the field that was to be eventually known as
interior design. Having played a key role in interior design trade associations (such
as IIDA!) throughout his career, Michael emphasized the importance of getting‐ and
staying – involved in a proactive way.
Michael also talked about how the field is constantly changing – a topic also touched
upon earlier in the day with Brad and Stacy. He explained how new technologies are
increasingly informing design, how the lines between commercial and residential is
beginning to blur, and how spaces that once had a single dedicated purpose are now
becoming multi‐use spaces – all factors that increasingly require out‐of‐the‐box
strategies.
In my conversations throughout the day, I heard the words “And another thing!”,
and “What else can I tell you?” again and again. I left the office that day feeling
grateful for everyone’s enthusiasm for sharing what they know and do, and for all I
have learned in just one day. I also left with a bit more confidence about my
decision to pursue this exciting new career, and can now say with complete
confidence that for me, becoming an interior designer is, most definitely, in the
cards.