CHICAGO - The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) recently convened its annual Industry Roundtable—composed of interior design experts and manufacturing leaders—for a facilitated session to discuss issues facing all partners working in the profession of interior design. Now in its 12th year, the program has become an invaluable ‘brain trust' session for manufacturers and a quality opportunity for designers to dialogue with their partners in the built environment. Facilitating the synergy between the interior design and manufacturing communities is considered an essential role of IIDA in enhancing the future of design.
Thanks to Corporate Member participants: Joe Freuh, AGATI; Amy Hill, Allsteel; Merrie Barnett, The Mohawk Group; Kieron Bux, RTT USA; Carrie Edwards, Shaw Contract Group; and Terry Makowski, Sherwin Williams.
Interior designer participants included: Jennifer Barnes, IIDA, RTKL Assoc Inc.; Viveca Bissonnette, IIDA, CID, LEED AP, carrierjohnson + CULTURE; Gail Burns, FIIDA, WHR Architects; Valerie Frye, IIDA, BNIM Architects Inc.; Ali Khatibi, IIDA, CALLISON; and Brian Thornton, IIDA, AIA, Brian G. Thornton Design.
Brian Graham, IIDA, Graham Design, LLC, facilitated the session which was also attended by Allen Parker, Industry IIDA, 2008-2010 VP of Industry Relations for IIDA and Dennis Krause, senior vice president of IIDA.
"The Industry Roundtable is a premier opportunity for IIDA Corporate Members to receive real-time feedback on their marketing outreach and branding initiatives with the A&D community and the content and effectiveness of their Web sites. IIDA is proud to continue this quality program for the benefit of the entire design community," says Allen Parker, Industry IIDA.
"IIDA, with its commitment to advancing the interior design profession has once again successfully brought together our industry's leading manufacturers and designers to participate in a roundtable discussion on how we can, as partners in business, help each other reach our goals and objectives," notes Viveca Bissonnette, IIDA, CID, LEED AP. "Exceptionally valuable information was shared by all during this open and honest forum in which manufacturers and designers alike broke down the barriers of competition in an atmosphere of collaboration to help move our profession forward."
"The IIDA Industry Roundtable far exceeded my expectations. The constructive feedback that we received from prominent designers around the country was thought provoking and invaluable to our organization," states Amy Hill, architecture & design specialist for Allsteel. "The free exchange of ideas and insight with the other manufacturers was tremendously helpful as well. I look forward to the next one!"
The Industry Roundtable aims to strengthen the manufacturer/practitioner relationship by offering strategic perspectives on issues facing the industry. For more information about IIDA or participating in a future thought leadership session, contact the headquarters office at (888) 799-4432.
The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) works to enhance quality of life through excellence in interior design and to advance interior design through knowledge, value and community. IIDA is a professional networking and educational association of 13,000 Members in 10 specialty Forums in 30 Chapters around the world. Additional information is available on IIDA's Web site: www.iida.org.
