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In Episode 30 of the Alternative Design podcast, we discuss the evolving role of amenity spaces in workplace, education, and healthcare. Recorded live from Fulton Market Design Days in Chicago and the Healthcare Design Conference in Indianapolis, the episode features voices from diverse backgrounds, including designers, architects, and end users. The episode highlights the importance of creating functional, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing environments that support collaboration, wellness, and community engagement. Guests emphasize the holistic needs of people, whether through hospitality-inspired offices, respite spaces in schools, or personalized spaces in hospitals, underlining how thoughtful design can transform lives.

Read the blog, Designing Amenity Spaces that Fuel Human Potential.

Watch the panel, Alternative Conversations: Crafting Destinations by Design with Lifestyle Amenities. 

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In this episode, we explore the critical role of amenity spaces in shaping modern workplace environments, especially in the post-pandemic era. Join our expert panelists—Nick from Stanford, Lily Diego from Gensler, and Brian Berthold from Cushman Wakefield—as they delve into how thoughtfully designed amenities foster human connection, engagement, and wellbeing. Discover the evolving dynamics of hybrid work models, the significance of flexible and modular designs, and the integration of hospitality elements and advanced technologies like AI. Learn about creating vibrant, experiential zones that support diverse working styles and employee satisfaction, highlighted by case studies from Michigan Central District and other innovative workplaces. Whether focusing on collaboration or personal comfort, this episode reveals strategic insights for crafting purpose-driven environments that balance professional and lifestyle needs.

Read the blog, How Lifestyle Amenities Can Deliver the Future of Workplace.

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Serious Play: Gaming for Global Good goes into the future of game-based learning and education, exploring the potential of games to drive community engagement and global change. Manuela Colombo, Executive Director at Livelab, discusses using games to empower communities to discover their collective power and find solutions for real-world challenges. The episode highlights the impact of game-based learning and the unique approach of the X Journey game. It explores the intersection of gamification, education, student activism, and community engagement, providing a perspective on the future of learning environments and the importance of collaborative gaming in solving regional challenges and fostering intergenerational learning communities. The episode also addresses the challenges in implementing innovative approaches in education, emphasizing how games can be a powerful tool for driving positive change on a global scale.

Read the blog, Game-Changers – Spaces for Gamified Problem Solving.

Livelab website
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More about Live Lab games> https://www.instagram.com/jornadax/

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Kimball International proudly hosted Alternative Conversations: Attracting the New Higher Ed Learner, drawing together a panel of designers and industry leaders to discuss the future of academia. Against the backdrop of an ever-evolving educational landscape, the discussion illuminated key insights shaping the direction of higher education. Listen to this episode for the highlights of the conversation that promise to inform and inspire designers and educational leaders alike.

Read the blog, Four Insights Shaping the Landscape of Higher Education.
Watch the panel recording, Alternative Conversations: Attracting the New Higher Ed Learner. 

Click on the following link to claim your CEU credits (AIA/HSW, IDCEC/HSW):
https://www.ceuevents.com/online-audio-courses/kimball_international/attracting_the_new_higher_ed

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Get ready for the launch of Alternative Design, a groundbreaking multimedia platform that empowers designers to become catalysts for positive change. Through thought-provoking podcasts, blog articles, immersive videos, and conversations, Alternative Design showcases the latest trends, innovations, and best practices in design, sustainability, technology, and social responsibility. We feature interviews with industry leaders, visionaries, and change-makers who are pushing the boundaries of what's possible and shaping the future of design. Alternative Design is your go-to destination for staying ahead of the curve and making a positive difference. Join us as we launch Alternative Design, your gateway to a world of possibilities in design and beyond.

Check out the Alternative Design blog.

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Join us as we explore the landscape of lifelong learning and the evolution of educational spaces. Heather McGowan, future-of-work strategist, keynote speaker, thought leader, researcher, and author, leads us through a paradigm shift away from a linear model of learning and career paths toward a lifestyle characterized by perpetual growth and adaptability. This “Live. Work. Learn.” lifestyle will feature learning that is lifelong and personalized to the student and will change the way both classrooms and public spaces are designed.

Read the blog, From Classrooms to Lifelong Journeys.

Heather's Website:  https://heathermcgowan.com/ 

Heather's YouTube Channel of Talk Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@heatheremcgowan/videos

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Welcome to Season 4 of the Alternative Design podcast! Join us as we envision a future where education seamlessly integrates into daily life. Explore the changes that will reshape how we live, work, and learn, from AI mentors guiding task prioritization to children testing different aspects of the corporate experience while still in school. In the year 2030, colleges and businesses come together to connect students to potential employers and mentors within their field of interest and ensure educational programs create job-ready graduates. Discover how popular campus spaces may be reimagined as libraries are transformed into immersive technology upskilling centers and outdated dormitories are reconfigured into hotels aimed at guests participating in “micro-sabbaticals”. Education will extend beyond classrooms and learning will take place in unlikely places. Listen in to witness the emergence of a new era of lifelong learning, where education is everywhere, all at once.

Read the blog, Education in 2030: Four Forecasts Shaping the Future of Learning.

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A brand new season of Alternative Design is dropping March 6th on the Future of Education. We're discussing what the latest global trends mean for the future of education and why it matters to creatives who will be designing learning environments!

The season will, of course, include a forecast of what we think the education industry could look like by 2028 and include topics like lifelong learning, climate change, corporate upskilling, gamified curriculum, and everyday activism. We'll have innovators, thought leaders, educators, and fellow futurists help us focus on what's next and how your education projects can be more "future-ready".

Come shape the future with us!

Check out the Alternative Design blog.

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Welcome to the season finale episode of the Alternative Design podcast. In "Sitting is the New Side Hustle," we reveal our forecast for the Future of Work in 2030. We explore a world where furniture coordinates everything from personal data collection to generating extra income from energy-producing surfaces. Join us as we delve into the seamless integration of work and life, where values and purpose hold more significance than a paycheck. Employees thrive in a world where access is valued over ownership, leading to innovative co-ownership and new subscription models. Discover how the role of the designer will evolve to include "placemaking" of environments found within and beyond traditional office spaces. Stick around after the forecast as we provide 5 practical takeaways for designers to implement today, shaping a better future!

Read the blog, Sitting is the New Side Hustle: The Future of Work in 2030.
Read the blog and watch the video, The Workplace in 2030: 5 Trends to Watch.

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Imagine earning college credits by watching Youtube videos on your phone – that’s the reality Study Hall is crafting! Born out of a partnership between Youtube, Arizona State University, and Crash Course, Study Hall is breaking down barriers to education and signals a coming shift in the modern workplace. That’s right, in the not-so-distant future, your office won’t just be where you work, it’ll be where you learn and your boss may become your professor. In this role twist, designers will need to understand how to design personalized learning journeys in both digital and physical spaces that support upskilling of employees to adapt to new technologies. Join us as we give you the tools you need to design workplaces of the future to support lifelong learning.

Read the blog, Changing Pathways to Formal Education.