Part 1:
In celebration of Women's History Month, we are dedicating a special episode to the remarkable women who excel in the roles of both designers and mothers. These 'design moms' are the epitome of multitasking, effortlessly juggling the demands of their careers and families. We are excited to shine a spotlight on their incredible stories and offer a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes of their lives. From managing deadlines and client meetings to raising children and maintaining a household, these women have shown incredible resilience, resourcefulness, and unwavering dedication. Join us as we uncover their challenges and triumphs, and get ready to be inspired by their exceptional ability to balance both their personal and professional lives.

If you'd like to share your story or provide feedback, please use the following link. Your input is invaluable to us, and we appreciate your time. Thank you!

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Sponsor:
Taylor Design
At Taylor Design we firmly believe that great design can empower people to be, and do, their best. Serving clients for over 45 years with offices across California, our practice delivers architecture, interior design, medical planning, lab planning and design strategy services in the healthcare, science and technology, higher education, and senior living sectors.
www.wearetaylor.com

In this episode of Open Mic, we have the pleasure of delving into the fascinating journey of Christine Peter in the world of interior design. What makes her story unique is her transition from criminology to interior design. 

Christine shares the challenges she faced during this transition and how she overcame them with determination and perseverance. Her story is not only inspiring but also enlightening, as she offers valuable lessons and insights on what it takes to succeed in the competitive world of interior design. With her business, she has also created a platform for others to pursue their passion in this field. Christine's journey is a true testament to the power of following one's dreams and never giving up on them.

Have you ever wondered how to create change? Join us for an interview with IIDA’s lobbyist, Full Moon, as we discuss what it means to be lobbyist, how IIDA is leveraging their service, and exciting news about the impact IIDA is driving in the design industry.

Katherine, a seasoned lighting specialist based in Los Angeles, began her journey in the United States at the age of 22, where she completed her engineering degree in Miami, Florida. We discussed the unique challenges of learning and translating industry-specific jargon in different languages, and she shared how acting classes aided her in improving her public speaking skills. Katherine also offered insights into the pros and cons of her multicultural background, both in her work and personal life, making for a rich and insightful conversation. 

Tune in to hear more on this topic. 

Sponsor:

OFS

www.ofs.com

Imagine a Place

Sergio Lechuga, the Director of Interior Design at HMC Architects, will be featured on this episode of “Open Mic”. Sergio will be discussing the importance of diversity in the industry and why it is significant. He will emphasize that interior design is not just a career for women and that diversity and inclusion are essential for fostering creativity and innovation for everyone. His career journey and experiences in the field of architecture and interior design are sure to inspire and motivate others to follow their passion and contribute to a more diverse and inclusive industry. Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to learn more about Sergio’s work and the importance of diversity in the world of interior design.

EP 01 - Curious about the history of Interior Design in the State of California? Wondering why we need to advocate for our profession? Well, join us in this episode as we dive into the nitty gritty and interview Susanne Molina about past, present, and future efforts to establish legislation for Interior Design. We will talk about what a Title Act is, what the current code offers Interior Designers and where we hope to see improvement. We will talk about the national momentum that is driving change and the positive relationships we’ve built over the years.
Tune in to Episode 1 of Fireside Chats!

Interview with Susanne Molina,  FIIDA, CID, LEED AP
Senior Associate & Project Director at Gensler
Currently serving on the IIDA Advocacy Advisory Committee

"Unspoken Words" Ep-01

Welcome to our first episode of our new "Unspoken Words" series! Today, we have the pleasure of hosting Allyn Martin, the brilliant Learning Strategy & Experience Manager at Patcraft and Shaw Contract. Allyn's special role involves fearlessly delving into difficult yet crucial topics that need to be understood. In this engaging episode, we explore the evolving workplace with diverse generations coexisting. How do these distinct generations come together as a cohesive team? Join us as we fearlessly confront the deep-rooted issue of Ageism in the workplace and seek to foster an inclusive and united workforce. Let's unravel the layers of Ageism together and find common ground in this enriching conversation!

In our first episode of “Living your Truth” we invited Chidimma Abuka who is Strategist at Gensler Orange County. Join us today for the inspiring conversation of what keeps Chidimma moving and thriving. And truly how adversity has lead her to pursue her passions in life and have others join her in this amazing journey called life. You won’t want to miss it.

For the second episode of "Beyond Words" series, we want to share a previously recorded podcast. We invited Von Dominguez - interior designer, architect and full-time professor at Cal State Long Beach.

Von was born in the Philippines and moved to the U.S. with his family when he was 4 years old. In this episode we talked about the challenges with language and culture retention when someone moves to a new country at a young age and why mental health is becoming a hot topic in the architecture and design industry. Von also shared why he switched from biochemistry to architecture and what made him pursue the full-time design professor position at Cal. State Long Beach. 

Tune in to hear more on this topic. 

Sponsor:

OFS

www.ofs.com

Imagine a Place

This week join us with co-host Jazel Colemen, Amairani Gonzalez and guest speaker Charlene Reed. 

In this first episode of our series "Open Mic" we have Charlene the Interior Design program coordinator at Orange Coast College. She shares some insight on how a student design competition works. We will hear about the type of work a student in a design studio works on. For this research competition the students were to develop a storyline for the refugees they were designing for. They were also required to design from necessity and think about what kind of materials they should be using in a scenario like such. 

Tune in to hear more on this topic. 

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Sponsor
Behr
https://www.behr.com
Paint Colors | Explore, Visualize, and Buy Paint in ColorSmart | Behr