I’ve set out to write this piece several times, but have started and stopped – I wanted to be in the right mindset when I write what I hope will be something positive, but quite honestly it has been difficult to find that moment. I know I am not alone in feeling terrified, confused, and...
During our Living Lab, which is our end of day Friday Event at STA, one of our employees was presenting her thesis project. The project is a high school that promotes the architectural awareness, education and training for African American youth, to promote a career in architecture and design as a career option. During her...
There are many Brazilian Midcentury Furniture Designers that I want to talk about, but this time, I will focus on Sergio Rodrigues [1927-2014]. Sergio was an architect and his designs highly evoked Brazilian culture. While furniture design in the 1950s and 60s was often informed by industrialization´s methods and materials, Sergio continued to build furniture...
We are all now living in a new world - a world disrupted by something that none of us can see but that can make us very sick or kill us. As a result, the new normal is one where we modify all social conventions and most everything deemed non-essential is closed and so there...
There is a certain amount of pride in making your own things. My fiancé and I try hard to avoid single use products which includes things like containers of vegetable broth and plastic wrap around bagels. We are slowly relearning the recipes that our grandparents (and maybe parents) knew, but did not pass on because...
The Contract Forum is an annual conference bringing together design industry leaders from across the country for in-depth discussions and knowledge sharing. At the last Contract Magazine Forum, I was honored to be asked to participate in a series of presentations entitled “What if…” The goal was to explore ways in which designers are using...
Deforestation is currently occurring globally. Forests and trees are being destroyed world-wide due to a large amount of logging, and more recently due to wildfires throughout different regions. Imagine if there was a way to help restore the forests. Imagine if there was a way to help without ever needing to leave the house, or...
As a Brazilian-American Interior Designer and Mid-Century Modern furniture enthusiast, I would like to introduce you to a few pieces that I love that were created in Brazil. I will start with Oscar Niemeyer, the Brazilian Architect who has been responsible for the design of a number of buildings in Brazil, including his contributions to...
Recently I had the great opportunity to participate in Design Museum Boston’s “Design Museum Mornings”. The topic of my discussion was “Spaces for Innovation”, highlighting our recent projects for a variety of incubator spaces. In the last few years, STA has developed a specialization in incubator spaces, but no two spaces are alike - there...
Let me tell you about the desert. First, it’s not dessert, that’s the thing you eat after dinner, and let me tell you, the desert is no piece of cake. It’s vast, dry, deserted and absolutely one of the most beautiful places I have ever encountered. I grew up in New England, camping, hiking and kayaking in...
As Interior Designers it is our job to design sustainably not only for ourselves, but also for the environment. There are several different sustainable strategies we can integrate into our designs, as well as strive to achieve LEED certification. Not only are designers realizing that it is their job to design sustainably, but manufacturers of...
What is a Co-Op? Cooperative Education is a full time, temporary employment program that gives college students the opportunity to have first hand experience within a full time job. The professional practice and ultimate understanding of what it is like to work inside your field of study not only helps with classes and projects, but...
I used to be fairly critical of fellow architects and interior designers with regard to how they spoke and conveyed their ideas, wishing sometimes they would speak in “plain English”…. Thinking that while I understood them, those not trained in design may have no clue what they are referring to. Then, much to my horror,...
As designers, it’s easy to get caught up in the complexity of a large project – there are so many factors, decisions, so many pieces to the puzzle of design. But sometimes a small move, something we do every day and may take for granted, is as powerful, if not more, than something large and...
Summer is finally here and this is the time of the year when most of us love being outside. Although NYC is relatively close, paying the most populous US city a visit may not be high up in your list. You probably feel like you have done at all, even when you remember how relaxing...
As a second year Master of Interior Architecture student at the Boston Architectural College I’ve been in the classroom learning the tools and skills required to excel in the design field. Designers or future design professionals tend to be people who appreciate the visual; they learn by engaging in the processes being taught to them...