5 Slides, 4 Questions, 3 Panellists, 2 address 1 Topic: How has the pandemic impacted the interior design industry: where were we, where are we and where will we be?

The upcoming webinar series in collaboration with Zaha Hadid Architects explores how the post-pandemic environment has forced us to reconsider our understanding of the traditional definitions of living, working and leisure. Particularly for the Interior design industry, these questions necessitate an investigation into the pre-established typologies in both the private and public realms. Hosted by SBID’s founder & CEO, Vanessa Brady, the series intends to examine specific typologies, the conflation of their boundaries, the emergence of new definitions of interior space and the consequential impact on the people who commission, design and use them.

For PART 1 of the series, the focus is on the hospitality and travel industries which have faced considerable challenges during the pandemic. The limited mobility and opportunities for interaction between people during this period have meant that demand has waned. On the other hand, continual restrictions has created a pent-up need to escape and to bolster one’s well-being. The panel discussion will address how hospitality as an industry foresees a fundamental change in the services that it is expected to provide, and how design can navigate these restrictions while satisfying the needs of current lifestyles.

Speakers include:

• SBID Vice President, Kar-Hwa Ho, Head of Interior Architecture at Zaha Hadid Architects
• Douglas Grieco, Senior Director of Architecture and Design at Hilton Hotels
• Mari Balestrazzi, Director of Operations for Environments at Airbnb

Event Details:

Topic: Interior Architecture Reconsidered (5-4-3): The future of the hospitality industry

Date: Thursday 22^nd July

Time: 4.00pm (BST)

Duration: 1 hour

Key discussion points:

• One key thing that the pandemic has underscored is the need for adaptability. While the focus has been on the immediate need to adapt to rules that keep changing constantly, how do the effects impact the way hospitality services are programmed and physically designed?
• For many, what was missing during this period of enforced isolation, was the sense of community and connection. While we have experienced the advantages of virtual connection, how do we design or program experiences in a meaningful and global way?
• With leisure/personal time being monetized and commodified with a decline in business travel, has the design of experiences become the starting point of a design brief as opposed to the physical accommodation of its functions? Would we envisage the involvement of interior architects at an early brief development stage to allow for pro-active engagement rather than a reactive response to a pre-determined program?
• With the hindsight of the last year and a half behind us, would you approach your current role any differently? What are the key changes?

Click here to register now