Annual Leadership Development program announces sessions, speakers for July 2019 event
The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) last month released its curriculum and programming for The Leadership Experience: Presented by ASID (EXP), to take place in Atlanta July 18-20, 2019. EXP offers a rich slate of programming focused on leadership skill development and is a must attend for all designers, regardless of experience level or area of expertise. By turning the conference experience on its head through both traditional and interactive learning, EXP provides the foundation for designers to become empowered and inspiring leaders.
“The Leadership Experience is unlike any other industry program,” states ASID CEO Randy Fiser, Hon. FASID. “It takes designers out of their elements and pushes them to view their careers and potential through a fresh lens. We’re looking forward to exposing the design community to new ideas, amazing learning opportunities, and industry fellowship at this summer’s EXP.”
EXP provides a custom tailored experience designed to help attendees reach their personal and professional goals through three distinct learning tracks: Lead Yourself, Lead Your Team, and Lead Your Firm. Lead Yourself teaches designers the ins and outs of the industry to set the groundwork for success. Lead Your Team gives designers the insight they need to inspire and nurture their teams, while Lead Your Firm challenges designers to think radically and stay true to their visions.
The 2019 edition of EXP incorporates outside the box thinking from the design world and beyond to offer a holistic leadership perspective to its attendees. Designers select the classes and workshops that are best suited for their own unique goals and roles. In addition to programming, EXP encourages designers to get to know and learn from each other. The event kicks off with First Night, a high-energy networking gathering, and continues with tours of leading local design projects, invigorating health and wellness activities, pop-up discussions, engaging keynotes, interaction with industry manufacturers in the Learning Lounge, and closes with Celebration – the ASID Awards Gala.
An opening and closing keynote flank the weekend, offering inspiration and time for reflection. This year’s keynote speakers are:
Shantell Martin, Artist, Innovator, Cultural Facilitator | Opening Keynote: Know Yourself
Shantell Martin is a British detail-focused graphic designer and visual artist best known for her stream-of-consciousness drawings. Martin’s current body of work explores themes of transparency, identity, and experience. Her artwork purposefully connects performance art, fine art, technology, and commercial work. Shantell developed her drawing skills through “Liveography”— the process of projecting live drawings to sound, music, or other experiences.
As a speaker, Shantell reflects on her past experiences in drawing as a visual artist to show how her mantra can help others achieve their goals. The keynotes by Shantell focus on living simply in order to complete more and identify straightforward sayings that have improved her life. She aims to help individuals elevate creativity and their career to a higher level.
Shantell Martin earned her bachelor’s degree in graphic design at Camberwell College of Art and Design, and she attended the University of the Arts London and Central Saint Martins.
Nancy O’Brien, Co-Founder, The Happiness Program | Closing Keynote: The Ultimate Life Work Leadership Strategy
Nancy is passionate about researching, developing, and sharing innovative tools to enhance and measure well-being. Prior to co-founding Experience Happiness, Nancy spent years on the leading edge of massive innovation and change, serving on the IBM change team to transition the global business from manufacturing to services. She also shared her design and management expertise with many clients by helping them develop and implement bespoke
strategies to ensure delivery of authentic, consistent, and memorable experiences.
Linda Saggau, Co-Founder, The Happiness Program | Closing Keynote: The Ultimate Life Work Leadership Strategy
Linda brings powerful strategic and creative expertise to the business of cultivating happiness. She is co-creator of The Happiness Practice and continues to research and develop transformational programs to help people, teams, and organizations thrive. A noted writer, speaker, and entrepreneur, Linda has a wealth of experience with Chase, JP Morgan, Cargill, Best Buy, 3M, Ecolab, and other Fortune 500 organizations, where she consulted on business strategy, branding, customer experience, cross-enterprise collaboration, and other strategies.
EXP is open to both members and non-members of ASID. Attendees are eligible to earn continuing education credits on topics that include budget fundamentals, client management, proposal writing, managing diversity in design, presentation strategies, and negotiation tactics. EXP 2019 is made possible thanks to the generous support of its sponsors: Sherwin-Williams, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. To The Trade, Benjamin Moore, Hansgrohe, California Closets, The Shade Store, Wilsonart, Smith & Noble, Humanscale, and Wendover Art Group.
Learn more about EXP and register here.
