Emerging Leader Questionnaire 2022

Name: Amelia Papadakis
Company: Gensler
Concentration: Retail + Wellness
College/University: Endicott College
Year(s) of Graduation: 2017

What is your strongest personal quality?: Keeping a room lighthearted and positive
What is your strongest professional skillset?: My time management abilities

Why did you choose to become an Interior Designer?: The career was a natural fit for me between creating inspiring spaces as a form of art and the functionality and practicality of space planning and detailing.
How would you describe your personal design style?: Relatively high contrast, eclectic but leaning towards a combination of mid-century and industrial

What three things do you most geek out on?: Architectural House Styles, Vintage furniture, Classic cars
What are you looking forward to as an IIDA Emerging Leader?: Exclusive opportunities to develop my leadership skills at this point in my career!

What has been your go-to for de-stressing this year?: Walking around
What advice do you have for designer students graduating?: Attend every networking and mentoring program you can. The more people you meet, the more your world opens up!

What is your favorite annual IIDA event?: Croquet
How would you explain the difference between a professional Interior Designer vs Interior Decorator to a stranger?: I like to think of it like the “apple and fruit” metaphor (not all fruit are apples, but all apples are fruit.) Not all interior decorators are designers, but all designers know how to decorate! A lot of people have an eye to decorate but we do SO much more than that. We often are working with multiple consultants to develop a space holistically, with considerations for life safety and accessibility requirements at the forefront of our minds and designs. But we still can add those finishing touches too.