Emerging Leader Questionnaire 2022

Name: Bri Dazio
Company: Perkins&Will
Concentration: Interior Design/Higher Education
College/University: Virginia Tech
Year(s) of Graduation: 2018

What is your strongest personal quality?: My strongest personal quality is my focus and attention to detail, whether that's carrying a project through all phases of design as a designer or carefully measuring out ingredients for a recipe as an amateur baker.
What is your strongest professional skillset?: With every situation, I approach it as a learning opportunity to gain new knowledge and am always willing to ask questions to solve the design problem.

Why did you choose to become an Interior Designer?: Since age eleven, I've wanted to be an interior designer. I might not have known exactly what it entailed, but I knew I wanted to design spaces that would impact people's lives.
How would you describe your personal design style?: I'm a minimalist in all facets of life and that translates to my designs to keep things simple, clean, and with an overarching organization.

What three things do you most geek out on?: I'm a sucker for beautiful typography, a great dessert recipe and exploring the city
What are you looking forward to as an IIDA Emerging Leader?: I'm excited to meet and feel empowered by incredible leaders in my network that I otherwise might not have met and learned from.

What has been your go-to for de-stressing this year?: Baking - send any new recipes for inspiration my way!
What advice do you have for designer students graduating?: Always remember your passion for this industry. It can be hard to remember why you became a designer when you're in the thick of a deadline for construction documents but ultimately, the end goal is to produce a beautiful space. Don't forget your "why" for this career.

What is your favorite annual IIDA event?: I'm new to IIDA NE but I'm excited for the Charity on the Charles Kayaking Fundraiser!
How would you explain the difference between a professional Interior Designer vs Interior Decorator to a stranger?: Imagine a designed space. There's the obvious aspects to the room- the furniture, the floors, the walls, the ceiling. But what you don't see, an interior designer had a hand in coordinating - the mechanical equipment, the accessible elements, the fire protection and durability of materials. We're trained to create spaces that are not only visually pleasing, but also comply with codes, standards and regulations, for your health and safety.