Emerging Leader Questionnaire 2022

Name: Erin Casey
Company: The Architectural Team
Concentration: Multi-Family
College/University: Wentworth Institute of Technology
Year(s) of Graduation: 2017

What is your strongest personal quality?: I am always honest, maybe even to a fault. I've never been the best secret keeper and poker is definitely not my game, given that I can't hide my facial expressions.
What is your strongest professional skillset?: I might be the only one, but I do love the CA process. Managing a project in construction is so fulfilling to me because you get to see the inevitable mistakes made throughout a project, where you excelled, and how it all comes together.

Why did you choose to become an Interior Designer?: On average, humans spend 85% of their life indoors - that statistic always stuck with me. If you are spending that much time indoors, you should enjoy those spaces.
How would you describe your personal design style?: Always changing.

What three things do you most geek out on?: Donuts, running and a good sunset.
What are you looking forward to as an IIDA Emerging Leader?: I am looking forward to connecting with new colleagues after years of this pandemic! So happy to be meeting in-person again!

What has been your go-to for de-stressing this year?: Running. I ran my first marathon this past year and can definitely see the correlation between my stress levels when I get a run in around the Charles River versus when I do not.
What advice do you have for designer students graduating?: Do not be afraid to ask questions, it's the only way to learn.

What is your favorite annual IIDA event?: My favorite IIDA event would be the Fashion Show. It's such a fun time whether you are participating or not and I'm always impressed by how creative we all can be.
How would you explain the difference between a professional Interior Designer vs Interior Decorator to a stranger?: An Interior Designer factors science, math and functionality into beautiful projects. A decorator mostly cares about making things look nice, rather than optimizing functionality.