LEAD Questionnaire 2021

Name: Shelley Pass
Company: Shepley Bullfinch
Concentration: Healthcare
Title/Role: Interior Designer 
Years in the industry: 11

What is a fact that may surprise people about you?: I have been skydiving and I would go again!
What past project of yours holds the most meaning to you and why?: The Baystate Children’s Hospital Play Deck in Springfeld, MA, is a space at the heart of the Children’s Hospital’s Critical Care Area that provides a whimsical indoor and outdoor retreat geared toward imagination for children of all ages. The combined 3,000 SF area serves many functions, such as an area for child life art therapy and Griffin’s Friends, a non-profit educational component to help children learn about the medical procedures they undergo while at the hospital. The area is accessible to patients 24/7. I believe that spaces that support medical care for children should foster hope, comfort, and imagination! When I was a teenager, I experienced a family member die in an emergency department that felt cold, uninviting, and exposed. I vowed to design healthcare spaces that feel safe and offer comfort for families.

Name a favorite space or experience you wish you had designed?: If I were asked this question 5 years ago, I would have likely had a different answer. My certain answer today is I wish I designed any space created by the © Walt Disney Imagineering team. Related to my passion for pediatric healthcare design, the environments created by © Disney are an exciting balance of technical and intricate design merged with immersive storytelling. 

How would you describe your leadership style in 3 words?: Subtle, Integrity, Gratitude
What advice would you give to this year's class of emerging leaders?: Embrace your own style of leadership and continue to hone it to be the best version of that leader you can be
Recall a moment you felt the most empowered as a professional Interior Designer?: In general, when people defer to my advice on design without hesitation, it makes me feel trusted and empowered.
Do you have a "design mantra" or saying you find yourself repeating?: Focus on the result.
What makes a project successful for you?: "There are three responses to a piece of design – yes, no and WOW! Wow is the one to aim for” - Milton Glaser. I look for that wow moment after construction is complete, even if it is the non-verbal look of satisfaction in the eyes of the client.
How has IIDA helped you the most in your career?: IIDA has been a consistent source of community support for me as an interior designer. It is a great platform to stay connected. 
How would you explain the difference between a professional Interior Designer vs Interior Decorator to a stranger?: HGTV sometimes can be a misleading reference for people. My most common go-to is explaining that a professional Interior Designer's skills go beyond choosing materials, and is largely involved in space planning, understanding codes, and applying them, and detailing/specifying interior construction.