Women in Design 2018 - 31

Q&A with
Leann Pederson

CHID, IIDA, LEED AP ID+C, Healthcare Interior Designer
RDG Planning & Design
What have been your major
accomplishments since joining the
company?

I'm proud to be one of two Certified Healthcare
Interior Designers (CHID) in the state of Iowa.
The CHID is a rigorous process, just qualifying to
take the exam is a challenge. I'm also proud of my
involvement with the boundary-pushing design
and construction of Nebraska Medicine's Lauritzen
Outpatient Center. Several years of my career
focused on designing this award-winning facility-
from early site tours with the owner to a LEAN 3P
process and through completion as a one-stop shop
facility. The client loves it, the community loves
it, and in two years, it has surpassed its five-year
projections.

What are some of the challenges and
opportunities of being a woman today in
the industry?

It used to be that an interior designer was a woman
(usually) who came in at the end of a project, to
pick finishes and 'make it pretty.' Our capabilities
go deeper than that: The challenge is to break the
mold of expectations. I inquire and ask questions.
My questioning opens the door for dialogue
and deeper involvement, earlier on, building a
knowledge base for space planning through client
meetings and conceptual discussions that impact
the overall design. These are things that have
often been outside the realm of traditional interior
designers. Now, it's an expectation at my firm.

rdgusa.com

Alicia Kelly

Senior Interior Designer
Studio K

Who are you and what have you done?

I joined Studio K just over four years ago in 2014 when I began my first
project, Monteverde, with Principal Karen Herold. Since joining, I have
become a Senior Interior Designer and have completed projects such as
Bellemore and Hotel Zachary in Chicago, and Victory Ranch in Utah. I am
currently working on the Nobu Hotel and Restaurant in Chicago and the next
Girl & the Goat restaurant in Los Angeles.

How did your earlier career choices lead you to where you are
now?

I knew early on in college that I wanted to be a hospitality designer and that
I wanted to move to Chicago. I was probably 19 years old when I started
applying for jobs in that field and landed a secretary job at a local kitchen and
bath remodeling showroom. I worked there throughout college and learned
so much about tile, flooring, countertops, measuring, and installation-all of
which I still use today. Upon graduating from Purdue University, I landed a
job at a small hospitality firm in the West Loop of Chicago where I designed
and managed my first restaurant and bar. Being able to run projects, go to sites,
and do all the documentation at such a young age prepared me for where I am
today. I would later apply to Studio K, which is where I have found my home
and true passion.

studiokcreative.com
http://www.rdgusa.com http://www.rdgusa.com http://www.studiokcreative.com http://www.studiokcreative.com
Women in Design 2018

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