More Than Cake, It's About People: The Office Revival
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- Attendees - $45
"What will bring employees back to the office?" is one of the most common questions we as architects and designers are asked on a daily basis. While there is no one-size-fits-all secret recipe when it comes to designing the best back-to-office experience, there is one thing that definitely won't have employees crawling back to the workplace: cake. During a recent meeting with a client about the importance of listening to employees, the value of acknowledging their concerns, and involving them in deciding when to make changes, Kristin Cerutti, Regional Design Leader at NELSON Worldwide was shocked when the CEO commented, "I don't get it, no one came to the office today, and we ordered cake." The response sparked a greater question and conversation: What's the magic "thing" that will bring life back into our office spaces? What will convince people to commute two hours, pay for childcare and wait until Sunday to do the laundry? It's surely not a slice of cake. This session will dive into the importance of human connection in encouraging employees to return to the office. Speakers Bevan Bloemendaal and Kristin Cerutti will unpack how to leverage what we missed most about workplaces - human connection - to create and program spaces that are flexible, agile, adaptable, and future proof.
Kristin Cerutti, NCIDQ, LEED AP ID+C, WELL AP
Associate Principal, Regional Design Leader
NELSON Worldwide
As a licensed commercial designer with more than 18 years of experience, Kristin serves as a Regional Design Leader across a wide variety of projects throughout the United States. She holds a B.A. in Interior Architecture from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point and is CIDQ-certified, LEED AP ID+C, and WELL AP accredited. Over the years, she has become a leader in amenity, financial and legal workplace design and is based out of NELSON’s Chicago office. Kristin is often asked to write publications, speak on podcasts and give webinars on the topics of the legal workplace, neurodiversity, designing for inclusion and the workplace of the future. Making other people's lives better is what drives her, and her passions lie with being an adviser to and advocate for others. She says, “When we design for those who need us most, it benefits everyone in the process.” Outside of work, Kristin can be found volunteering for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, creating fiber arts or traveling the world to be inspired by other cultures and the natural world.
Bevan Bloemendaal
Chief Brand and Creative Officer
NELSON Worldwide
Bevan Bloemendaal is an influential thought and creative leader with a collaborative, cross-disciplinary approach to turning strategy and ideation into disruptive marketing solutions. An expert in brand vision and storytelling through design with over 40 years of experience in the industry, Bevan is a firm believer in uniquely combining innovative design with research. At NELSON, he cultivates an unparalleled forward-thinking, whole-brained approach that strengthens the bonds between brand and consumer. Bevan is the recipient of numerous awards for his leadership and projects, including the 2020 Retail Week Design Award for Store of the Year, the 2018 VMSD Excellence in Visual Merchandising and Design Award, and many more. He also sits on the board for VMSD and the Columbus College Art & Design and has served as an Impact Juror for Design and Art Direction (D&AD).
