Considering the wellbeing of the end-user has never been more critical for designers. According to a recent Gallop survey, Generation Z, the current generation of college students, are experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression at alarming rates. They are struggling with aspects of wellbeing more than previous generations at the same age. Multi-sensory environments can provide restorative and interactive spaces for students lessening the impacts of this troubling trend. This presentation will share the findings of a research study conducted to measure the effectiveness of a multi-sensory environment on reducing perceived stress and anxiety in students. It will also describe the challenges incorporating multi-sensory environments into college campuses, highlight the benefits students experienced, and provide insight into how the space was used. Participants will learn about the myriad of options for creating multi-sensory spaces, how to incorporate elements of play, and preferred aspects of user control and technology. This low-budget yet high-impact project was a collaboration between a global design firm and academia, highlighting a strategy for leveraging partnerships between practice and university. Our aim is to encourage the prioritization of these spaces within college campuses and share the benefits of an innovative collaboration.

As the premier developer of quality standards for interior design education at the college/university level, the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) has a vested interest in design students moving on to thriving, impactful, and rewarding careers. As academic learning concludes, how can mentorship and collaboration--even including the larger design community of allied professionals--be used to support emerging professionals and strengthen professional development ? Does it take a village? Simultaneously, as the practice world undergoes tectonic shifts, how might reverse mentorship be used to harness the knowledge and ambitions of a new generation of designers and ultimately advance the profession at large? Our panel consisting of one interior design educator, one small firm practitioner/owner, and one large firm practitioner at the leadership level will engage in a moderated discussion to explore the connections and pathways between education and practice. The dialog will be focused in the context of several macro trends impacting the future of the design profession, including Environmental Sustainability, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Advanced Technology. How young designers transition from academia to practice is an especially urgent question in a time when the economic and competitive pressures of practice divert attention from mentorship and post-COVID realities have disconnected individuals and teams from leaders and organizational culture.