Behind the List

Cheryl Doran

Interior Designer

Pellham Phillips Hagerman

Most recent community involvement:

President for the past two years of the Springfield Design Association; Council member for Salute to Construction.

What was the most significant development in your industry in the last year?

"Green design." Manufacturers are developing practical pollution prevention technologies and lowering costs by recycling and using fewer raw materials, while creating better products.

What do you feel is the biggest trend to watch for in your industry this year?

Architecture and products that reflect a more contemporary design. Clean lines and strong accent colors.

Laura Daly

Interior Designer

Buxton Kubik Interior

Most recent community involvement:

Springfield Design Association, Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Interior Design work at Springfield Exposition Center and Springfield Regional Girls Shelter.

What was the most significant development in your industry in the last year?

Open office design The concept of designing a space that maximizes visibility and promotes interaction between employees and employers, leaving nothing to hide in or around the office.

What do you feel is the biggest trend to watch for in your industry this year?

"Green Design." The use of environmentally friendly products such as carpet, wall covering and fabric that are made from recycled materials and are developed by a reduction in total energy output.

Marilyn Raines, ASID

Owner/Designer

Final Touch Interiors

Most recent community involvement:

Springfield Executive Breakfast Club, Alzheimer's Association

What was the most significant development in your industry in the last year?

Broadening of the licensing laws for registered designers (the bill should be signed very soon). SMSU hiring an additional instructor in the interior design department, which will facilitate the university becoming fiber accredited.

What do you feel is the biggest trend to watch for in your industry this year?

Because of TV home improvement shows, people have become more aware of what is out there and what can be done to their homes. Increased demand for improved lighting (artificial and natural).

Tom Walsh

President/COO

Grooms Office Environments

Most recent community involvement:

(I) have recently moved to Springfield within past year. Still exploring community opportunities to become involved in.

What was the most significant development in your industry in the last year?

The movement to designing space utilizing 120-degree configurations and less use of 90-degree angles. This has the potential to increase the number of workstations in the same space, compared to 90-degree cubicles. It also provides more interesting layouts and improved ways to use the space.

What do you feel is the biggest trend to watch for in your industry this year?

There is a clear trend developing in space being more flexible. Fewer and fewer office spaces are being used for only one purpose. The same space is being used for collaboration, work teams, individual "hot spots," client meetings or brainstorming sessions. Less structural walls are being used and more flexible furniture is incorporated into facilities to allow and encourage the space to adjust to the need.

Kris Evans

Principal/Interior Designer

Interior Planning Consultants Inc.

Most recent community involvement:

The Victim Center, Summit Optimist Club.

What was the most significant development in your industry in the last year?

The rise in the introduction of environmentally friendly products (such as wall coverings, and carpets) for designers to implement "green design."

What do you feel is the biggest trend to watch for in your industry this year?

The revitalization of the 60s, with the utilization of stylized patterns in fabrics and wall coverings in bright, colorful palettes, and furnishings with tremendous availability in new shapes, sizes and finish options.