Forums at MinneCon

Higher Education

Hey! Where's Your Hub?

Learning can take place anywhere. This session shares the result of a Student Video Contest that was designed to give students a voice and have them share their favorite learning space and explain why it makes a difference. The contest, titled "Where do you learn best?," encouraged students to document areas on or off campus that best support their learning. This session will focus on the top contest submissions.

Learning Outcomes:

• Learn more about key factors driving learning space effectiveness, from the viewpoint of today's students.
• Recognize the influence that students can have on shaping effective learning spaces.
• Take away a process that attendees can use to capture similar responses from their own campus.
• Promote discussion about the rapidly changing needs of students and how higher education facilities can respond to those needs.

Presented by Jeff Vredevoogd
Director, Education Solutions
Herman Miller, Inc.

Jeff leads Herman Miller’s efforts regarding learning trends and higher education environments.  Jeff works to expand the understanding of evolving learning trends and the impacts on higher education environments.  Through his involvement with many learning institutions, he helps clients solve the important equation required to create effective learning spaces: people + pedagogy + place = possibilities.

Specific areas of contribution are:

• Maintaining a strong focus on researching changes in teaching and learning and how space can support this evolution
• Developing knowledge and insights that will assist Higher Education leadership in shaping new approaches to campus learning spaces
• Working with clients to develop new approaches to campus learning spaces (learning space strategy, observation, design criteria, change management, etc.)
• Assessment efforts that help leadership understand in the the impact that space can have on teaching and learning

With over 25 years experience in the commercial furniture industry, Jeff works with Higher Education leadership to develop spaces that have a positive impact on teaching and learning.  

Jeff is a member of key Higher Education related organizations, including Educause, Society for College and University Planning and Acuho-i.

Contract Textiles: A Unique View

Course Number: 40180
CEU's: 0.1

This course will acquaint designers with the historical context that Contract Textiles have played in America. Specific quality standards for Contract Textiles will be outlined and explained. Participants will experience some of the recent challenges facing the industry. And lastly, the influence of sustainable products and practices will be examined to show how it has affected the US textile production.

Presented by Charmaine DeMarco

Charmaine DeMarco joined Unika Vaev as Director of Design in April 2008. She began her career at Gretchen Bellinger and has worked for textile manufacturers in various design capacities.  Most recently, Charmaine served as Senior Director of Design of Interface Fabric.  She has been an active member of Color Marketing Group since 1996 serving in leadership roles including a term on the Board of Directors from 2007-2009.

Charmaine earned a B.S. in Economics and a B.F.A. in Textile Design from the University of Kansas. In addition, she was awarded an Honors Program Research Grant to study a Japanese printing technique.

Instinct, Logic and Lunacy

a presentation by Suzanne Tick

Instinct, logic and lunacy claim equal importance as the driver in Suzanne's work as an artist and textile product designer. Drawing on sources as varied as the raw material, manufacturing processes and conceptual ideas, Suzanne's approach is unique and her continual push to innovate is often filled with challenges. In this presentation Suzanne will share her personal experiences of how instinct, logic and abstract thinking can propel an idea through to actualization often resulting in that break thru moment.

How To Specify Carpet for Healthcare Applications

IDCEC Course #4856, W
AIA Course #HTSC01, HSW Approved
Course Credits: 0.2 CEU / 2 LU

This course will educate participants in the intricate and broad ranging issues involved in specifying carpet in Healthcare facilities. By the end of the course, participants will learn manufacturing specifications that will return greater long term appearance through the objectives indicated below.

Course Objectives:
• Environmental Leadership
• Socialization & Mobility
• Glare Reduction
• Safety
• Acoustics
• Infection Control
• Maintenance
• Product Durability
• Roller Mobility
• Pattern & Color
• Backings
• Indoor Air Quality
• Antimicrobials
• Lower Cost of Ownership

Presented by Paul Young

Paul Young is Director of Healthcare Markets for Shaw Contract Group. His responsibilities include marketing, strategic sales support services, market analysis, sales training, voice of the customer, and product planning and positioning, for the healthcare market segments.

Prior to this role, Paul spent 20+ years in new product development. His last assignment was Director of Product Development for The New Patcraft & Designweave, a commercial carpet brand of the Shaw Contract Business Group. Paul’s extensive product development background included designing and producing both broadloom and carpet tile products for all market segments.