RECAP: Top Designers Discuss the Future of Transportation

November 19th, 2016 / New York, NY
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Panelists and IIDA members, from left to right, Katherine Plunkett (Knowledge Forum co-director), Kashyap Bhimjiani, John di Domenico, Nathan Strieter, Tom Sembros, Alejandra Munizaga (Knowledge Forum co-director), Temoor Ahmad.

Top transportation designers gathered to discuss how design impacts journeys from subways to airports.

On Saturday, November 12th, the New York School of Interior Design (NYSID) was filled with design students eager to learn how design impacts travel. Hosted by the International Interior Design Association’s (IIDA) New York Chapter, the Knowledge Forum event ‘A Traveler’s Journey’ featured panelists from all sides of transportation design, from ground to marine and aviation.

Moderated by Tom Sembros, a NYSID student and former IIDA NY Knowledge Forum student representative, each of the panelists addressed a different topic in a case study presentation prior to partaking in a Q&A style panel. Airport design was discussed by Kashyap Bhimjiani of Gensler, railroad and subway design was tackled by John di Domenico of di Domenico + Partners, transportation’s effect on and interaction with cities was addressed by Temoor Ahmad of Grimshaw Architects, and Nathan Strieter of Skidmore Owings and Merrill spoke to what sets transportation design apart from other fields. “When you are in transit, you are nowhere,” said Streiter. “So you have to be aspirational about where you’re going but also be outside of that place — and you need a sense of order, clarity, and vision.”

Discussion of working with decades-old, sometimes crumbling, infrastructures was an area that was touched on, with the consensus being that it is a challenging reality of the job. “What’s happening in a transportation project is you can’t just shut it down, you need to leave it operating,” said di Domenico. “You’re taking a job that could take a year or few years, and breaking it into fifteen pieces and trying to maintain a safe operating environment while all this is going on.”

Another common thread throughout the afternoon was how transportation was shifting from purely a way to move people to an all-encompassing lifestyle experience. With integrated technologies and comfort-conscious features, the consumer’s preferences take high priority in design.

Attendees left the event buzzing with insights into the ways design impacts our daily lives and commutes, and what the future of transportation may look like.

About IIDA NY

The IIDA New York Chapter is a professional networking and educational association of more than 800 Members in ten specialty Forums. IIDA NY provides members with the resources to reach expertise, knowledge and contacts. Networking events allow professionals and industry members to connect on more personal terms that encourage trust, collaboration, and innovation.

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