In this edition of our newsletter, we feature
Susan Steeves from SSDG Interiors.
Question: What are your favourite 3 trends in office design right now?
Answer:
1. Culture is driving Design
2. Company’s are interested in understanding what is important to their people
3. Rabbit warrens are gone
Question: In your eyes, what is the most important aspect of designing a new office space, something you must get right?
Answer: Flexibility for the organization to evolve, morph and grow over time. Things are changing so fast right now that companies don’t know what things are going to look like in a year, not to mention 5 years. What is driving people to come into the office every day; will they continue to come to the office now that technology allows people to work anywhere. How to deal with growth. Do we need to provide one desk for every person today, and in the future?
Question: What is the most common fear your clients have when starting a new relationship to design their space?
Answer: Not being able to do everything their people want in the new space. The reality is that we can pretty much solve everything one way or another. It just might not be the way everyone thinks of it.
Question: Where did you work before SSDG?
Answer: Public Works in Ottawa. I did most of my work on Parliament Hill with Ministers, MP’s and public spaces. I met so many interesting people. I was only 22 and my boss would send me to meet with people without always telling me who. Most notably, we met with Mila Mulroney’s secretary to design her office. I also did spaces for the Speaker of the House and the Sargent at Arms. In fact the Sargent of Arms had me to a special dinner when I was leaving to move to Vancouver. They were very good to me.
Question: What is your favourite part about working at SSDG?
Answer: I love the people that I work with. We work hard, but we also have so much fun together. It is very rewarding to work with such talented people and to see how closely they work together and learn from each other.
Question: What do you love to do on a Saturday in Vancouver? Provided you’re not working.
Answer: I like to start with a cup of tea and then play tennis or golf. Then finish the day having dinner with either friends or family.
Question: What is your “go to” karaoke song to sing?
Answer: Can’t hold a tune, you don’t want me to even try to sing 😉
Question: Tell us something that might surprise us about you.
Answer: Loved skiing moguls; tucked Chunkies Choice at Whistler. Didn’t blow up until the washboard at the very bottom!
Pictured: Wales McLelland, completed early 2017