Specifically developed for emerging designers within their first few years of practice and graduating design students, GO PRO 2015 gathered the best and brightest to learn from industry thought leaders and connect with peer design professionals to inspire their work and launch their careers.
The GO PRO conference was an enlightening experience for me in many ways. From having the chance to tour the Barclays Center, to hearing first-hand from SHoP architects who designed the space, I couldn’t help but take in all of the knowledge being offered by the talented design professionals I met.
The opportunity to represent my interior design department from the Savannah College of Art and Design was rewarding beyond my expectation. At one event, I had the chance to speak with well-regarded professionals and to make connections with other up and coming design students like myself. From my perspective, building those connections was the primary highlight of my experience in Brooklyn.
I heard about this conference through a professor in my program. As a student, spending time outside of the studio atmosphere and learning about real world projects is eye opening and leads me to think about design details that I generally would not explore deeply in my student work. Nadine Berger and Ayumi Sugiyama from SHoP Architects presented a unique perspective on the details required to complete such an immense project. I never would have learned about this without attending GO PRO.
Whether describing the lighting on the façade exterior beams or creating successful way finding through the space, Nadine and Ayumi were gracious enough to answer our questions and explain their conceptual process. The design fits the ‘urban grit’ of its Brooklyn neighborhood location while creating a beautiful experiential space on the interior, and a sense of unity and cohesive design throughout all levels of the complex.
The importance of the collaboration between all contributors to the design was a key focus of GO PRO. The harmony between collaboration, constructability, and resources is imperative to a successful project.
Mia Hall of the Barclays Center discussed the impact of the space in relation to creating community through place. The need to cultivate relationships with the neighborhood was paramount, and was achieved, in part, by creating memorable events for all of the community to enjoy.
My experience at GO PRO was enhanced by the friendships I formed with others during our short time together. Sharing this experience with other peer designers was key for the success of the conference. I highly recommend this opportunity because as students, there is no greater goal than creating first-hand connections with the professional community we will join upon graduation.
About the Author
Megan Stout is a Senior at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia. She is majoring in Interior Design, with a minor in architectural history.
