From small-town planning to dense urban redevelopment and from manufacturing floors to higher-ed campuses, our Men’s Roundtable brings together a cross-section of voices shaping how and where we live, work and build. The conversation spans housing pressures, workplace reinvention, affordability challenges, mentorship and the fast-moving influence of artificial intelligence (AI). What emerges is a clear look at the real forces reshaping design and construction today, and the creative energy driving the industry forward.
Participants included: Kyle Woodstra, Owner/President, KW Designs; Raul Garcia, Principal/Director of Design, BR Design Associates; Jake Spector, Project Architect, Spector Group Architects; David Shove-Brown, Principal Architect, 3877; Ryan Smith, Chief Creative Officer, 3form Companies, and founder, LightArt Lighting; and Jason Jones, Principal, Ankrom Moisan Architects.
CCR: Give us a snapshot of what you do.
Ankrom Moisan’s Jones: Ankrom Moisan is a Pacific Northwest architecture firm that started from a two-person practice into a team of 200. We work collaboratively across architecture, interior design, urban planning and brand identity, serving a wide range of sectors that includes student housing, higher education, affordable housing, healthcare, hospitality, multi-family housing, office, retail, community and senior communities. With offices in Portland, Seattle and San Francisco, we design projects nationwide.
3form’s Smith: We are a U.S.-based architectural materials manufacturer specializing in translucent architectural panels and decorative surfaces. With 400 employees, the company also operates a lighting business. Smith emphasizes the importance of domestic manufacturing and the satisfaction of bringing design into built reality.
//3877’s Shove-Brown: //3877 is a 15-year-old firm based in D.C. focusing on hotel, hospitality, restaurant and fitness projects, along with select multifamily and higher education work. The firm has grown from two founders to more than 40 employees and continues to navigate post-COVID growth challenges.
BR Design Associates’ Garcia-Moncada: BR Design Associates is a boutique interior design firm based in New York City. This year, we’re celebrating 40 years of international work focusing on commercial interiors with a hospitality flair, with a strong focus on storytelling, brand alignment and, most importantly, the user experience.
KW Designs’ Woudstra: Kyle Woudstra with KW Designs. I’m the President and the owner. We’re located in Laurens, South Carolina. We are a full-service architectural firm who cater our larger range of expertise to specific client’s needs. We work on Master planning, commercial and residential projects small and large.
Spectorgroup’s Spector: I’m a project architect at Spectorgroup, a multidisciplinary design practice headquartered in Manhattan. The firm was originally founded by my grandfather in the mid-’60s, so it means a lot to me to represent a third generation here. Today, we work across a wide range of sectors from workplace and mixed-use projects to retail and education. Our focus is always on creating experiences that genuinely connect people to their environments.
CCR: What are you seeing out there today?
KW Designs’ Woudstra: I live in a small town in Laurens, South Carolina where we’re trying to preserve its small-town character while still planning for thoughtful growth. Currently, we are working on updating the town’s master plan as we balance that vision with interest from big developers who want to bring in large tracts of housing.
We finally have zoning in place to help guide that work and we’re looking at how to add multifamily or mixed-use development that still aligns with the historic downtown. That could mean a larger building designed to feel like a series of smaller storefronts.
We also have an old cotton mill and an old glass mill in town and we’re exploring adaptive reuse opportunities for both. One of the biggest challenges I see is the need for entry-level housing. With rising real estate values, it’s tough because developers want to maximize the return on their land, so most new projects target mid to higher end buyers. Entry-level options are harder to create, which leaves many people relying on the existing building stock.
BR Design Associates’ Garcia-Moncada: We’re living in an interesting moment for housing in New York City. After Hurricane Sandy, many downtown buildings were damaged by flooding, and a lot of companies moved to Midtown. Downtown sat empty for a long time, and now many of those office buildings are being repurposed and repositioned as housing.
What happens next depends on the government and how policy takes shape, especially with a new mayor in place. It’s going to be an interesting time for New York as we try to balance high-end residential with the need for housing that’s accessible to everyone. So we’ll see where this goes.
Spectorgroup’s Spector: When you first posed the question, I immediately thought about what we’ve been seeing downtown with residential conversions. Now that same rezoning energy is moving into Midtown. There’s more mixed-use zoning being proposed and more buildings are being sold with the intent of converting them to residential.
That shift has created an entirely new professional niche where firms specialize in commercial-to-residential conversions. The egress requirements and the mechanical systems are complex, and you need a detailed hand to work through the code, especially in those downtown buildings with massive floorplates. Midtown buildings are smaller, which makes the work a bit more manageable.
On the other hand, we also see how this plays out in the commercial sector. Many businesses still want to stay in Midtown because of the convenience of transit so we’re watching a consolidation of office space.
Companies want mixed-use buildings where they can find their long-term footing. As residential demand shifts and Midtown absorbs more of that demand, it’s interesting to see how this impacts the sectors that have traditionally defined the area.
“Workplace is barely the right word anymore. Everything feels more residential because clients want spaces that feel as personal as home.” — Jake Spector, Spector Group
//3877’s Shove-Brown: We could spend an hour talking about residential development in D.C. alone. The cost of living has been a driving force for years. My wife and I bought our first house before we got married, thanks to a federal tax credit for renovating older buildings. We were just trying to bring back a D.C. townhouse that had seen better days. Fast forward 12 years, we sold it and looked like the smartest investors in the world. It was dumb luck. The city was growing and changing around us.
Now many of my younger employees are struggling to afford anything in the city. To meet that demand, we’re seeing new multi-unit mixed-use properties in places that never had them near Union Station or Union Market.
We’re also seeing more adaptive reuse efforts. The challenge in D.C. is block size. Many government and office buildings were built on full or half blocks and the geometry does not support easy conversion. Add in height restrictions and you’ve got buildings that are almost impossible to turn into residential or hospitality. The math just does not work.
So you have owners sitting on office buildings that have been empty for years and they do not know what to do with them. There’s a real disconnect as the city continues to evolve and gentrify. D.C. changes week to week. A government shutdown can shift the entire energy of the city overnight. It’s a fascinating moment right now.
It’s interesting to see how all of this affects each of us especially when you look at rising costs and now interest rates and the overall cost of living. That adds a different level of strain and stress on homeowners or people trying to become homeowners. In D.C., there’s a very real disconnect.
This is a really interesting topic for me. I love housing. I read and listen to a lot about it. At my core, I’m an architect builder. I love that universe. But I do have a bit of a contrarian perspective on housing because I keep hearing this idea of oversupply and I cannot reconcile it for myself.
Here’s an example. Everyone right now is presumably living somewhere. Most people have a roof over their head. So how do we define oversupply? Then you look at what has happened with Airbnb. You look at the flipper market. I have family in California and I went to an open house just for fun. I had heard that about 25% of the houses in that area were flippers. I asked the realtor if that was accurate and he said yes.
Twenty-five percent of the available housing supply is tied up in flipping. Add the investor ownership conversation and it becomes clear we’re in a dislocated zone where the market is highly leveraged with too much money flowing through it over the last 15 years.
I’ve lived through enough cycles to see the patterns. I’ve got gray hair to prove it. I’ve lived through ’87, ’95, ’01 and ’08.
We’re all a little deluded by the idea that we have a housing shortage when a huge volume of supply is simply caught up in the system. I think there’s plenty of housing. It just got locked into this crazy upward cycle and we haven’t seen the reset yet. When that happens, the market will recalibrate.
Permitting will start to slow down and people will ask what the real goals are. That’s where adaptive reuse becomes interesting because commutes and work patterns have shifted. But right now, we’re in a tough spot because the correction hasn’t hit yet.
Ankrom Moisan’s Jones: I look at student housing through two lenses: on-campus housing and purpose-built student housing. One is funded by the university, and the other by private developers. Public funding comes with political pressure, and that strain on campus budgets is pushing universities to explore public-private partnerships. That is why we are seeing so many P3 projects at Tier 1 schools on the East Coast and in the Midwest.
On the private development side, securing financing has become more difficult due to higher interest rates. If a project is not within a block of a Tier 1 university, banks are not interested. Those are the only deals moving forward right now. Affordability also is a major challenge. We talk about it daily. How do we offer strong amenities while keeping units and beds affordable?
Students are aware of the debt they are taking on, and parents know precisely what they are paying for. Developers are adjusting their strategies, with some forming joint ventures to pursue larger, denser projects, since density is key.
We also are seeing more renovations. Many facilities are reaching the end of their lifespan, and campuses do not have the funding to rebuild. So, they are replacing windows, updating mechanical systems and refreshing interiors. Developers with large portfolios are doing the same. Instead of selling, they are reinvesting and remodeling. The focus now is on finding new ways to make the numbers work.
“Collaboration is still important but coexistence is gaining momentum. People want spaces where they can share the room and still have their own lane.” — Raul Garcia, VR Design Associates
CCR: How the market is addressing affordability is a hot topic. What trends are you coming up with?
Ankrom Moisan’s Jones: We are seeing a few major design trends rise to the forefront right now. Wellness and community are leading the way, along with a growing focus on neurodivergence. It is an important issue that deserves real attention, and we believe architecture has a significant role to play.
Student suicide rates are high, so the question becomes: How do we create communities that may not solve the problem entirely but foster environments where students can truly thrive? That influences everything from materials and lighting to circulation and strong connections to the campus and the broader community.
Sustainability and resilience also are major drivers. Institutional requirements continue to increase and new energy codes for multifamily housing are pushing innovation. Students expect sustainable design. It is no longer an added bonus. It is the baseline.
We also are seeing more densification and a stronger global influence within student housing. Communities are becoming more international, which is exciting even as the political climate shifts around them.
And finally, we are only beginning to explore what AI can do. Its integration into multifamily design is opening new conversations about smart environments, entertainment and the ways technology can shape the future of student living.
3form’s Smith: I always love this topic. We look at it through a manufacturing lens because we’re a local manufacturer. Being in Utah puts us within reach of most of the U.S. and the whole “Building Things in America” conversation is heating up. We’ve always made things here so for us it’s less about following a trend and more about explaining why it matters.
I’m an old-fashioned builder at heart. I love working with my hands. My best summers in high school were spent doing construction. It feels like we’ve lost that conversation around the trades.
The whole BABA universe—Build America Buy America—is a big question for a lot of people. Some of it is political but a lot of them are practical. Things cost more. If you ship them shorter distances, you save money. There’s a logic to that and I appreciate the simplicity behind it. But life never gets simpler. There’s always a new program or platform. As manufacturers, we’re being asked to do more because design offices run out of hours and systems keep getting more complex.
One of the biggest trends we’re seeing is the need for simpler systems. If we can take A, B and C—pieces that used to come from different sources—and combine them into one integrated solution it takes a huge load off designers and end users. Clients love the easy button. They want one source, one system, one answer. It sounds obvious but in a world that keeps getting more complex it stands out.
From a simple manufacturing perspective, the question is how we make the process easier for everyone. And I think that desire for simplicity is going to keep growing because the need is already here.
//3877’s Shove-Brown: There are two ways I could answer this. We can talk about design trends in the markets we serve, or we can talk about trends shaping our business. Like Jason said, AI sits at the center of both. On the design side, hotel hospitality and restaurant work is incredibly competitive.
Years ago, a Marriott in Salt Lake looked the same as a Marriott in D.C. I remember staying in one and the artwork on the wall was Union Station because that was the brand playbook. Every property looked the same.
Now that mindset has shifted. An experience in Salt Lake should feel different than an experience in Boston or Miami, so we must understand the local context and the level of competition. We want to create something memorable, but we still must make the numbers work. That means putting in the right amount of design effort to deliver solutions that fit the budget and are sustainable without telling the client the cost has tripled since last week.
For us, AI and other tools are part of that efficiency equation. The technology is powerful, but it can get so complex that our own teams get bogged down in minutiae. We can create amazing renderings but then lose hours detailing the bolt that connects two pieces of structure.
Sometimes you just want to say let’s build the building. So, we use AI third-party drafting teams and whatever else helps streamline the process. It all feeds into the service we provide and helps clients push their design without blowing their budgets.
“In architecture communication is everything. It is how we share the vision and guide the process that turns that vision into reality.” — Kyle Woudstra, KW Designs
Spectorgroup’s Spector: We’re seeing a similar shift. We’re working closely with GCs and sub-contractors earlier in the process so detailing is addressed upfront and integrated directly into our CDs. It saves time. It saves money. It keeps the project on schedule and it reduces waste for everyone involved.
On the design side, everything feels more residential. Clients want spaces that are warm and comfortable. They want environments that feel as personal as home. We’re seeing warm tones, deeper investment in furniture, and an overall level of intention that wasn’t there a few years ago. That investment makes the work more exciting, and it elevates the final design in a meaningful way.
BR Design Associates’ Garcia-Moncada: In the post-pandemic return-to-office era, clients are seeking spaces that make people feel special and grounded. They want environments that feel uniquely theirs and offer perks of exclusivity and experiences they cannot get at home, while still providing the comfort and warmth of home. The design process is shifting toward celebrating individuality and choice within organizations. Collaboration remains important, but coexistence is gaining momentum.
You see this everywhere—coffee shops, libraries and other places people gather. They aren’t necessarily interacting; they’re simply sharing space and working side by side. Members-only co-working and networking spaces are a clear example. In New York, examples include Zero Bond, The Ned and even Soho House in its own category. The goal is to create environments where people can connect, relax and still maintain privacy while being around others.
We’re also seeing a significant rise in phone rooms and retreat spaces designed for heads-down work. Before the pandemic, everything revolved around constant collaboration. Now, people are seeking balance: The ability to coexist with others, while also having the option to step away when focus is needed.
KW Designs’ Woudstra: We’re seeing different trends across the markets we serve but a lot of it comes down to construction detailing and cost. Every contractor has a preference. One might want a stem wall foundation while another prefers a turndown. We work with our engineering partners to include both as options when we can so the contractor can choose what is most economical. You cannot do that with every detail, but there are places where it makes the process easier and more cost-effective.
We also get a lot of calls from clients who say the city told them they need to add something major like a sprinkler system. We always take a step back and complete an in-depth code review. We had a 30,000 square foot warehouse where the owner assumed sprinklers were required.
Based on use and location they were not. We shared our code review with the building official and fire marshal and they agreed. The client was thrilled as it saved them nearly $250,000 while maintaining the life safety requirements for the building.
That is the essence of the bang-for-the-buck conversation. Prices are up. Everyone wants good design but they need it to be cost-effective. Strategies like non-separated mixed-use can help simplify inspections and reduce cost when the conditions allow it.
Because we work across so many typologies, we can cross-pollinate ideas. If a client wants a pre-engineered metal building for a small retail space, we will look at whether a simple wood structure is faster and more cost-effective. Sometimes they still choose the metal building because it gives them flexibility for future expansion. The point is to explore the options and understand what will serve them best.
One trend that keeps coming up is not about design at all. It is about availability. Clients want to know how fast we can start and how quickly we can deliver. They want to know if they will have direct access to us. Larger firms may quote four months for a small project. We can often get it done in one. That speed and direct communication matters. We are a small, but efficient firm and when clients call, they work directly with me.
And a lot of that comes from clients having trouble with past design teams that were simply non-responsive. Those last few points have become a trend we are hearing more when people call us for the first time. Oddly, we’re still a little surprised every time we hear it.
It’s kind of step one. In the architectural field, communication is everything. My colleagues can confirm that. We’re not just designing the building and handing over an instruction manual on how to build it.
Communication is how we share the vision and guide the process that turns that vision into reality. Timely responses and clear communication are two trends we’re seeing more often because clients are asking for them right out of the gate.
“You can go out and try to sign the ace and the all stars or you can invest in a strong farm system. We believe in building the farm system.” — David Shove-Brown, 3877
CCR: Are any of your firms involved in mentoring young people who want to get into the trades?
KW Designs’ Woudstra: We’ve done a little of that in the past and we’re always open to it. Because we’re a smaller firm it’s harder to have a full setup for mentoring or hands-on training. But when people ask if we are willing, we’re more than happy to help. We’ve been invited to speak at high schools and grade schools to talk about the field and we always say yes. We just do not have a formal program in place.
In past firms, I have worked for larger companies, however I was very involved in training and mentoring younger employees, and would make a point of bringing them to jobsites as well, as seeing it under construction helps better understand what you are drawing.
BR Design Associates’ Garcia-Moncada: While we don’t have a formal program at the firm, we’re very involved through IIDA NY, the International Interior Design Association of NY. A lot of designers here in the city are active members, and they take full advantage of those initiatives. IIDA has specific programs for students who are considering careers in interior design and architectural roles, and we support those efforts.
Spectorgroup’s Spector: We don’t have a formal program, but we have many internal processes to support the development of our junior staff. We have office-wide training sessions on topics like Building Information Modeling (BIM) and regularly bring in vendors for presentations. Watching young people grow within our firm is so rewarding.
We also regularly bring on students as interns—one in the winter and one in the summer. Giving students real-world experience and helping them get a strong start in the field is still very effective at keeping young people inspired and engaged in the architecture industry.
3form’s Smith: This idea of working with your hands and really understanding the built environment is huge for us as a manufacturer. I love reminding people how hard it actually is to build something. It’s hard to move a product through a factory and have it come out exactly as designed. That alone teaches so much.
We support three programs that lean into that hands-on learning. One is a local partnership with the University of Utah. We provide material for a project their students build every year on the Navajo reservation. The students design and build a structure, and it goes to a family selected by the community. It is an incredible program, and I love the hands-on nature of it.
On a simpler level we donate samples to programs and schools so students can touch the material. That tactile connection matters. When someone can hold something, they start to understand how it works and maybe it sparks an idea they can bring into a project.
The third program is with The Ohio State University. A professor there asked how to connect new students with a real manufacturer. That opened the door to talk about what happens beyond the screen. Students draw something in software but what does it mean in the real world in terms of temperature, light tolerances and fabrication? We gave them material, and I told them I wanted the students to actually cut it. They have a full shop and a CNC, so they were able to dive in and work directly with the material.
Those cross-collaborations are where the light bulb moments happen. You take something conceptual then touch it and make something out of it. They are small steps but if we can help spark that curiosity even a little, I love that.
Ankrom Moisan’s Jones: Mentorship is something I care about deeply. It is a big part of our culture at Ankrom Moisan. I currently serve as a research advisor for a group of graduate students in Portland State University’s architecture program, where we are studying modular housing and workforce housing and exploring ways to make it more affordable for college faculty and staff. Working directly with that group has been incredibly rewarding.
We also are very involved with ULI and the mentorship programs. They offer at both the high school and college levels. Giving back keeps me energized. It keeps us connected to the next generation of talent. You get to see what students are curious about and where the industry is heading. After spending time with these students recently, I can say there is a lot of hope for the future.
CCR: How are you using AI today and where do you see it taking your work in the future?
Ankrom Moisan’s Jones: I will start with this. People worry that AI is going to replace this or replace that, but it will never replace human connection. It will not replace communication or the one-on-one work we do. That is the core of who we are as storytellers and builders. When you look at it that way, AI becomes what it really is: a tool. A powerful one. Another tool in the toolbox, just like the computer was.
We are already finding real value in it, and we are investing heavily as a firm. Like many others, we are exploring AI as both a data source and a data-driven design tool. We are using it for visualizations and concept development with clients. We have also started using it for zoning and code research, with one big caveat. It can hallucinate. We treat it like a very intelligent intern. You still have to back-check the work.
Where it becomes exciting is regenerative design. Can AI generate one hundred design options instead of the ten we have the staffing to produce? Can it help us reach better solutions faster? We are also looking at performance-driven design and what AI can offer in terms of life-cycle intelligence and smart-building operations. Tracking movement, tracking habits, adjusting the environment in real time. It becomes fascinating when you think of a building as an organism that can respond to the people inside it.
There are a lot of opportunities ahead, and I believe we are going to see massive change in the next five years. It will be interesting to see where it goes.
“Students expect sustainable design. It is not a bell and whistle anymore. It is the baseline.” — Jason Jones, Ankrom Moisan
3form’s Smith: We all feel this. I’ll answer it on three levels. First, what would be amazing with AI? I am so tired of learning new programs. I learned AutoCAD. I learned some old Unix programs back in the day. Every time Photoshop releases a new version I feel like I have no idea how to use it.
So, imagine a future where you just talk to your drawing program. Move that over here. Shift that a little. It would be incredible because it removes this awkward barrier between what we know and what the software lets us do. That’s the hopeful side.
How we use AI now is much more practical. One of our team members on the claims and contractor side said if he writes an email, it never sounds great so he runs it through AI and it smooths everything out. We all use it that way. We’re also using it a little in sales. We record a call—with permission—and AI summarizes it. Were you effective? Did you hit your points? What did you miss? Did you deliver what you were supposed to? It’s amazing to have that kind of feedback.
The long-term future is the part that’s both exciting and terrifying. From a manufacturing perspective I tell people we are translators of the built environment. Even now any fully computerized experience still feels shallow. There’s a term for it: “inshittification”— technology getting harder to deal with as it scales.
But the physical world still matters. Things still have to go through machines. They have to be built, palletized and installed. We still need humans who can translate ideas into physical reality for a very long time.
Some jobs will disappear. No question. But a huge number of jobs will remain because we live in an analog world and someone has to bridge the gap between digital and physical. That human condition piece is what keeps the future from feeling too dark.
//3877’s Shove-Brown: This is another long discussion. We remind everyone that AI is basically a search engine. It only works with the information it can find which can be great or a colossal disaster. If someone asks Google AI for the code requirements in New Mexico and it spits out something from 1993 that’s a disaster waiting to happen. It happens more than you’d think.
AI can do great things with renderings but if you don’t know what information you’re asking for, you’re going to get garbage. The prompts matter. We are using AI more. I use it all the time when I write. We run automated reviews on spreadsheets.
And to Ryan’s point, our new payroll software has an AI tool that analyzes tone in performance reviews. My father was a Green Beret. His tone would have been one tone. Now AI tells you if your tone is kind, too aggressive or too soft. It’s wild.
It can make me sound less like an idiot and it can help me adjust tone but at the end of the day if you don’t put in the right information you’re going to get garbage out. That’s the part people forget.
Spectorgroup’s Spector: Most of us were introduced to AI through chatbots. While that’s useful, the work we do is far more specific: It lives in the details and the minutiae. We keep testing new tools as they come out. We’re using AI for post-processing renderings, for code research, and even for digging into hardware details and explaining small parts of the job.
Looking ahead, I wonder if we’ll reach the point where I can feed AI three or four drawing sets I’ve produced and ask it to generate a drawing package for a new project that matches my style.
That brings up the bigger question. If an AI produces those drawings and I’m the one stamping them, is that still responsible control? Can I legally and ethically stamp a set created by AI? Instinctively I want to say no. But if the software becomes accurate enough does that answer change? At some point it might.
BR Design Associates’ Garcia-Moncada: My spouse is an editor and is absolutely terrified of anything produced by ChatGPT or any AI tool. There’s a formulaic rhythm to AI writing, and for someone who has spent years editing books, it’s unsettling. He freaks out every time. But for me, as a designer and storyteller, I see it differently.
We’re already comfortable with words. We know how to present. We know how to frame ideas. So, when we take a sketch or a rough rendering and run it through Midjourney using the same language we use with clients, it can turn into something magical. Yes, it can be a miss, but it can also be a powerful tool. It helps us polish our presentation voice through the technology itself.
For us, it’s been incredibly useful. Budgets are tight. Fees are tight. Clients want more and more to stay competitive. AI gives us shortcuts to create high-quality presentation materials fast. Tasks that used to take forever in Photoshop can now be done in seconds with a few words. It’s like the dream I had in architecture school, where I imagined having a USB port in my head, sending ideas straight to the plotter. This is the digital version of that. It’s basically architectural Cliff Notes. I love it.
“We are translators of the built environment in a very analog world and someone still has to turn ideas into physical reality.” — Ryan Smith, 3form
KW Designs’ Woudstra: We don’t really use AI much internally right now. I’m still a little old school. I went from hand drafting to Data-CAD to MicroStation to AutoCAD. At my last firm, we were getting ready to move into Revit and I remember thinking exactly what Jason said, “I don’t want to learn another program. I’m good.’
AI has potential in areas like renderings and walkthroughs. Those can be great value-adds. But Jake made a really important point. When you get into detailed design construction documents and even building code searches there’s real danger. If AI produces something, can I sign and seal it?
I agree with Jake—the answer is no. It was not created under your supervision and you don’t know every detail. At the end of the day, we are dealing with life safety.
So, I see where AI can be helpful and I know some contractors we work with are already using it in different ways. I don’t begrudge anyone who does. But for our firm, we’re not using it in our day-to-day work right now.
CCR: What are some of your goals moving forward?
Spector Group’s Spector: My goal is to get out there more and meet more people. I’m going into my fifth year in architecture after working as a contractor with a little grad school in between. I’m trying to connect with more people in architecture and real estate and really every part of the industry we’re all part of here.
//3877’s Shove-Brown: My kid has two years left in high school, and then she’ll be off to college and running her own life. My resolution is to work less. I still work hard but trust my team more, delegate more and carve out time because life is moving fast. Kyle’s right, you have to make time for the things that warm your heart and your soul. For me, that means more time with my family and maybe embarrassing myself on a golf course, but having fun doing it.
3form’s Smith: I wasn’t sure whether to give a personal answer or a business one, so I’ll split it up. Personally, I’ve been painting. Creativity feels like life’s magic lesson and the most illuminating way to spread positivity. I’d love to put together enough work to talk about it and show it. It has been a ton of fun.
On the work side, I’m completely obsessed with 3D printing. We’ve pushed some recent products through that process, and I think every manufacturer is going to need it. If you don’t have it you’re going to be out in the wind. It’s that interesting and that important. My goal is to learn more about it each year. And I’m trying to convince every employee and their kids to have a 3D printer at home. I had that exact conversation with a friend last week.
Ankrom Moisan’s Jones: For me, it comes down to two things. On a personal level, I am always working on being present with family, friends and at work. It is something I am constantly striving toward.
Professionally, we are deep into thought leadership right now. We just wrapped up our strategic retreat, which set a lot of new direction for the firm and for our higher education studio. I am excited to dig in and start sharing our research and our ideas with the world.
BR Design Associates’ Garcia-Moncada: I have to finish my certification in fashion styling. I’ve been spending a lot of time learning about how other industries approach design. I’ve done creative fragrance development. Fragrance evaluation and now fashion styling, and that’s just to keep the creative juices flowing.
KW Designs’ Woudstra: Perhaps an odd one, not really related to this discussion, but if I had to have a New Year’s resolution, it’d be getting a little deeper in my Bible, getting a little bit closer to the Gospel.
