Krueger, Jessica

I pride myself in being kind towards others no matter their beliefs or origin story. I feel as though being inclusive and creating safe environments for people is very important, especially in this day and age. It is my goal to make the people I meet feel welcomed and wanted in any situation because I know this isn’t always the case. I also believe in creating connection wherever you go. Life is based solely on the interactions you have with one another and by creating connections, you are gaining valuable life experiences. I do think it is important, however, to have intentional relationships with the people you connect with, this is a great way to start forming a community of like-minded individuals who share the same drive for humanitarianism. I am driven to build a community that not only uplifts and values each other, but also instills confidence in one another. The community I am building within my studio friend group and personal friend group are committed to creating intentional connections and are inventive in the way they promote confidence and uplift one another. It’s important for me to become friends with people who are considerate of the values I hold and will also hold them as well.

Do you have any plans after this semester?

Following this semester, I’d like to take some time to update my portfolio with this project and make sure it’s ready to send to firms. I plan to start looking for and applying to internships for the upcoming summer.

What type of designer would you like to be?

I would like to specialize in workplace or hospitality design. I want to develop spaces centered around the user, elevating their experience upon entering and advocating for inclusivity. I hope to create authentic spaces that make users curious and spark inspiration.

Can you tell me about any problems you ran into in the studio or outside?

I had a hard time balancing my social life and studio work. It was hard to find time for another outlet to relieve stress during the semester.

What kind of place would you like to design next?

I would be really interested in designing a hotel or a multi-use office space. I enjoy designing spaces that serve diverse functions and purposes within the building.

What do you think makes a good workplace?

A good workplace involves spaces designated for different work modes, as well as multi-functional spaces. When designing a workplace you need to consider what spaces will be used for working, socializing, meeting and learning and what spaces can be used to combine these work modes. A good workplace also advocates for authenticity and inclusivity, as well as collaboration and technology integration.

Can you tell me what evidence-based design means to you?

To me, evidence-based design means to truly understand the client you are designing for. You should know not only their needs but also their wants and the values they hold. Using these aspects when designing a space will lead you to a result that empowers your client and meets the requirements and functions of the space. This involves the understanding of demographics, site analysis, program analysis and concept development when heading into the space planning and design of a space.

Compared to previous semesters, the semester may be challenging in many ways, but you may be able to see your accomplishments. Reviewing your accomplishments, what did you learn from this studio?

This semester we got to experience the process of design, including 4 of the 5 phases of a project, programming, schematic design, design development and contract documents. The way we conducted our project this semester is how we will actually work in our careers, so we got a little taste of the future which was an eye-opening experience.

Would you like to share anything with future students of this studio?

This semester is meant to challenge you and push you. It isn’t going to be easy, but it will show you what your capabilities are and help you to realize what you can improve upon. Time management this semester isn’t easy to maintain but you need to still find time for yourself outside of your work.

NEXT is a global architecture and design firm based in Los Angeles, with 27 locations world-wide. The company is opening a new office in Dallas, Texas, one that empowers its employees and shares the corporate values of NEXT. NEXT wants to bring people back to the office by offering a workplace that promotes collaborative work, productivity, a sense of belonging and tech-ready spaces. This office will be home to 46 employees, including 3 design teams, corporate, education and healthcare. The office is a hybrid workplace that amplifies social connections and increases innovation.

Interlocked

The four driving design principles in this project are Me+We, fixed and fluid, open and enclosed and the braiding of digital and physical. To implement these principles within this project, the firm uses the design concept , Interlocked. The concept works to integrate the core values of the company, authenticity, collaboration and engagement, with the design principles. To implement Me+We spaces, there are work zones meant for collaboration, private work zones and work desks where employees can work collaboratively or on their own. Fixed and fluid spaces are found within the building to offer security as well as flexibility. In the office there is a mixture of open and enclosed spaces, with enclosed spaces offering both full privacy