Week 2 blog- Building, Design and Construction.

When we talk about designing a building today, it's not enough to just make it look good. There's a whole web of ethical, moral, and legal responsibility that comes along with the job. Interior designers are part of a much bigger conversation about how buildings interact with the planet and the people who actually use them. That means understanding where our role fits in alongside architects, engineers, contractors, and specialists, and realizing that sustainable design isn't really you can accomplish yourself, it's a coordinated, integrated process from day one.

What does sustainability actually mean? There isn't just one theory, there's a whole landscape of them. The Natural Step challenges us to stop increasing concentrations of harmful substances and stop degrading nature's capacity to meet people's basic needs. Ecological Design, championed through Christopher Alexander's pattern language and William McDonough's Hannover Principles, insist that humanity and nature have equal rights to coexist, and that designers must own up to the consequences of what they create. Then there's Biomimicry, Janine Benyus's idea of borrowing nature's own solutions to solve human design problems, and Permaculture. Cradle to Cradle, from McDonough and Braungart, goes even further, aiming to eliminate the very concept of waste. Lastly, Biophilic Design brings it all back to us, weaving natural patterns and elements into interiors to support our physical and emotional wellbeing.

Not all "green" labels are created equal. First party claims come straight from the manufacturer. Second party certifications come from an industry vouching for it's own products, like the Carpet and Rug Institute rating carpet. But third party certification is the gold standard, an independent outside organization doing the rigorous vetting. Think Forest Stewardship Council, Energy Star, Green Seal, Greenguard, and Cradle to Cradle certification itself. Knowing the difference between these is a skill every designer needs. 

None of this happens without the right people in the room. A sustainable project pull together the architect, interior designer, engineer, general contractor, owner, and often specialized consultants, all working from a shared, integrated vision rather than isolated work. And increasingly, one credential tie that expertise all together. The LEED Accredited Professional designation. Earning this is a sign of real fluency in green building practices and the LEED rating system.

That last point is worth sitting with. If you're heading toward commercial design, there's rarely a better window to build this credential than right now. Sustainable design isn't a side specialty anymore, it's becoming the baseline expectation for the industry, and the designers who understand both the theory and the certification landscape will be the ones shaping what gets built next.

Following an interior space in Judson University I chose is the library. The Judson Library. This place is a place where people come to study together, catch up on reading or just to enjoy some peace and quiet on campus. The Judson Library makes me feel at peace. It is a very quiet space, and you can almost hear your own thoughts. Physically, I feel fine at the Judson library. There are rooms there for people who would like a bit more privacy. Lastly, at the Judson library, spiritually I feel a bit stressed. While the architecture there is beautiful and it's definitely a sight to see, but anytime I have been at the Judson library its been to complete assignments.