Rachelle Schoessler Lynn, FASID, CID, LEED Fellow

Director of Workplace, + Firmwide Design Resilience Leader
Gensler, Minneapolis
CIDA Board of Directors

Expertise/Specializations/Interests: workplace design innovation; sustainability and human health and well-being in design advocacy, policy, and research

What is the highest and best purpose of interior design?

The health and well-being of the people that we design for is paramount. Health and well-being is experienced in many different aspects. The impact of climate change can be detrimental to people’s health, especially for those most vulnerable. The pandemic has heightened the awareness of the haves and have nots. Affordable housing developments should incorporate design strategies that could potentially eliminate asthma in children - this could reduce long term health issues. Access to affordable healthy foods within walking distance in all neighborhoods. Green space every 6 blocks will provide access to nature for everyone. As a society we need to come together to address climate change - water quality, air quality, food sources, transportation options, services in all neighborhoods that are essential (grocery stores / farmers markets, banks, health clinics, etc). As interior designers we have a responsibility to ensure that all of the products that we specify are not made with toxic chemicals - from extraction to manufacturing to transportation to installation, to end of life. We need to understand the circular economy. There is no away in the forest. The forest regenerates itself. The health and well-being of people is not a competition. All firms should share what they are learning with everyone so we can move forward faster. We also need to see each other and learn from each other and be kind to each other.