ASID Announces Recipients of 2020 Research Grants

Washington, DC, November 10, 2020-As part of its continuing support to promote the value and impact of design, the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2020 Research Grants.

The goal of the ASID Foundation Research Grants is to further implement research into practice by funding projects that result in actionable design principles, guidelines and/or tools that design professionals can apply to their projects. The 2020 program sought research related to the topics of: 1) Design Equity, Social Justice & Inclusion and 2) Adaptive Environments Designed for Change (Human Resilience).

The 2020 awardees are:

How Design can Support and Help Heal People Experiencing Trauma ($10K Award)

Co-PI: Pam Light, senior principal, HOK

Co-PI: Rachel Rouse, director of interiors, HOK

This study will present design guidelines that support those experiencing trauma (e.g., depression, anxiety, homelessness, etc.) by refining a recently developed tool, adding impacts from the COVID-19 era and producing a video that demonstrates the guideline’s implementation while tracking outcomes of its use.

Healthy Affordable Housing Toolkit: Addressing the Interior Adaptability of Affordable Housing During COVID ($20K Award)

Co-PI: Dr. Erika Eitland, research analyst, Perkins & Will

Co-PI: Stephen Messinger, project architect, senior associate, Perkins & Will

This study will conduct post-occupancy and community participatory studies that will identify modifiable interior design elements and support the development of design tools tailored for affordable housing focused on the daily life, health, and safety of vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s committee members include: Sally Augustin, Ph.D. – principal, Design With Science; Tamie Glass, ASID, RID – associate professor, The University of Texas at Austin, School of Architecture; Lisa Henry, FASID, Allied AIA – CEO, Greenway Group; Denise Rush, ASID – dean and faculty, Boston Architectural College, School of Interior Architecture; Kay Sargent, ASID, LEED AP, MCR.w, WELL AP – senior principal and director of Workplace, HOK.

Review the winning projects here.

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