Towards a Research Based Practice

With the recent integration of map-lab into STA, we have started to think about how we can leverage our new collaboration for the benefit of our clients and to the world at large. Our collaboration is about integrating the diverse disciplines of architecture, interior design, and evidence based research for the purpose of solving problems, initiating social progress, and humanizing environments. Starting with this first blog post, STA will begin to share our experiences via this website and via social media, with the purpose of sharing what we learn with others. In the coming months, we hope to create a website that is more conversational so that visitors keep coming back to engage with us about what is possible. 

Research has become a more relevant aspect of professional practice and leading design firms are beginning to integrate this into their practices. Some local firms that inspire us and share their work with others are Utile, Kennedy + Violich, and over,under. The Chicago based Urbanlab is doing some interesting research at all scales within the neighborhoods of Chicago and helping to enhance their city. 

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has started to recognize specific research priorities that are aligned with AIA initiatives. Per the AIA website, “specific research agenda areas include: social, technological, environmental, cultural, organizational, design, and educational.” The interior design community has come together to sponsor the truly impressive Interior Design Profession’s Body of Knowledge. This document demonstrates a great collaboration among six professional interior design organizations from the United States and Canada. 

STA’s values will define the research parameters of STA. One cannot be a responsible designer practicing with clever ingenuity with an interest in social purpose and community without asking a few questions. Inquiry, and creating the right environment to pursue answers, is what the research initiative is about at STA. All members of the STA team and our collaborators will be invited to share their research here on this website and in our “living lab” sessions that we hold every Friday. We look forward to sharing our findings with you in the coming weeks and months and encourage you to participate in the conversation. In the meantime, we hope that the posts below will be of interest.