Newsroom – California State University, Northridge

CSUN Hosts Regional ‘Think Tank’ for International Federation Interior Architects/ Designers

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., Aug. 2nd, 2010) ―

Cal State Northridge is reaching out beyond universities in the state and nation to those around the world, to highlight the importance of interior architects and designers.

“Design Future: Interiors Entity,” a collaboration between CSUN’s Department of Family and Consumer Sciences and the International Federation of Interiors Architects/Designers (IFI) is scheduled to take place Thursday, Aug. 5, to explore the identity, relevance, value and responsibility of interior designers today. The event will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in Sequoia Hall in the east side of campus located at 18111 Nordhoff St. in Northridge.

Anubhuti Thakur and Judith Griffin, interior design faculty in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, are co-facilitating the event.

“I think that this is an excellent opportunity for CSUN and our interior design program to participate with the global design community and assist in the growth and development of interior design practice and education,” said Thakur. “We hope that the outcomes of our regional ‘think tank’ will make a significant contribution to IFI’s global effort.”

The university is one of the nearly three dozen academic institutions in the U.S., Canada and Central and South America expected to participate in this IFI global initiative to better understand the core need for the interiors’ discipline.

The “think tank” initiative is similar to five others being held worldwide. Other regions participating in this in-depth conversation are Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and the Middle East. Participants will represent all phases of interior architects and designers– including students, educators, researchers, large and small firm practitioners of various specialties, manufacturers, clients, environmentalists and related scientists– in an effort to foster the broadest and most open-minded discussion possible.

Invitees for the “think tank” include designers, CSUN interior design alumn, interior design product vendors and consultants, as well as design educators. There will be about 10 participants in the discussion.

The IFI initiative was born out of a global conversation regarding the general misunderstanding about the interiors industry. Each region’s report will culminate in a symposium and the publication of a report repositioning the interiors discipline on the world stage.

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