EPISODE 207: Furniture Should Guide Design, Not Follow It
November 20, 2024
Overview:
In this episode of the Better Learning Podcast, host Kevin Stoller welcomes Amanda Hastings, NCIDQ, ALEP, IIDA, Senior Interior Designer at SLAM Collaborative. Together, they dive into the critical role of furniture in shaping educational environments and its impact on students, teachers, and communities.
Amanda’s passion for creating dynamic, student-centered learning spaces shines as she shares her approach to furniture design in schools. With nearly two decades of experience and a client-centered philosophy, she emphasizes that furniture should do more than complement design—it should guide it.
Meet Our Guest:
Meet Amanda Hastings:
Amanda’s approach to interior design is both thoughtful and deeply client-centered. With almost two decades of experience in designing inclusive environments, she brings a wealth of expertise to her work, particularly in the public-education sector. Amanda’s design philosophy is rooted in connection—she prioritizes building relationships with clients to understand their unique needs and visions and values understanding the “why” behind every design decision. Her designs are conceptually grounded, blending creativity with the personality of the client to create engaging, dynamic spaces where everyone will thrive.
Her recent completion of the ALEP program in 2023 was driven by her passion for designing educational environments, and equipped her with expert knowledge and an enhanced desire to not only create student-centered spaces that enrich their learning experience but also to bring this knowledge to the clients and communities she works with.
Sound Bites:
“Furniture should guide the design, not just follow it.”
“We need a cultural shift in education.”
“Seeing furniture in person makes a huge difference.”
“The furniture world can be confusing.”
“The transformation of schools is the best part.”
Follow Amanda Hastings on Social Media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-hastings-shea-ncidq-alep-iida-ba603755/
Learn More About The SLAM Collaborative
Website: https://slamcoll.com/
Instagram: theslamcollaborative
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-s-l-a-m-collaborative/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSLAMCollaborativeArchitecture
X: https://x.com/SLAMcollab
Watch on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/YA-sOENFpfwTakeaways:
- Furniture should guide the design, not just follow it.
- Engaging teachers early in the design process is crucial.
- Quality furniture impacts student learning and engagement.
- Educating decision-makers on furniture value is essential.
- Community involvement can drive educational improvements.
- Building a positive school culture is as important as the physical space.
- Collaboration among designers, educators, and communities is key.
The Host:
While students may only be 20%-25% of our population today, they are 100% of our future. That is why education is one of the most important investments a country can make and the sole purpose for the existence of the Better Learning Podcast.
The Better Learning Podcast brings on valued guests that talk about ways we can improve education for our kids. Because after all, they are 100% of our future!
Kevin Stoller:
Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.
Kay-Twelve
LinkedIn Profile
Twitter Profile
If you are interested in being on the show or know someone who would be a great guest, please visit the Better Learning Podcast website.
Our Partners:
Who made this episode possible?
Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) – https://www.a4le.org/
Education Leaders’ Organization – https://www.ed-leaders.org/
Second Class Foundation – https://secondclassfoundation.org/
Be a Guest on the Better Learning Podcast!
Are you rethinking what learning environments can be? We are always looking for thoughtful school leaders, designers, and educators to join the Better Learning Podcast and share real stories from the field.
As a guest, you will take part in meaningful conversations about student centered design, planning, and collaboration and how these ideas show up in real schools. We explore what is working, what is evolving, and what educators can do today to create learning spaces that truly support students and teachers.
If you are passionate about improving learning environments and have insights, experiences, or lessons to share, we would love to have you on the podcast.
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About the podcast
Through in-depth conversations, the podcast highlights how Radically Student Centered™ approaches can make a tangible difference in schools, inspiring educators, administrators, designers, and anyone passionate about the future of learning.